Teaching my friend how to ride? Help?

Question

I'm teaching my friend how to ride. So far she's doing really well but her confidence is extremely low and she's afraid the horse she rides is going to spook at everything. She has no reason to believe that because that's never happened.

The other thing is she doesn't have control over him. She's afraid she's going to hurt him. I was very honest with her about the control issue. She was happy that someone is telling her what the problems are.

But I'm lost at what to do next. She does well when it comes to having control when shes walking but when she trots she holds onto the horn and looses control.

How can I help her? What do I do?

Answer 1

I always like putting novice riders on the lunge line.  It gives them the confidence that the horse isn't going to run away so that they can focus on their balance and maintaining their seat.  If she feels she "HAS" to hold the horn, I have them hold the horn with one hand and the reins in the other.  It doesn't take long at all before they feel comfortable letting go of the horn.

Make sure she wears a helmet and have her practice jogging and trotting on a lunge line. Maintain good control over the horse, so that you can stop the horse if she starts to lose her balance.  If she does start to lose her balance, tell her to hold on and bring the horse down to a walk.  I had a student who got so comfortable on the lunge line that he didn't even think to grab the horn when he started to lose his balance.  LOL... he fell off in slow motion.  Luckily... he was okay... but I learned an important lesson to tell people that when they feel they are loosing their balance, it is okay to take hold.

You can also have her practice without stirrups to develop her balance (after she has mastered trotting on a lunge line without holding on.).  Start at the walk, and after she is comfortable have her jog without stirrups.  It works wonders for teaching you a proper seat.

She will have to find her confidence on her own.  Unfortunately you won't be able to help her there, just make sure there are no accidents so she has a positive experience to help her build her confidence.

Answer 2

Put her on a lead line at the trot and just do a few steps at a time . You will have more control over the horse then on a lunge line . That way you can walk into a "baby trot" and then slow down before she panics and grabs the horn. When she relaxes, encourage her to place her hands on her thighs so she learns that it's her seat and balance that keep her on, not her hands. A little bareback work goes a long way in developing balance and seat as the rider cannot push up from the foot and lose their seat.

Answer 3

well if she's afraid on the ground too and really wants to be involved in more than riding, have her do some groundwork. i recommend parelli. but in the saddle, have her on the longe line. tell her to try and touch the horse's ears and lean backwards to touch his butt. when she feels braver, have her touch her toes. it might sound silly, but it made me relax when i started riding. and it helps with balance and flexibility. and try holding onto the horse's bridle until she feels confident on her own. even when trotting (not for long of course. very exhausting :) and it's always good if you have a horse that needs a lot of leg. that way she can be confident and get her position right. hope that helps!  

Answer 4

well if u have a saddle she can't hang on to, use that, also put her on the lunge line and make her hold the loose rain...that will make her more comfident...soon she should be confident enough to trot on her own

Answer 5

Try putting the horse on a longe line and having her guide him while you hold the line.  She should use only her legs to guide him.  Give her stones (or something similar) to hold in her hands so that she can't hold onto the horn.  Riding with legs only for a few lessons should boost her strength, balance, and confidence, plus you'll be there at the other end of the line if need be!

I've done this in both English and Western saddles, and it definitely results in a better rider.

Oops, SoBored beat me to it!

Answer 6

alright my sister was afraid when she started riding also. I say let her spend as much time as possible with the horse she's riding leading her on trails ect then started her on a lunge line iens or no reins what ever she feels more comfortable with. Then if you have another horse take her out on a trail but have a lead line hooked to her horses bridle. One having another horse there will make her horse more comfortable and it will make her more confident. As for the control problem she needs to be shown the amount of pressure to use and be taughtthat if she is too hard the horse will show her by flinging it's head. Tell her the horse can feel what she is sensing it knows when she wants to stop and turn ect but it needs the pressure of her to tell it when to do that and hoe far to turn or what ever she is doing.  

Answer 7

Everyone is dead on about the lunging.  Also, to boost her confidence in the horse, have her do A LOT of ground work.  If you have access to parelli or monty robers or josh lyons stuff, do that.  If not, have HER lunge the horse.  Have her take the horse out to graze.  Have her teach the horse to yield to pressure.  Have her do a join up.  Anything like that will get her to trust the horse much more, and get the horse to trust her!

Good luck!  I am teaching a friends younger sister to ride as well...

Answer 8

First of all teach her how to sit properly to where she doesnt feel like she needs to grab the horn...but she is a beginner and she might stop doing it on her own when she becomes more comfortable. It takes time, she will learn. Its really hard to hurt a horse, they do have less nerves than a human. I think really she just needs time to get used to it, along with you helping her.

Good Luck

She will get it.  

Answer 9

lunge her. no reins. when shes comfortable walking without reins, do a trot. if you dont do that, mae her walk the whle lesson. shell get bored, and ask to trot. tell her yea, but she cant hold onto the reins, and she has to be firm. if she doesnt when she trots, make her walk til she gets it right. i dont see any other ways.  

Answer 10

If her horse longes well, put her on the longe line and give her riding lessons.  Get her hands off of the horn and out to her sides like wings while she develops a seat on the horse....then go from there.  but don't attempt this if the horse is not trained to longe.  Otherwise, suggest she takes some lessons at a local facility.