Filed under: Horseback Riding
Riding a horse is a lot like driving a car. You need to know how to accelerate, decelerate, turn and stop. However, a car won’t buck, kick, chomp or lay down when you’re driving it. A horse might, which makes learning how to ride one very important.
Here are 7 steps to riding a horse.
1) Choose the right horse.
Never try to ride a horse that is untamed or easily irritated. The horse needs to be trained and broken. Also, make sure it is size-appropriate. A grown man should not ride a pony or miniature horse. The animal can be injured and the rider can fall off.
The right horse should always be a little taller than the rider.
2) Pay attention when you’re around the horse.
Don’t walk directly behind the horse or underneath it. If it gets agitated, it could kick or step on you. Horses have great size and mediocre vision, which can easily lead to a rider getting unintentionally hurt.
3) Attach the saddle properly.
Putting the saddle on right is very important. A loose saddle is like a loose seat in a car – if there are any jolts, bumps or sudden stops, the rider is going to be in trouble.
First put on the back pad, which goes directly under the saddle. This protects the horse’s hide from the pressure and friction that comes with saddle wearing. Next, attach the saddle. Make sure it is aligned properly and fastened tightly.
4) Mount the horse safely.
Most horses are mounted from the left side. This is a centuries-old tradition that has carried over to today’s trained animals. If a rider tries to mount a horse from the right side, the horse may try to kick or run away.
Always hold the reins as you mount. If the animal decides to take off, the reins will help you control it. It also helps to grab a large handful of the horse’s mane. This gives you direct pressure to the horse in case you lose your balance.
Place your inside foot into the stirrup. As you bring yourself up and over, swing your outside leg around so that you are straddling the animal.
5) Start slowly.
You need to sit in the saddle with a strong, upright position, keeping your core firm. Hold the reins tight. Gently kick your heels against the horse’s body; this makes the animal move.
Start slowly and progress gradually.
6) Understand the reins.
The reins attach to the horse’s head and are held in the rider’s hands. They are strong, usually made out of durable leather. The reins act as controls, directing the horse’s head, which in turn directs its body.
If the reins are pulled to the right, the horse will turn to the right, and if they are pulled to the left, the horse will turn to the left. If you pull the reins back, the horse will stop. If you continue to pull the reins, the horse will begin to back up.
7) Get to know the horse.
It’s important that you get to know the horse. Like people, horses have personalities, attitudes and preferences. Pay close attention to the things the horse likes and dislikes. Monitor its habits.
And always remember that the rider is in charge of the horse, not the other way around.
Horse riding is a fun, relaxing way to get in touch with nature and your animal. There are plenty of stores about romantic Italy honeymoons that include horseback riding through the vineyards or on the beaches. If you are safe and use common sense, you will find yourself having a good ol’ time.
Winter is an excellent time to go horseback riding. Nothing compares to a long, leisurely trail ride in cool temperatures when your horse is fresh. Winter is the perfect time to relax and let up on serious training. Winter riding is healthy for both horse and rider.
The best riding conditions in winter is a light covering of snow, so long as there is no ice beneath it. Snow, even deep snow, provides an excellent cardiovascular and leg work out for your horse. It is not necessary for your horse to gallop in order to accomplish a good work out. Instead, the task of pulling his hooves from the snow provides the horse with an adequate work out at merely a trot. A leisurely walk over long reins might be adequate to provide a refreshing scenery change and renewed out look on daily work for you and your steed.
While riding in winter, be certain of what is beneath the snow. It is a good idea to ride only across trails and terrain that you have come to know in warmer weather, so you know the land and are not likely to risk your horse stepping on something that might harm him.
If you are not inside an arena with proper footing, you should not jump your horse outside during winter. The jolt from the landing could hurt your horse’s legs, even if there is soft snow covering the ground. Also, should the snow be slippery and wet, your horse may skid or stumble upon landing, even if outfitted with borium shoes.
After riding in cold weather, cool your horse properly, even if you only had him walking. In the case that your horse is neither blanketed or clipped and has grown winter fur, a longer cooling period will be necessary. Regardless whether he is regularly blanketed, allow your horse to spend a half hour under cooler cover eating hay before returning him to his stall.
