when you started horse riding what were the best tips that you were taught? and how much have they helped?

Question

i need all the info i can get because i am a begginer!!!

Answer 1

Keep your heels down in the stirrups!
Gently squeeze (hold on with) your knees
Sit up straight, shoulders back (my instructor when I started made me put a stick across my back through each elbow.
NEVER NEVER grab onto the horn (if it's a western saddle) if you lose your reins Always grab onto the horses hair if the happens.
NEVER walk behind the horse.
Enjoy yourself, remember as you graduate to other more wild horses, they need to know you are the boss!!

Have fun

Sorry "luvrats" but by grabbing the horn you are not safe from falling off due to the fact the cinch can/does become loose and will slide. The mane is always there.

Answer 2

Sorry Mickey -- but it's perfectly OK to grab the saddle horn if you need to! It's MUCH MUCH better than flailing all over the place and spooking the horse or even worse, falling off and getting injured.

Although the use of a mounting block used to be frowned on -- nowadays it is RECOMMENDED that you use a mounting block every time. It saves MUCH stress on the horses back!

Also, when you are mounting, settle GENTLY into the saddle, don't just plop down. And never just throw the saddle on -- place it gently on the horses back.

And once you know how to tack up the horse, ALWAYS check the girth (to make sure it's tight and safe) before you get on, no matter WHO tacked up the horse. This will make you look like an experienced rider!

Good luck!

Answer 3

You probably noticed that everyone you ask will have a different take on a certain situation. I say to review your source - professionals such as vets and trainers are happy to answer questions. Take a bit of everything you hear and watch other horse people closely. I have learned neat tricks from total novices, and thrown out ideas from "pros." Read a lot and watch videos. The worst advice in all these answers - "just get on and you'll figure it out" (the one about riding while on your period was pretty lame, too - just make sure your pad or tampon is fresh before you start out!) The best advice was " don't be overmounted." There are a lot of good broke horses out there to learn on. If you don't have one, find one! Otherwise you will lose your enthusiasm for horses fast. Good luck and welcome onboard!

Answer 4

The best tip I was ever taught was never, ever, ever allow yourself to be overmounted. If you find yourself up on a horse that for whatever reason you are not confident you can control, DISMOUNT immediately. This applies to a horse that is too fresh for you to ride, too green for you to ride, too experienced for you to ride. The number one reason people get hurt on horseback is trying to ride a horse that is too much for them.

Second best tip: be patient with yourself and make sure you've mastered the basics of horsemanship and equitation before you move on. People do not all learn at the same pace, so don't compare yourself to other people. There are things you may master more quickly than others, and vice versa. Take your time to learn correctly. Unlearning bad habits takes a lot more time and effort than learning how to do something right.

Thing number three: always opt for the safe thing. Wear protective headgear and make sure it's correctly fastened with a harness, not just an elastic chinstrap. Wear appropriate footgear and clothing. Make sure your tack is properly maintained, properly adjusted for the horse, and properly buckled on.

Don't ever let false pride or a sense of competitiveness push you into situations where you don't feel safe. You may get away with high-risk situations for a while, but eventually your luck is going to run out. If someone tries to talk you into doing something that the little voice in your head tells you is unsafe, LISTEN and don't do it.

Relax and enjoy riding. There's no better sport in the world.

Answer 5

Riding:

Imagine a string is going directly through you as you are riding. If in doubt of your posture. Imagine someone "pulling on the string" above your head. that helped me sometimes as oddly enough, it does work and a lot of trainers I have been around feel it is a great natural reminder.

When checking shoulder posture. Do the "Up, forward, down, back" movement.

Heals should be perfectly aligned with the back. toes slightly in.

Hands should be even or infront of the saddle horn (if riding western). Almost even with knee's if English as elbows bent, reminder, shoulders back.

Not only sit tall, but think tall to help remind.

As far as ground work: best tips I say would be to fear the front more than the hind quarter. To get respect is to give respect. When in doubt, listen to horse's instincts and don't do something that intuition is saying to not.

If don't know how to do something or having difficulty, there is to be no shame in asking for help or a trainer. Even experience riders for years need a "refresher course" from someone else.

If you get thrown off, get back on. If you get injured. heal and get back on. Best riders come from those who are determined to complet the task they once started. I was the queen of knowing what dirt, sand, mud, water, pooh and stickers tasted line. It was nasty, but sure made me a better rider.

Grabbing the horn IS OKAY to do. As the old saying goes "It may not honk. But it sure is a good leverage". I grab the horn when I am barrel racing to help keep my body balanced. When learning how to ride, it is NATURAL to grab on to the horn or the back of the saddle. Everyone has done it once, twice or over a thousand times (raises hand). If they say they haven't, either they never offically rode or they are lying.

