Riding A Horse For The First Time Can Be Fun

Riding a horse for the first time can be an intimidating, even scary idea for the novice beginner. However, your first time on a horse should be a pleasurable and rewarding experience.

There are several things to consider if you have never ridden a horse or pony before. You should determine where you will take your ride. It is vital to start your riding career with a certified instructor. You can check around at local farms and stables for a certified instructor. Also, while you are there take a look at the different styles of riding. Western style and English style are the two primary styles of riding. Choose the one you like and find a good reputable certified instructor. Then get ready for your first ride in a confined area–either a corral or a riding pen.

Riding western is a little more relaxed, and is practiced most often in trail riding or pleasure riding. If you are not ready to make a commitment to a regular riding style, stick with Western pleasure. You will learn the basic commandments of how to ride and guide your horse, in a more calm and pleasurable style.

Once you find a certified instructor in your style of choice, it's time for your first lesson. You should immerse yourself in the language of horse people. Take a look around where the lesson will occur and get to know the gear and tack that you will use. Knowing the gear and how it is used with the horse will make you feel more comfortable. Horses can sense how you feel and the more relaxed and comfortable you are, the better your first ride will be. Once you are comfortable with the gear and you are able to do so, you should introduce yourself to the horse you will be riding. Do this by letting them smell you. They smell to learn about their world. You may stick your hand out, palm up, fingers flat. If your thumb or fingers are up, they look like a great treat to the horse. When you feel comfortable with the horse, you can pet it's neck. Now, it's time to get up on the horse.

Before you mount, make sure the instructor shows you how to check your girth, or the strap that goes under the horses' belly that connects your saddle. You want to make sure it is securely fastened, with only enough room to slide two fingers underneath.

Use a mounting block to mount the horse this first time. Always mount from the left side. This way it is easy to place your left foot in the left stirrup and swing your right leg over your mount. Then put your right foot into the other stirrup and hold onto the reins with a tight grip in case the instructor is not holding the horse in place. The instructor should help you make sure the stirrups are the correct length (not to short or long) for your legs.

Make sure you have a correct seat in the saddle. Sit up straight in the saddle, and relax your lower half. Imagine a string is pulling the top half of your body straight in the air, and that your lower half becomes a part of the horse-moving your bum with the horses' movements. Keep your ankles pointed down, and make sure you your stirrups are the correct length (not too long or too short.)

There are many things to keep in mind and remember when riding a horse for the first time. The most important tips are to remain calm, keeping trust with the instructor and the horse you are riding. Your first experience, like your last experience on a horse should be fun and never unpleasant.