10 Tips For Beginner Riders To Look Like Experts in The Saddle

22/11/2020 10 Tips for Beginner Riders to Look Like Experts in the Saddle - BookHorseRidingHolidays.
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Are you thinking of going horse riding for the first time? It’s only natural to feel a bit
nervous about it; after all, you’re about to ride a relatively large, living animal.
This is why it’s very important to be guided by an expert or a trained professional when
you take up horse riding. Not only will they provide the support and reassurance that you
need to feel safe and comfortable, but they can also share useful riding tips for
beginners. After all, every expert was once a beginner too, right? They will be able to
relate to what you are going through and provide personalized feedback.
As one lesson will not nearly be enough for you to be able to ride properly, one of the
best (and most enjoyable) ways to learn the basics is to go on a horse riding holiday for
beginners.
Not only will you have ample time to build up your horse riding skills but also establish a
relationship with your horse, meet like-minded people, and see a new country (or your
own) from a different perspective.
1. Wear proper horse riding equipment
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It might be obvious, but regardless of your preferred style of riding (Western or English
riding), you don’t want to show up wearing a miniskirt, shorts, or beach sandals. Long
pants and proper footwear are essential for horse riding. Any close-toed shoes might do
the job, but it would be ideal if you have a pair of low heeled boots, no more than 1-1.5
inches (2.5-4cm), to avoid your feet from slipping through the stirrups.
Don’t wear scarves, purses or any other accessories that could get tangled in the
reins, saddle, bushes, or trees. Lastly, it is always recommended to wear a helmet for your
own safety.
2. Greet your horse
22/11/2020 10 Tips for Beginner Riders to Look Like Experts in the Saddle - BookHorseRidingHolidays.com
Keep in mind that your horse is a living creature, not a vehicle that you can control at
your will. The horse could also be nervous, tired or even scared to have someone new
riding him. Therefore, to establish a good relationship since the beginning, greet your
horse when you’re introduced to him at the ranch.
To greet your horse, extend your arm and offer the back of your hand to him to smell and
wait until he touches it with his nose. This simple action is called the “horseman’s
handshake” and you could interpret it as a way to ask him for permission to mount him.
3. Mount with confidence
If you’re nervous, the horse can feel it and he might become uneasy too. If you choose
to go on a ranch vacation, you’ll find that the horses are typically trained to be mounted
on the left side. Most possibly, your guide will be holding your horse’s head while you’re
mounting, but if that’s not the case, ask someone to do it so he doesn’t move.
Lift your left foot into the stirrup, hold both reins with your left hand and propel yourself
up with your right leg, moving as smoothly as possible. Don’t push the horse down with
your arms, this could hurt him; you can put your hands on his back, but just for balance.
4. Don’t slouch. Sit up straight and relaxed
Maybe you happened to watch the Kentucky Derby and felt excited enough to think that
you had to hunch to ride as fast as possible like the professional jockeys on TV. Well,
keep in mind that a horse riding weekend break is all about relaxation, not at the Grand
National.
The best position to keep control of your horse is to sit up straight and tall, relax your
back, hold the reins gently, set a foot in each stirrup, and hold your balance to not make
your horse feel like he’s carrying a heavier load.
» Horse riding requires strength, balance, and stamina. Luckily, these can also be
trained off the saddle by adding these exercises for horse riders to your routine.
5. Be gentle with the reins
Your riding technique might depend on which style you’re learning, English or Western. In
English riding, you take a rein in each hand, while in Western riding you grab both reins
in one hand. Whichever you choose, relax your arms and never pull too hard or you
might hurt your horse. There’s rarely a good reason to lift the reins above your shoulder
level, your arms should normally form right angles at the elbow.
To direct your horse to the left, move the left rein towards the left in a motion similar to
opening a door. If you want to steer to the right, just do the same with the right rein.
Stop by gently pulling back and pushing the heels down.
6. Don’t hold the saddle horn for balance
When horse riding in the USA or Mexico, you most likely will find a saddle horn in your
horse tack, which you can hold on to. However, you should not count on the saddle horn
to keep you balanced. If you feel unstable, try adjusting your posture, extending your legs
or holding the reins more gently.
If you make a habit of holding the saddle horn, if there’s an unexpected situation along
the way, this is an ineffective position to keep your balance and you’ll be more likely to
fall. That’s why you should never get used to holding onto the saddle horn even when
you’re just walking. It’s better to learn properly from the get-go instead of developing
bad habits that could hurt you in the long run.
Note that in the UK or other European countries, the tack does not typically include

a saddle horn. Keep in mind that you should also avoid holding the front of the saddle
for balance.
7. Keep your eyes where you’re going
Don’t fix your gaze on your horse while you ride. As beautiful as he is, you must always
keep your eyes on the trail. Staring at your horse would be the equivalent of paying
attention to the hood of your car while ignoring the road ahead (you surely wouldn’t
want to be in a car with such a driver).
It is said that you should look ahead through the horse’s ears. But as long as you keep
sight of the path while holding a straight posture, that should be enough to have a
safe trail riding trip.
8. Stay in tune with your horse
Here’s our best Mr. Miyagi-ish lesson: be your horse. Stay calm and move your body
in the rhythm of your horse. Feel the way he is walking and let him rock you from side to
side without resisting. If you’re too tense, you might bounce, get thrown off balance and
cause some discomfort in your back.
Let the horse be. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can let him do whatever he wants,
but you can play the role of a leader, not the one of a dictator.
9. There’s nothing wrong with just walking
Remember point number 4? Read the first paragraph again and apply that mindset for tip
number 9. Most horses have four gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. As you might have
deduced, galloping is out of the question when you’ve just started with horse riding.
The walk is the steadiest gait and that could very well be the fastest you go when riding
for the first time. It’s not worth putting your safety at risk just for the sake of impressing
someone (besides, a broken arm, if you fall, is not as impressive as it was in high school).
You can probably start trotting at one point, but anything faster might not be the wisest
decision as a novice.
10. Dismount like a pro

Whoa there! Once you’re ready to dismount, make sure your horse is still. Also, it’s much
better if someone holds the horse while you do so. Get both feet out of the stirrups, lean
forward, swing your right leg over the horse, and jump off.
Just as when you mounted, try to do it as smoothly as you can. Thank your horse, give
him some water and embrace the feeling of being back on the ground after an
unforgettable experience. You most possibly won’t be able to wait much longer to get
back in the saddle!

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22/11/2020 10 Tips for Beginner Riders to Look Like Experts in the Saddle - BookHorseRidingHolidays.

1. Wear proper horse riding equipment

2. Greet your horse

3. Mount with confidence

4. Don’t slouch. Sit up straight and relaxed

5. Be gentle with the reins

6. Don’t hold the saddle horn for balance

Note that in the UK or other European countries, the tack does not typically include

7. Keep your eyes where you’re going

safe trail riding trip.

8. Stay in tune with your horse

9. There’s nothing wrong with just walking

10. Dismount like a pro

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