Beginning Horseback Riding?

Question

Hello. I am a beginner in horseback riding. I will be having my first lesson very soon! I am very excited, and I know some of the basics. What are the MOST important basics for beginners when riding? I am starting English, which is new for me, and I have ridden Western once or twice. Can someone please list all the Basics in English Horseback Riding? Thanks!

Answer 1

I would have to say, don’t look at the ground, look were you want to go.

Your instructor may use the term “heels down toes up” this helps your feet from slipping out or into the stirrups.

Also, other from riding you may learn how to take care of horses and learn safe handling methods as well.

Go to the barn positively, you will learn more and be more confident.

Better for you and your mount.

Have Fun!

Answer 2

English is really good because it opens a lot of opportunities (jumping, more show classes, etc.) The basic English riding is basically like riding Western. Heels down, toes up, shoulders back, chest out, etc. The difference you will have will mostly be with trotting. You will trot pretty fast to keep a posting trot (when you move front and back)

Honestly, English is extremely fun and you will pick it up soon. Just have fun riding, and don't overthink much. Best of luck! (:

Answer 3

Congratz! Your guna love it! Here are some tips for you...

*Try to keep your heels down and toes up

*Always look streight ahead (don't look at the ground or you might fall)

*Look where you want to go (especially when turning)

*Shoulders back

*Sit up streight

*Relax

*And most importantly, Have Fun!!

Don't worry, you will learn very quickly, just remember to listen to your instructor :)

Good luck, and have fun!

Answer 4

your instructor will help you so just listen to them

Answer 5

Too list all the basics would take a while.  Don't worry, you'll pick up things easy.  Just remember heels down, toes up, look stright ahead, don't look down otherwise you could fall.  The horse feels everylittle movement, even if your eyes just turn.

Lesson ponys are clever little creature who are great at getting out of work, don't let them cut corners, Sit up striaght, have fun, listen to your instructor and don't talk back to them, I hate that.

For example, IF your instructor tells you heels down repeatedly, or stay to the outside, get on the rail, Just say ok, They hate when you get angry and say I can't or Im trying

Answer 6

first off.when grooming a horse always have one hand on them just in case they pull back, so u can push yourself away from them.  You probably will learn all this stuff in lessons but i will tell you anyways..

when in the saddle  and ur feet r in the stirrups keep ur heels down, toes up and never put ur foot too far in (the stirrup at the ball of your foot) to prevent you from getting your foot caught if you get thrown off.  

For the gaits..such as trotting you should post..thats when you stand up slightly every other step the horse takes (this requires lots of practice to get it right).

for cantering or loping just make sure you move with the horse and don't get too stiff.. thats another thing..too often I see people that hold on to the horn and they get stiff (only for western)  don't get stiff because it is uncomfortable for both you and the horse and will increase your chances that you will fall off..just remember to stay relaxed and loose, but not to the point where you look lazy lol..just keep a nice relaxed straight posture and you should be fine..

if you find yourself in a situation where your horse freaks out and starts jumping , bucking, or running off where you can't get him to stop...reach as far as you can down on one side of the reins and pull hard to the side..they cant buck or run that way if they r sideways! lol

Good Luck and have fun!

Answer 7

Just be relaxed. Don't 'tense up' on the horse. Sit up straight (but not stiff), look ahead/forward-not down at your horse or the ground, put your weight in your heels, keep your heels down (toes up), and your hands steady (not floppin' all over the place).

Try not to lean too forward once you start moving (I used to do that my first few lessons). But don't move too backward either. Don't be 'stiff' in the saddle-just relax and move with the horse.

And most of all-enjoy!

Answer 8

Well, starting with the tack, an english saddle is much different from the western saddle. For example, a western saddle has a horn and an english saddle does not and a western saddle uses a cinch and has leather stirrups and an english saddle uses a girth and has metal stirrups. Here is a link showing the parts of the english saddle: http://www.fourwinds.net/esadcat/engpick...