Of course you must take proper care of yourself as well as your horse in order to enjoy winter horseback riding. Mostly, this means dressing in a way to stay warm while you ride. Here are a few tips for dressing effectively for winter riding.
Choose the right fabrics. Silk is a good choice as it absorbs a lot of sweat without feeling wet. It is good for under layers because it is thin, but warm. Polyester is also a good choice here. Down is light and resilient and gives good insulation. Gore-Tex is great for an outer layer as it is wind and waterproof as well as breathable.
Allow for release of sweat. Wear necklines containing buttons or zippers. Choose material that move wetness away from you. The key to staying warm, is staying dry.
Dress in layers. This traps air keeping body heat in and cold out. You should have an under layer for sweat, a second layer for insulation and an outer layer to keep out wind and precipitation.
Dress suitably for your level of activity; passive, active or extremely active. Leisurely trail riding is passive, therefor your toes and fingers might get cold. A cross country gallop is extremely active and seldom results in the rider becoming cold. Increase your level of activity if you become cold, for instance, go from a jog to a trot, or get off your horse and walk him for a while. If you become to warm, decrease your level of activity or take off a layer of clothing.
Do not wear tight clothes. Wearing tight clothes slows blood circulation, reducing body heat. Instead dress in loose clothes. This will trap in air, that will serve as insulation. Also, when in full gallop in heavy snow fallen areas, make sure to have some type of ski goggles or other type of eye protection.
With the proper preparation and care for both horse and rider, winter riding can be rewarding and exciting experience for all. It is a healthy and invigorating way to spend the winter months.
Filed under: Horseback Riding
Horseback riders describe their sport as exhilarating and rewarding as well as challenging and at times frustrating. Fortunately, avid riders will easily find advice and support from a variety of online resources. Beginners will learn how to more successfully care for and ride their horses; more advanced riders will find new riding exercises and be able to share tips for training green horses, rehabilitating an injured horse, and teaching riding lessons to others. These online forums are suitable for riders interested in many different riding disciplines and at varying levels of experience. They are indispensable for people looking to buy their first horse or who have come across a training problem, and riders of all skill levels will find them informative and at times entertaining.
Another great way to take advantage of horse based web communities is when planning a trip. Even international trips can be planned out using horse web forums. For example, a Fiji honeymoon would be complete with a surprise sunset horseback ride on the beautiful beaches. There are other great terrain in various locations that a horseback ride would be exciting, including the deserts in North Africa and mountains of Northern Italy. Make sure to take full advantage of online resources when planning a horseback riding adventure on your next trip.
The Horse Forum is a great starting point for beginner riders and those interested in sharing their experience with newcomers to the sport. More knowledgeable forum members can offer advice on where to take lessons, how much they should cost, and at what age a child should begin riding. Learning to ride can be frustrating, and this forum provides a common place for beginner riders to share their experiences with each other to gain encouragement and support. As riders progress, they can post videos and pictures and ask others for critiques. Yet this forum goes far beyond discussions on how to ride. Members also contribute their knowledge of equestrian-related laws, ask for and give help finding stolen horses, and share their artwork, stories, and poems centered on their equine companions. This forum is very active, and hundreds of people often participate simultaneously. This ensures that questions are quickly answered and that beginners receive multiple perspectives on each issue.
As riders progress, they may find that they are more interested in breed or discipline specific forums and resources. The online forum of the national weekly magazine Chronicle of the Horse is an excellent resource that separates threads by discipline, including hunter/jumper, dressage, eventing, driving, and racing. There is even an entire section dedicated to riders with physical disabilities who can share their experiences and tips to help others with similar conditions to ride successfully and independently. These forums are aimed at experienced riders who are looking for more detailed informBation on topics such as current show attire trends, veterinary care, and tack fitting. Many of the forum contributers have competed in their chosen disciplines for many years and enjoy sharing their expertise with others. With close to 7,000 active members, this is one of the most widely used equestrian forums.
These online resources offer communities for riders to take what they have learned with their trainers and veterinarians and share it with a broader group of people. Beginner and advanced riders alike will benefit by receiving advice on riding and horse care problems and by finding others who share their passion. Good riders constantly ask for critiques of their riding, design new riding drills, and stay up to date on current show ring trends. These forums provide a central place for riders of any ability to improve their riding and take excellent care of their horses.