May 15 2009
Horse Riding
Horseback Riding Lesson Guide – the Top 7 Rules All Riders Must Follow on the Trail
As always, safety is the biggest factor to keep in mind as you enjoy this wonderful sport of horseback riding. Safe practices and good common sense that will help you enjoy your free time without the instructor after your horseback riding lesson is over!
1. Anything can happen on a trail ride. Your horse could become ill or lame. You could become ill or injured. You could get lost or get stuck. My point is this: Other people need to know where you plan to go, and when you plan to return. That way, if something unexpected happens, at least others will come looking for you! If you are an inexperienced rider, you should ride with someone else when you leave the familiar territory around the barn. If you are an experienced rider and want to go it alone, at least take a charged up cell phone with you!
2. There are two things you should always take with you on a trail ride: a hoof pick and a pocketknife. It should be clear enough, but let me elaborate. If your horse gets a stone lodged into his frog, continued walking on it will make him very sore. A hoof pick can quickly fix that potential problem. Sometimes vines or thick brush can get wrapped around a leg or hoof (especially if your horse has on shoes). Without that pocketknife to cut your way out, you could wind up in a bad situation. Now, I am assuming that the rider here is old enough and mature enough to use a pocketknife. I would not recommend that a small child carry one, but then again, a small child should not be on a trail ride without an adult anyway. So, adults should carry a pocket knife.
3. People often forget their horsemanship after their horseback riding lesson. They think a trail ride is a relaxing time for them so they allow their horse to relax as well. Do not do this! Horses are not smart enough to discern playtime from work time. When you are riding, you are ALWAYS teaching your horse something, whether good or bad. One thing many people become lax about on the trail is allowing their horse to grab bites of grass as they are walking along the trail. That is a big no-no. If you allow it on the trail, next time it will be on the way to the show ring gate. Some horses will get aggressive about it, plunging their head down at every blade of grass so hard and fast that you lose your grip on the reins and are left, momentarily, without any control. The trail is the last place you want to be without control!
4. When you are riding with others, remember that horses are always communicating with each other. For this reason, it is important that you ride a respectful distance from the other riders. If you are single file, say, on a narrow path through the woods, be sure to keep at least one horse length between you and the next rider in front of you. If you do not, and you crowd the horse in front of you, that horse may decide to teach your horse a lesson and kick at him. If you are horseback riding side by side in an open area, keep their herd instincts in mind. Although you want to keep a safe distance away, you also do not want to create unnecessary anxiety among the horses if they think the herd is getting split up! For the same reason, do not ever take off running away from the group without warning the others. If told, the riders can be prepared for their horses’ natural reaction to take off as well. If not, they could take a spill as their horse bolts unexpectedly.
5. Running through an open field appears very inviting. With few exceptions, this is a bad idea. If you are galloping through a field you are not familiar with, you never know when an overgrown ditch or a covered up hole becomes the bane of your existence. Not only could your horse stumble, he could break a leg! Be careful with terrain you have never covered before, whether it is an open field or a windy dirt road.
6. Your horse will see scary stuff while on a trail ride. When this happens, do not be in a hurry. Let him look, walk slowly, let him sniff whatever it is. At the same time, however, do not go out of your way to show it to him. In other words, the bigger deal YOU make out of a foreign object, the bigger deal it is to him. If you ignore it, he will come closer to doing the same. When riders go back and forth, back and forth in front of the spooky object, “showing” it to their horse, thinking they were getting him used to it, they are usually making the situation worse. Instead, calmly encourage him forward and talk in a smooth tone of voice. In fact, talking to another rider and ignoring the object and his reaction to it often works best.
7. If you come across others on the trail, like hikers, bikers or other riders, speak to them. Your horse is listening to you and following your lead. If you casually say hello and walk along with comfort, he will likely do the same. If you, however, grab the reins, tighten your seat, close your legs and generally convey nervousness, he will sense that and react accordingly.
That covers the 7 rules that I find most important when trail riding. There are plenty of other good ideas I could share, but these are the ones that will help keep you out of trouble so that you get the most out of your horseback riding experience. Happy Trails!
