Essential Tips For Students

Welcome to your go-to guide for advancing your skills in horse riding. Whether you're a budding equestrian or looking to refine your techniques, this page is designed to be your companion on the journey to mastery.

There are flat halters and rope halters. We use a rope halter, and this is how you tie it.

Riders Position

Hands -- Should be forward, Imagine a line from the elbows to the corner of the horses' mouth.

Thumbs are the highest point.

Palms are facing inward.

If you are sitting correctly, you would land on your feet without tipping forward or backwards if your horse were to disappear from under you.

General position:
There is a straight line from shoulders, hips, and heels.
Elbows are down adjacent to the hips and stable, they do not move.

Leading The Horse

Allow the horse to have his/her head (don't hold the horse close to the snap.
There are two reasons:
1. In walk the horse has a natural head bob, you don't want to prevent this.
2. If the horse were to spook you want the horse to be able to get away from you. This is a safety reason. (If you are holding to closely the horse will be stuck to you, and can't get away.

Safety

Protecting Your Space

You can get big to prevent the horse from running into you or over you. Also, to prevent the horse from bumping into you, you can gently do maneuvers such as knee-ups and jumping jacks.

Understand A Horse's Body Language

Learn to read a horse's body language to gauge its mood.
A relaxed horse will have a lowered head, soft eyes, and a generally calm demeanor. An upset horse will have its ears pinned back.

Safely Mounting

One hand on the Rein and Mane. Only go half way up until you know the horse is going to stand still.

Mount the horse and sit and wait.

So often riders hop on a moving horse and take off right after they hit the saddle. Unfortunately, the rider is training the horse to take off as soon as they get in the saddle. Although, this can be fun ... , it can be dangerous for the horse to take off if you are not stable or situated in the saddle.