Table of Contents
Introduction:
Before you begin Horse Ride Training there are a few things you need to know. With any animal, including a horse, your safety comes first. It’s completely okay if you’re feeling nervous for the first time.
Trips to the ER can be quite avoidable if the necessary precautions are taken when learning to ride a horse. Taking your time is your best option.
Trying to learn to ride a horse as fast as you can, can lead to avoidable injuries. The tips for beginner horse riders below may be crucial before beginning your training.
Safety Equipment For Horse ride training
Inflatable air vest- An inflatable air vest works to reduce the impact of a fall and reduce compression.
Boots with heels:
The heels on the boots prevent the rider’s foot from going all the way through the stirrup which isn’t the proper way to place your feet when riding a horse. Boots with heels may also be called cowboy boots and are more commonly used for Western-style riding.
Paddock boots and half chaps are proper for English Style riding. Get the proper boots for the type of training you will be doing.
The proper way to put feet in stirrups is stated below in the How to ride a horse step by step list.
SEI-certified helmet:
Having a good helmet is always a good idea. In the event that you are suddenly dismounted, it will protect your head.
Safety stirrups:
Safety stirrups lessen the chance of your foot getting jammed when you take a sudden fall. If your foot goes through the entire stirrup when you fall, you can be dragged and severely hurt.
Medical ID bracelet:
In case of a fall where you are seriously injured and cannot speak or walk to get help, the medical ID bracelet can help anyone who stumbles across where you’ve fallen, tell the paramedics who you are.
Investing in good safety equipment costs a lot less than the medical bill after a trip to the ER. Your safety comes first. But your safety starts with the precautions you take to ensure it.
Safety Precautions for horse rider
Helmet:
Wearing a helmet is NOT an option. Make sure it fits properly. In the event of a sudden dismount, it can save your life and prevent serious head injuries. After an accident, you should replace your helmet. Every four or five years of using one without a fall, it should be replaced.
Be aware of your surroundings:
Riding a horse for the first time is pretty distracting but a horse is an unpredictable animal and you need to stay alert. You will understand your horse more as you progress through your horse ride training.
Protect your feet:
Proper boots are a must. You don’t need to immediately invest in new boots until you figure out if you will continue learning to ride a horse or not.
Riding a horse for the first time isn’t easy. Below are additional Tips for beginner horse riders and a step-by-step guide on how to ride a horse that will help you on your journey to becoming an expert horse rider.
How to ride a horse step by step
01
It’s preferred for someone to hold the horse still and make sure it stays calm while you get on.
02
Make sure your girth is secure. If it isn’t your saddle can roll when you try to get on.
03
Make sure you’re standing on the horse’s left side because it is customary to work from this side and it is accustomed to it.
04
Hold the reins with your left hand just in front of the saddle. Make sure you are holding them loosely. Reins are what you use in order to steer the horse so you need to have them ready.
05
Put your left foot in the stirrup. Make sure the ball of your foot is on the stirrup and not sticking your foot all the way out through to the heel.
06
Push yourself up onto the horse with your left foot, and sit on the horse so that your right leg is next to your left leg.
07
Carefully swing your right leg over the horse being sure not to kick them along the way and sit down in the saddle as gently as you possibly can to avoid scaring the horse.
08
Adjust your stirrups to the proper length. If you don’t know how to do this, ask your trainer for help.
09
Put your right foot into the other stirrup and remember the ball of your foot goes into the stirrup, not your toes or heels.
10
You’re now ready to start your Horse Riding training. As long as you follow the tips for beginner horse riders and the steps above, you should do great
Infographic: horse riding training
A mounting block may also be useful while mounting a horse. A mounting block is just a plastic or woodblock that brings you closer to the stirrup so that it’s easier to get on. The mounting process itself doesn’t change.
How to stop a horse
01
Make sure you’re steady in the saddle.
02
Sink all of your weight into the seat.
03
Lean back and let your legs tense/firm.
04
If needed, hold onto the horn or front of the saddle.
05
Let your horse know you want to stop by saying “whoa” in a normal tone, you do not need to yell.
06
Gently pull back on the reins. If you pull too hard this can cause the animal to panic and throw you out of the saddle, causing serious injuries. Alternate between tightening and releasing the pressure. Remember that the reins are in the horse’s mouth and it’s very sensitive.
