What makes a "good rider or horse carer" and what do you have to know or be able to do???

Question

Please answer this!!! thanks!!!

Answer 1

The answer is very simple.  LEARN what you need to and put the welfare and safety of your animal to the forefront.  You should make every effort to learn and apply what you need to know to keep your horse and yourself safe.  Listen, ask questions and read up on horse keeping.  Listen to people who have more experience than you.  Watch people who have made mistakes and learn from them so you don't make the same mistakes.  Use your common sense - many horse tragedies happen because people lack the basic common sense to avoid them.

Answer 2

Chris;  

The first thing that makes a good rider or care-taker is asking "what do I need to know?".  Check step one off your list.

The next step is determining what your goals are.  Will you simply care for horses for someone, own a horse(s), compete with them?

After you determine your goals consider your "bent" - are you the type of person who would more consider natural ways and items or one who is fond of sythesized items - for example would you rather treat a symptom with natural herbs and remedies or would you rather buy the biggest baddest drug?  If you own other animals, are you the type who looks into the reasons and animals does what he does, tries to understand from their point of view and fix or would you rather employ techniques like mechanical tools to diminish barking and such?

If you are the natural type, I would suggest purchasing as many books and videos, watching shows on RFD-TV and going to as many clinics befitting your current status.  For example, most states have yearly expositions for horse-lovers.  You can pay $10-$20 to attend for a day and watch all sorts of clinicians that will cover everything from the basics to very advanced technical information.  You will encounter people who sell all sorts of services, information and products for people who interact with horses.  Get with these people and ask all the questions that pop into your head, asking different people the same questions.

Constantly consider what each person told you and gather up information determining what sounds best for you.

For example, I am a proponet of tack that uses the most natural of fibers - saddle pads made of wool for example and tack made of leather.  I have my reasons for this and if you'd ask I'd share them with you.  another person might be a proponent of synthetic fibers for some reason.  And one of us won't be wrong or right - length of time in saddle, how you care for your equipment, what your goals are - all play into what the right thing to do is.  A person who rides once a week for an hour is perfectly safe using a cheap, synthetic saddle pad - but a person who rides for hours frequently might not be providing the best thing for the horse when ridden under these conditions.

I suggest that you need to determine for yourself what makes a good care-taker or rider based on the information you get from this forum and all sorts of areas.

To me, a good rider is one who:

A.  Understands the horse's nature, their manner of establishing pecking order in a herd and how they communicate as well as how the horse perceives every touch and interaction with it from us.  This is quite a feat from no knowledge to understanding all of this and takes years and lots of time and focus to gain.

B. Cares about the horse's well being - has the animal vet-checked regularly and innoculated at least yearly.  Knows when the animals is under or over weight and learns how to balance the feeding properly for optimum physical and mental health.  Understands what each different feed type does and wants to learn more.

You must know these basic things to build everything else on - you cannot simply lead a horse across the yard properly without knowing how his eyes work, how his brain interprets what he sees and why he might spook and land on top of you in a second flat (or less).

People CAN lead a horse without knowing things like this - but every time they do, they increase their chances of getting hurt - because today may be a little blustery or maybe a piece of something has moved across the yard that causes the horse to pause.  It's like a domino house - it can stand through quite a few little jiggles, but it gets a bit rickety until the next little jiggle causes it to fall all apart.  Horses are like this. A new person gets one, rides for a month straight, then the horse does a little something the person misses out seeing or understanding - next time, the horse does a little something else and before you know it, he's lost all confidence in that person as the leader - he can give ya problems simply leaving the barn - and it's all because they think completely different than humans.

Horses are prey - humans are predators.

So - I suggest purchasing books about owning your own horse - Western Horseman has a lot of different books that might fit your needs, there's lots on Amazon.com and at bookstores.  Go get one and start reading it.  It'll teach you how to handle, groom, tie, all the things you must know first that are way to numerous to put here.

Basically, you must know all the ins and outs of handling the horse from the ground.  You must learn how to place his feet exactly where you want them each and every time - and why he listens and minds you (or doesn't).  Only when you can do everything from the ground you want to do from on top should you get on the horse - then you begin all over learning how to do the same things you did from the ground from the horse's back.

if you're in the market to take some lessons, a good trainer with train you from the ground up - and withing just a few short weeks you can be on and riding - if you are willing to pay the cost of a good trainer or instructor.

I hope this helps - come back and ask for something more specific if you need it.  Tough to be specific enough yet general enough to make it all in here.

Answer 3

simple answer

  

Compassion, understanding and a love of the animals around you.

its a life long educational process, there is always something new to investigate and something old to re discover and try again.  read everything you can, listen to anyone older then you and see if they have any wisdom to lend, watch people who look good and see if what they do is something you can try in good conscious on your horse.

Answer 4

First of all you have to have a "gift" of working with horses then, applying your "gift" throughout the years, taking lessons, studying under good trainers and learning from THEIR experiences.

Answer 5

one thing that makes a good horse person is that they think of there horse needs before anything else

Answer 6

there are many different things that may express a 'good' rider, in the many different ways of riding and handling horses.

but there is no basic instructions or qualifications that make a 'good rider' or 'horse carer'.

its is important to respect the horse at all times, and the horse respect you. communication is a big key, to clearly and polity communicate with the horses in a language they can understand.

there are many more things that are also important for horse and rider but there is no 'set in stone' things that make a good rider or horse person.

Answer 7

You hve to understand that you dont know it all and never will. You need to put the horses needs before what you want  There is no set thing that makes you a good rider or horse person.

Answer 8

I used to say years ago that to be a good rider you have to fall off at least 10 times. When I past that, it moved to 100 times. I've past that too. What I mean is you will always be striving to be a better rider or horse person, but to be in a profession based on horses, I think the best way to know is if you've been working with horses for 8-10 years. Not just riding them but, tacking up, grooming, mucking, feeding, giving medications, diagnosing problems, etc. Once you feel comfortable doing these basic tasks you can consider being a groom or stable hand, until then just continue working with horses and learning their quirks and subtleties. You will soon learn that horses require a lot of time, money and skill.

Answer 9

A good rider is a person who cares about the horse in all aspects.

What makes a good rider can come naturally or needs to be learned from a trainer, teacher. You need to want to learn all about the horse, not just how to ride it. Knowing the needs of your horse comes with time and most of all attention. A good rider is in tune with the horse. Caring for your horse is so important. It is interacting with and just spending time with the horse that matters a lot. How you learn these things takes time, effort and desire.