The bridles are also different. A western saddle doesn't have a nose band and the bits are a bit different (no pun intended). An english bridle's reins are connected, but a western bridle's are not. Here's a link showing parts of the english bridle: http://horsesupply.farmermike.net/image/...

Also in addition to an english bridle, a horse may use a martin gale to keep their head down. A martin gale simply is attached to the girth and underneath the nose band where the latch is.

When you're brushing, you usually want to start with a curry comb. A curry comb will get all the caked on dirt/mud off and you use it going in circles. Next, I use a hard brush to get all the dirt the curry comb got off. You usually want to use it in a flicking type motion And lastly use a soft brush. Only use the soft brush on the horses face and legs (You can use it all over the horse's body). When picking out a horse's hooves two things that are very important: Be careful of the horse's frog. The frog is a triangle or a V looking thing and it's very senistive and it hurts the horse if you pick it. And second, always be facing the back of the horse and don't be on your knees picking the hooves. Stay standing, but slightly bent over. Here is a link showing all the brushes: http://images.asia.ru/img/alibaba/photo/...

Before you even get on your horse, make sure the girth is tight so you don't end up on the horse's side. It's very uncomfortable the horse and you. You know the girth is tight when you can barely fit your hand between the horse and the girth. And also, if the girth has elastic only on one side, make sure it's on the left side and that you tighten it on the left side. And make sure your saddle pads and saddle are in the correct spot. The saddle pads should but just above where the horse's hair line for their mane ends and the girth should be right behind their shoulder. Also if you can, adjust your own stirrups from the ground. To do this, you usually want the stirrup to reach up to your arm pit. When you're getting on, make sure you're on the left side and that you're also holding onto the reins so your horse can't get away from you.

When you're just walking, let the horse have a bit of a loser rein because he/she's warming up or getting used to surroundings. When you're trotting, traditionally in english riding, you post. Posting means you get your body out of the saddle when the horse's leg that's next to the wall goes up. When it goes down, you sit down. It's very important that your heels are down and your toes are up! Also, the stirrup should be on the ball of your foot, right behind your toes. Especially when you post up press down in your heels so they don't go sky high. Your hands should be about at your belly button and only a few inches apart. You thumbs should be on top of the reins and your pinky wrapped around them. Access rein can be flipped over to the side. If you're asked to do a sitting trot, you should slow your horse down but also keep a little leg on them so they don't stop completely. And just sit in the saddle and grip with your legs if the horse is bouncy. If you're asked to two-point, that means you lean forward and grab the horse's mane, and get yourself out of the saddle. It's very important that you drop your weight down into your heels. And your legs stays right behind the girth. Two pointing allows you to go with the horse's motion when you jump and allows the horse to drop their head over the jump. When you canter, it's a 3-beat gait where the front hoof that is facing towards the middle of the ring, not the one next to the wall, is going forward. When it's going forward, you're on the correct lead. If you're not on the correct lead, you will either have to do a flying lead change which is when a horse swaps their lead while they're skill cantering or you'll have to bring them back to the trot and try again. When asking for the canter, you squeeze only with the leg that is next to the wall and lift the hand that is facing towards the inside of the ring. Also, it's very important to sit when you ask, don't post. When you're cantering, you can squeeze with both legs if you need to keep your horse from breaking back into a trot. You should move with you horse in a forwards motion. Don't pump your upper body, but sort of just rock your hips. I already mentioned a bit about jumping, but when you're approaching a jump, just as  your horse starts to take off, two point and when you feel the horse's back end land, sit back up.

Since it will be your first time riding in a lesson, riding english, your trainer may just keep you to walking and trotting. And maybe on a lunge line, which is a long lead rope that attaches to the horse's bridle and the trainer will be standing in the middle while your horse is going on a circle. This makes it so the lesson is very one on one and so that your teacher can always stay close to you and you rarely have to worry about your horse being naughty.

I know that was A LOT of info, and that's not even the entire basics of riding, but I hope I helped! And also remember don't be afraid to ask for help or if you're not comfortable with something your trainer wants you to do or nervous about riding certain horses, make sure you speak up! Good luck and have fun! Horseback riding's a blast!