Preparedness!?!?!?

Question

Ok well some time this next week I am starting horse riding lessons with one of my neighbors{She is teaching me}! I have been on a horse once before...but I am still nervous,and I rode with connected{loop}reigns!What if she rides in split reigns!?!? Is there anything else I should be prepared for..any tips or anything will be muchly appreciated!

Thx Again

-Mugzzie

Answer 1

If your neighbor/instructor has closed reins for you to learn to ride with, that would be my first clue to find another instructor.  Closed reins are to be used for gaming-speed events and are not conducive to learning good horsemanship (IMHO)...one exception, English reins will be closed, but will be longer and more fit the type of riding that they are designed for.  Whether you are riding with silver studded reins or baling twine, just go and enjoy being with a horse...just being with a horse will enrich you to no end and take you to the next step to learning all that you want to learn.  Just remember, nothing is learned immediately, it will take time, patience and perseverance...if you want to bad enough, you can learn to ride bareback with a twine for a rein...seriously, if you do want it bad enough, just go, be thankful that you get the exposure and soak up all of the knowledge that you can...and forget the word, "can't".  Good luck and have fun.

Answer 2

theres quite a bit to be prepared for, but its easy once you get the hang of it

Answer 3

Don't be nervous, just have a good time try to learn. And if she rides with split reins, you can always ask her if you can use single reins, or you can tie them at the end to make it feel like they really are single reins. You can always try riding with split reins too, you may like it more. Are you riding western, or english? Sry, am curious :3 I will be able to give you some more tips if I know which style of riding you will be doing.

So just breath, relax, and have fun!!

Good luck!

Answer 4

Ok wow I am sure you are now very nervous after reading all of those other answers.

I give lessons and I will tell you what I tell all of the people I teach.

Remember to breathe while you ride. I have had several people pass out on top of the horse because they were holding their breath. Breathing will keep you calm. A good lesson horse will not feed off of the emotions of the rider the horse should just follow the comands of the lesson teacher not the rider. I know that sounds wrong but I promise you a good horse will stop, walk, trot and slow down from a single word from the instructor so that if they student is having problems the horse is still under control.

Helmets are a good idea when you are learning. There are a lot of sports that do not call for the use of helmets. Even the best horse has the ability to do something stupid so a helmet is still a good idea. Personally I did not learn to ride with a helmet so if you don't have one as long as you have a good horse I wouldn't be worried about it.

I am not sure if you are taking normal lessons on a lesson horse or if your neighbor is just using the only horse she has. Either way you should not start with a split rein. It is too easy to drop a split rein when you are learning and the horse could get injurred if he stepped on the rein. So if she gives you a split rein you need to insist that the rein gets tied together. Also split reins are normally used when neck reining. I never allow new riders to neck rein because they don't get the idea of how the horse responds to pressure in its mouth. People will often be too rough with their hands when they start with neck reining.

Also make sure you have long pants and good shoes. Boots are a good idea if you have them but if not i recommend a shoe with out a lot of tread that is as wide as possible.

Above all else listen closely to your neighbor and ask lots of questions. Horses are a lot of fun.

Answer 5

Split reins are easy to handle Your instructor/neighbor may let you knot them.

   Make sure you have a well-fitting hard hat. Find a local tack shop, and they will help you with the fit. Good ones run anywhere from $60 to $100, but you might find a sale. NEVER ride without one!

   Also, make sure you wear long pants (jeans are great), and some sort of sturdy shoes or boots with a definite heel. The heels will keep your feet from slipping through the stirrups, and the long pands will keep your lags from getting rubbed raw.

   And, Mugzzie, remember to have a good time. I enjoyed my riding lessons, and am looking forward to the time when I can start taking lessons again.

Answer 6

If you ride with split reins, and feel uncomfortable, just tie them together on the end.

Answer 7

first of all, dont be nervous. horses can sense that. when you get nervous, they get giddy. if you are calm, they'll be calm for you. riding split reins is simple because the only thing different is that you have to make sure you keep them even, or you'll accidentaly be pulling your horse to one side. riding horses is fun and you'll be fine! and if you want, tell your neighbor you'd be more comfortable with roping reins [loop reins] until you're more experienced.

Answer 8

dont be worried because your emotions transfer to the horse and if you are worried or jumpy it may make the horse uneasy. Riding horses is not easy but u have to get comfortable and just flow w/ them. If they are split reins just tie them in a knot so they are loop reins. Is it english or wester riding?

English riding: make sure you have comfortable riding pants and half chaps.

Im not sure what you should wear in western riding but it is important to wear comfortable jeans or something so you dont get rubs.