07
When the horse has completely stopped, drop your reins and give your horse a pat for doing such a wonderful job.
Infographic: how to stop a horse
Most times when you learn something new, taking it slow is the better way to go about it. It’s beneficial to practice as often as you can in every aspect of your training.
If you are mounting your horse and do not believe you are fully ready to move on to the next step, do it again and again until you are sure you are ready to move on.
Best tips for beginner horse riders
During your Horse ride training, it’s better to progress slowly and become confident in all areas of riding a horse before progressing to the next step.
The tips for beginner horse riders may help you better understand the precautions you need to take, as well as how to safely control your horse. But there are still things you may need to know.
01
The safest way to start Horse Ride Training is with a professional instructor. It’s better to be with someone who is more experienced and can you give you more tips for beginning your training to be a horse rider.
It’s also better to have a professional because if you’re with someone who doesn’t really know what they are talking about and hasn’t had as much experience as a professional has, you may get seriously injured by lack of judgment.
Save yourself a trip to the ER. If you want to learn to go into Horse riding training, get a professional to teach you.
02
The more experience you have with other aspects, the easier it may be to learn and maneuver around the difficult aspects. It’s like riding a bike. If you’re riding a bike and you do not get it the first time, you try it again.
If you’re well trained in certain aspects of riding a bike, like sitting and pedaling, the easier it will be to learn how to stand and pedal as well.
A horse is the same way. Once you are confident in your ability to ride a horse (walking), then the easier it will be to maneuver the difficult task of learning to trot.
03
There’s no telling how long it will take an individual to learn to ride a horse. You can learn to walk after a few lessons, but learning to trot may take you weeks or months.
Everyone learns at their own pace, and that’s okay. Don’t be discouraged if you feel you will never get the hang of it, you will. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time and effort trying to learn a skill than doing it once and believing you are doing it correctly, and getting seriously injured.
You learn to ride a horse fast by taking it slow. Take your time. Practice makes perfect. Refer to the above tips for beginner horse riders for tips on how to stay safe while riding a horse for the first time and every time after that.
04
If you’re learning to trot, remember to relax and don’t grip your knees.
05
Make sure everything fits properly (clothing, helmet, and boots.)
06
Training will be difficult. Treat it as a sport. It is physical and hard to do. Your accomplishments should be cherished. Remember to enjoy yourself. Your first time will always be the best time.
Feel confident in yourself as you start your horse riding training because with belief in yourself, you can do anything you put your mind to. This does include riding a horse.
07
Whether you are beginning horse riding training for the very first time and intend to continue until the end of the training, or if you are simply horse riding for the first time for fun, it is beneficial and important that safety measures are taken seriously.
Your safety is a priority, don’t forget that. You are riding an unpredictable animal, it can do anything. You want to prevent yourself from retrieving serious injuries if this animal lashes out and is too much control and you have no other choice but to let go.
The proper helmet, boots, and clothing will lessen the impact between the ground and your body. Additional safety equipment, like Inflatable air vests, may also save you from obtaining serious injuries.
Anything you can do to keep your horse calm, and yourself safe, is exactly what you need to do. Keep practicing procedures within your training until you know you’ve got it down, then move on.
08
Along with staying safe and making sure you’re confident, it’s important to have fun. Horse riding doesn’t have to be all serious. Be aware of your surroundings, but don’t miss the beauty of it.
Watch the animal closely for signs of discomfort and anxiety, but don’t forget to soothe it. The experience of riding a horse is beautiful. The horse itself is a beautiful animal.
Being too serious takes away from the fact that new things are beautiful and worthwhile as long as you are willing to see it that way. To be able to say that you know how to ride a horse or that you are learning to is wonderful.
Conclusion:
You have the potential, ability, and strength to bypass any doubts you have about whether or not you are capable of learning. You can learn. As long as you are trying…you are progressing.
No matter how long it takes you to learn, you’ll make new friends along the way and adapt to new skills. It’s something some people don’t get the chance to experience. You will make it. You can do it. Your journey to becoming a Professional Horse rider is only beginning, and I wish you the best of luck. I hope to see you trotting!