For more information on horse riding go to http://www.HorseCampsBlog.com or www.LearnToRideAHorseGuide.com
How to Ride a Horse – The Top 5 Mistakes Made by the New Rider
It is hard enough to start out learning how to ride a horse. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of these five guidelines that will assist your efforts and make your goals attainable faster!
1. Start out with the right horse. So often it seems someone falls in love with a horse that they think is beautiful, or exciting, or loving and because of this unfettered commitment, continue riding a horse that is completely wrong for them. Horses come in all sizes, colors, breeds, and talents, just as humans vary in experience and talent. If you are riding a horse that is simply too hot blooded for you, or too rough gaited for you, or simply too bull-headed for your temperament, you will not be happy. Some things can be changed. Your horse’s training can improve and your skills as a rider will improve. But, there is simply nothing that will change that rough gait of his that throws out your already-weak back. There is nothing that will change his hot blooded spirit that you find so difficult to control. Have the good sense to rethink your mount and consider trading or finding a horse more suitable for you.
2. Many riders do not know when they are getting into trouble. Riders can get into precarious situations simply because they lack the knowledge to know better. Take the time to learn about horse behavior, their instincts, their natural reaction to their surroundings and use that knowledge. I have seen a beginner riding a mare who was in season too close to a paddock in which a stallion was turned out. That is a potentially catastrophic situation! The old adage about rookies who “know just enough to be dangerous” could not be more true than with horses! You gain a certain comfort level after a short time of riding that gives one a false sense of competence. There is SO much to learn about horses and horsemanship. It is a lifelong journey to become the best horseman you can become.
3. One of the most frustrating things an instructor deals with is the new rider who has an excuse for everything they are being asked to change. It goes like this:
Instructor: “Lower your hands”
Student: “I can’t because my reins are too long.”
Instructor: “Well, shorten your reins”
Student: “I can’t because ….blah, blah, blah”
You get the idea. I call this the “shut up and just do it” rule. There is so much to learn and so many things to think about at the same time “Keep your heels down, quiet your hands, sit up straight in the saddle, keep your chin up, keep a light contact with his mouth, now, heels down again!” Until it comes naturally, it seems to be a textbook of rules to remember! The more you hear what to do, the more stiff you become, the more difficult it seems and the more impossible to achieve. But just hang in there! Keep listening, stop talking and keep trying to do what the instructor is telling you. Have faith that it will all gradually become muscle memory and will come much more naturally after more and more hours in the saddle. It is certainly okay to tell your instructor if you are confused or have a question. Generally speaking, however, be quiet, keep trying, keep practicing, and keep the faith!
4. New riders are usually so enthralled with their new sport that they pay more attention to themselves than to what is going on around them. Everything is so new, they lose themselves in what they are doing and that is understandable. However, new riders will benefit so much more if they stop, listen, and learn from other professional riders, and I mean professionals. It is not going to help you much if you are trying to augment your equine education with a barn pal who has had all of three riding lessons more than you have. Watch the horsemen who have the skills and the knowledge of horsemanship you can truly learn from. I remember in my earlier days of showing horses, I would go to the warm up arena at the horse show, late at night and watch the professional trainers working their horses. Although I could not hear much, I could watch their techniques, their manner, their demeanor, their methods to communicate certain things with their horse. Even if I did not get it all at the time, their professionalism and their respect for the horse left an indelible impression on me.
5. Lastly, gain a realistic perspective of yourself, your goals and how to attain them. A frequent mistake made by new enthusiasts is to evaluate their progress based on how they placed in a horse show class. As with so many things, it is the journey that is worth while. Do not get caught up in who got first place, who got second place. It is only one person’s opinion anyway. It is not an indictment of your ability or your horses’ ability if you do not win a horse show class. Focus on the larger goal, the pursuit of excellence within yourself, achieving that union with your horse. Do not worry about anybody else, including your competitors and your fellow barn students.
For more information go to to http://www.horsebacklessonsguide.com or http://www.horsebacklessonsguide.com.
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Lisa B. Blackstone has been involved in the Arabian horse business all of her life. She is a practicing attorney in the Atlanta, Georgia area. Recently, Lisa launched two websites designed to teach the novice rider about horses and horsemanship. You can visit them at http://www.HorseAndRiderClub.com and http://www.AmericanHorseAssociation.com She is the host of The Horse and Rider Radio Show at Radio Sandy Springs. |