Horse riding is easily one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities that anyone could ever experience, which is why learning to ride a horse is undoubtedly a great skill for any animal lover to gain.
Nonetheless, it can feel like quite a daunting prospect, which is why it’s crucial that you equip yourself with a winning plan of action. Follow the five simple tips below, and you won’t go far wrong.
Bond With Your Horse
Before worrying about riding your horse, you should learn to form a bond with your horse. When you know how to tie, groom, and lead the horse in a winning fashion, you’ll have a far stronger foundation for riding success. Moreover, feeding with premium grade food like Spillers horse feed, ensures that the horse grows to be strong and healthy, which can only aid your situation as a rider too. A loving relationship truly is the first step to becoming a more competent rider.
Find A Trainer
While it certainly is possible to learn to ride a horse by yourself, there are several reasons not to. Firstly, you’ll be putting yourself and the horse at risk as a beginner’s mistake could lead to major problems. Meanwhile, it’s almost inevitable that a self-taught rider will pick up some very bad habits without even realising it. As such, hiring a competent horse riding instructor should be one of the top items on your list. If nothing else, it should provide peace of mind.
Wear The Right Equipment
You already know how important it is for your horse to wear the right horseshoes, but you must also think about the equipment being used for riding. The right choice of saddle and bridle is essential while you must also discover how to fit them in a way that is comfortable for the horse and safe for you. As a new rider, you may wish to wear a helmet while all children should wear them along with protective boots, clothing, and pads. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Take It Slow
It’s tempting to unleash your inner John Wayne right away, but it’s important to remember that slow and steady wins the race. You’ll have a whole lifetime to build up speed and become more confident in the saddle. Start with learning to walk and halt before moving on how to turn using the direct rein and the neck reins. Trotting, cantering, and loping can all come at a later date. Once again, there is no rush to get faster and you should simply look to get better as you grow in confidence.
Learn To Fall
When you do get confident, you’ll soon realise that jumps and obstacles are a great way to stimulate your horse while also boosting your personal enjoyment. However, this will almost certainly lead to a few falls along the way. Learning to fall in a safe manner and perform an emergency discharge without serious injury will go a long way to boosting your confidence and also allows you to keep your horse away from major danger in those situations.
While there is still a long journey ahead, these five steps will make you a far more competent rider. Above all else, remember to enjoy it!