"The mane is always there. "

Not if it is roached like my youngest gelding's or very thin like my 29 year old geldings. I like to not grab onto the main. Even though their is no nervs, the hair actually pulls on the skin, that does stretch, that can cause discomfort. I don't like my skin being pulled on. I don't dare do it to my horses.

The reason why people don't recommend it (as for myself affter some time) because people begin to depend on the horn, than their confidence and self balance.

Stretch yourself and your horse's muscles prior to riding and after riding. My horses are spoiled once in awhile with a massage.

You will never know everything about horses. I don't care if a person has been riding 40+ years of experience. A person who is riding 10+ years can actually be more qualified than a person of 40+ in knowledge/advice, care etc.

You will find many many many different training methods, care methods and styles of ownership and riding abilities.

There is no "correct" way of riding a horse per say. Each person has their own method and you will find your own by doing "trail and error". You take advice, try it, if doesn't work after awhile, you move on to the next advice.

A happy horse is a well cared for horse.

Answer 6

- If you're on a trail ride or riding with other horses, you should be able to see all 4 of the horse's legs in front of you between your horse's ears.

-When using leg aids, pretend you're kicking a soccer ball. You just "kick" it wherever you want to go.

-My trainer always used to say that you will be the first one to know if your horse's head falls off so do not stare at its head. Look where you want to go.

-Horses, like most animals, can sense fear. Be confident on the horse. Each time you go to the barn, tell yourself, "This will be the best lesson ever!"

-To gain more leg strength, ride without your stirrips. It will teach you to hold on from your knees down to your heels. This will also help if you plan to ride bareback.

-Post! It doesn't matter if you're walking, trotting, cantering, etc. It doesn't even matter if you ride Western.

-If you take group lessons, ride next to the person who you think rides the best. This way, you can watch him/her ride and you can also "compete" with them to have the best posture, the prettiest seat, etc.

-If you have any questions, ask your trainer for help.

-It doesn't hurt to try out different disciplines. It is best to try them both out while you're just getting started so that you can figure out which one is best for you.

-Try out other things with horses. Send them to pasture, feed them, give them baths, etc. This will allow you to be more comfortable around horses.

Answer 7

heelsdown and eyes forward. i never took lessons, but ive heard people yelling that at others!, i always keep my heels down and my weight on the ball of my foot, its the only way to have a comfortable, balanced ride. the most important thing i personally learned was that horses move away from pressure, thats how ive learned to train horses to do about anything is pressure and release.

Answer 8

Best Answer - Chosen By You

riding ips:
never let your horse get away w/ anything or he/she will do it over and over again. (especially mares)
when you begin to trot- sit tall on the pockets of your jeans, even if you are wearingg jodphurs and make your horse trot slowly and it will be easy to sit to if its really fast its gonna be really bumpy.
when you begin posting- come up straight you kinda have to swing your hips forward. if you working really hard to post you are not doing it right and its gonna look bad. get in rythim w/ the hore and you should feel the horse's weight push you up
steering- always pull to your hip and keep your hands low by the withers. push your left heel (left turn) into his/her side to move the hindquarters over.
use your weight to erge your horse on or sit back to him down
think about your balance- is half of you on one side of his spine and half of you on the other side. even when your turning. i used to mistakingly put all my weight into the side that i was pushing my heel into and i couldn't figure out why i couldn't get the horse to turn
keep your legs firm and close to your horse's sides
as your horse relaxes you should loosen you reigns a bit and release a little pressure but always have contact on the bit.
always look where you are going
those are just some . there's a lot to remember. tell us what you have trouble w/ after your lesson and that will make it easier to answer

safety tips- always keep a good 5 feet between horses
never pass another rider to the outside if you are riding in an arena
if you ever drop you reigns bcuz like your horse puts his head down to eat grass or something get off. you no longer have control of your horse w/ out them
don't walk directly behind a horse and if you have to make sure the horse can feel you and know your there
also just a few

Answer 9

Dont be afraid because the horse will feel your fear have confidence and really bond woth your horse and just have fun, also dont pull back on the reins too much or your horse wont like you that much and just have fun!

Answer 10

Firstly, don't go into the paddock with your helmet on if the horse isn't easy to catch. Sounds obvious but you can't get anywhere if you can't get your horse!
Secondly, don't get on your horse if you have had a bad day
Thirdly, lots of cuddles, lots of hacking, and just enjoy it!