To be
honest, pretty much any theory you learn is mostly useless in practice since
horse riding is a skill that can only be picked up by doing in my opinion. Even
if you know how you’re supposed to sit in the saddle that doesn’t mean you’ll
have the strength to do it. Not to mention this blog entry will probably be
useless to anyone who has already had a few lessons. Still, this might interest
you if you are thinking of picking up on horse riding as a hobby, or if you
want to take a horse-back tour, but never even sat on one before.
1. Exercise
Yeah, if
you think all you have to do on a horse is sit, put it in first gear and turn
the steering wheel you will be quickly disappointed. It may look easy, but it
can be petty tiring. Any gait above a simple walk requires almost every part of
your body to work. Not to mention if you get a stubborn or easily-startled horse
where you’ll either have to nearly jam your feet into him to make him move, or will
have to hold back his reins so he doesn’t flip out.
So, before
starting, it doesn’t hurt to have well-developed inner thigh muscles that will primarily
help you stay on the horse and keep its movements controlled. While the reins
mostly control the direction a horse will go, your legs are the one thing
making him move by applying the right amount of pressure.
Secondly,
you should also train your stomach muscles.
Horses hate a rider that will constantly bounce up and down on their
backs, so being able to keep your movements as calm as possible is essential. The
stomach basically keeps your upper body centered by lightly leaning forward or
back, depending on the gait.
Lastly, the
arms. Some horses can get out of hand quickly, so you’ll have to be strong
enough to pull the reins to get them to calm down or slow down. It will also
help you keep your hands calm while riding. I’m sure you wouldn’t enjoy being constantly
pulled on the mouth for no apparent reason, and rest assured, horses don’t like
it as well.
2. The right clothing
If you don’t
practice horse riding, you mostly likely don’t have the correct equipment like
riding pants and riding boots or gaiters. Some ranches provide some equipment,
some don’t. So I suggest that you think about this before you leave for the
tour, since a poor choice of clothing might end up being more bothersome than
you’ve thought.
Riding
pants are tight, have little to no stiches on the inner side of their thighs
where the padding is as well. This is because the inner thighs are the ones pressing
up against the saddle and constant rubbing might irritate your skin. If you
happen to have pants that have no stiches inn that area they’ll probably be
ideal, but comfortable sweatpants can also be used. DO NOT wear shorts!
Also, under
no circumstance forget socks, especially if you do not have high boots or
gaiters. The stirrup will rub against your ankle and I might actually leave
quite an injury.
The top is
a bit more flexible. T can be a simple t-shirt or tank top if it’s hot, or a sweater
if it’s cold. As long as you’re not wearing a tunic, something with really wavy
sleeves or something you’ll wear to your hotel dinner, you should be ok.
Important:
If the ranch doesn’t provide helmets, at least bring a bike helmet along.
3.Before
riding
Before you
get on that saddle, it doesn’t hurt to stretch a little bit, especially your
legs and hips. Getting to know your horse is a good start too. Ask the horse
owner or whoever is responsible for it about the horse. Things like how easily it gets scared or how
does it get on with other horses can be very important. If he’s easily startled,
you’ll have to act in advance and pay attention to anything in your proximity
that might scare your equestrian friend. If it is a bit more aggressive towards
other horses it probably prefers to have its space. Make sure to keep distance
from other horses. If you think the horse will be too much for you to handle, ask
for another one.
4. Approaching a horse
Horses in
the wild used to graze on open fields where they were an easy target
for predators, so you should respect that instinct when you approach it. If not
absolutely unavoidable, never approach a horse from behind if you want to keep
all of your teeth. It won’t see you, so
when it suddenly feels your presence it will buck in self-defense. However, if
you are in a situation where this is unavoidable and there is no one to help,
repeatedly make sounds like calling its name so it knows you’re there. Get to
the side as much as possible and carefully put your hand on the horse. if it’s
a domestic horse, it probably won’t act aggressively
as long as you are letting it know your whereabouts.
The best way
to approach a horse is from the side, where it will see you clearly. Don’t run
to it, just calmly walk up to it and show it you mean no harm. A little treat
like a carrot or a kibble is usually a good peace offering. Also, pay attention
to the horse’s body language as you approach him, especially its ears. If they
are standing up, it means he is content with you and will accept you. If they
are moving around, it’s likely that he’s in slight alert. Don’t worry, he’s
probably just curious about you, or there is some commotion near you it wants
to check out. just walk slowly, call its name and it should be fine. What could
be problematic is if its ears are pulled back and flat on its head. That is a
clear sign of anger and aggression. A horse is likely to snap at you or try to
buck you. If this happens, seek help from someone with more experiences or the
horse.
5. Posture
The way you
sit on the horse is like a first impression. If you are slouching or are fidgety
and nervous, he won’t take you seriously and might not respond to you. When you
get in the saddle, sit confidently with a straight back, keep your movements as
calm as possible and don’t shift your weight around too much if not necessary.
However, don’t be a stone-faced tyrant, show it some love. Horses usually like
to be rewarded with a light tap on the neck. If you’re confident enough, you
can even lean forward and hug it. Just don’t put too much weight on it. Nobody likes
a pain in the neck- pun intended. You can also talk to it. It helps to calm
down you and the horse.
These are about all the tips I have. Remember,
even if you think you understand everything it will be a completely different
world as soon as you get in that saddle. Just stay calm and confident. Pay
attention to your horse ad to your instructions and you will most likely have
an experience you won’t forget.
