How to Ride a Horse

• by Brigitte g

Introduction

• Like any sport, horseback riding takes practice and dedication. The safest way to learn the correct way to ride a horse is to work with an experienced riding instructor. Let your instructor know what your personal goals for horseback riding are. It can be anything from a competitive sport to a fun, casual hobby!

Horseback Riding Styles

• The two most common styles of horseback riding are Western and English.

Western

• The Western style of horseback riding was largely developed by ranchers and cowboys who were working while riding their horses.¹ For this reason, Western riding uses one-handed control of the horse which allows the rider to have the other hand free for a rope.

• However, you don't have to be a cowboy to enjoy this style of riding! Many pleasure riders prefer Western riding because it requires slightly less balance and leaves one hand free.¹

• A traditional Western saddle has a deep seat and a saddle horn. A Western saddle generally weighs more than an English saddle and has thicker stirrups.¹

English

• The English style of horseback riding isn't just used in England.² Many riding instructors suggest that students first learn English style riding before any other, since it requires more balance and form and will make learning other riding styles easier.³

• A traditional English saddle has a flat seat and no saddle horn. It's also lighter weight than a Western saddle, and has thinner stirrups.²

Step 1: Prepare to Ride

• Safe horseback riding starts before you get on the horse!

What to Wear

1. Footwear
   • For horseback riding, you should wear shoes that have some kind of small heel to make using the stirrups easier.⁴
   • For Western Style riding, sturdy cowboy boots are best, while English boots are recommended for English style riding.
   • Casual sneakers will work if that's all you have, but dress shoes or sandals are not a good idea.⁵ Also, don't wear especially large, loose-fitting or bulky shoes that don't slide easily in and out of the stirrups.
   • Also avoid athletic shoes with deep rubber tread, as they are also difficult to slide in and out of the stirrups.⁶ Shoes that don't slide out of the stirrups easily can lead to serious injury or even death if you fall from the horse and your foot is caught in the stirrup.
2. Pants
   • You should always wear long pants when riding a horse.⁵
   • The type of pants you should wear will depend on the style of riding you'll be doing. For Western riding, jeans will work. For English riding, riding breeches are recommended, or jeans worn with chaps.⁶
3. Shirts or Jackets
   • Avoid very loose, draping shirts or jackets that could get caught on the saddle or in the reins.
4. Riding Helmet
   • When you're a beginner, horseback riding can be a scary experience. Always wear a riding helmet.⁷ You may feel silly at first, but you'll appreciate the peace of mind it gives you.

Examine the Horse and Equipment

1. Before you get on the horse, have an experienced rider check to be sure it's properly saddled.
2. Also have an experienced rider check that the bridle and reins are fastened securely and that the horse is comfortable with the bit in its mouth.
3. Make sure none of the equipment is damaged or broken.⁴
4. Check for any signs of discomfort or injury in the horse. Something like one tiny bur caught between the saddle blanket and the horse's skin could cause erratic behavior.

Step 2: Mount the Horse

• After the horse is properly saddled and bridled, it's time to get on!

1. Always mount the horse on its left side.⁸
2. Before mounting, approach the horse and gently stroke its neck so it knows you're there.
3. Take hold of the reins in your left hand.
4. Standing on the left side of the horse, step into the stirrup with your left foot.⁶ Your weight should be on ball of your foot, placed in the center of the stirrup.
5. Holding into the horse's wither (the base of the horse's neck, in front of the saddle) in the same hand as the reins, push up and swing your right leg over the horse's back.⁸
6. Be careful not to kick the horse while mounting it.
7. At this point, you'll need to make sure the stirrups are the correct length for your legs. The stirrups should let your feet rest in them while your knees are slightly bent.⁷ Adjust the stirrups if necessary.
8. Sit on the horse with your shoulders back, back straight, heels down, and the balls of your feet resting on the stirrups, toes pointed forward.⁸
9. Always keep hold of the reins, holding them in your dominant hand slightly in front of the saddle, over the horse's neck.

Step 3: Reining

• Reins are the steering system when you're riding a horse. The way you steer the horse depends on whether the horse has been trained to respond to neck reining or bit reining.

• NOTE: Always use the reins gently.⁷ It may seem like you are putting a very small amount of pressure on the reins, but the metal bit in the horse's mouth allows them to feel small changes in the movement of the reins. Sharp, hard movements will hurt the horse and eventually cause them to be less responsive to your commands.

Neck Reining

• Neck reining is most commonly used with Western riding.

1. A horse that has been trained to neck rein responds to the feeling of the reins on its neck.⁹
2. Neck reining requires only one hand, since the reins are left tied in a knot and move as one.
3. To steer left, move the reins, together, slightly to the left. This will cause the right rein to fall against the horse's neck.⁷ The horse will turn away from the feeling of the reins on its neck.

Bit Reining

• This style of reining, sometimes called "plow reining," is more commonly used with English riding.¹⁰

1. If a horse is not trained to neck rein, you steer simply by pulling on the reins in the direction you want to go.⁶
2. Bit reining requires two hands because you'll need to separate the reins to pull one at a time.
3. To turn left, pull back gently on the left rein. This will turn the horse's head left, and their path will turn left too.⁷

Step 4: Riding Speeds

• Practice each speed until you are comfortable with it before moving on to the next speed. This might mean not going faster than a walk for several weeks. Be patient!

Walk

1. Depending on the signal that the horse has been trained to respond to, either make a soft clicking noise, gently squeeze the horse with your legs or a give tiny shake of the reins in order to start moving forward from a standing position.¹⁰
2. Don't forget to keep your heels-down, back straight posture when the horse is in motion.⁷ Imagine a straight line that goes through your heels, hips, and shoulders.

Trot

1. After you're walking, another squeeze of your legs or clicking noise (or whatever signal your horse has been trained to respond to) should speed you up to a trot.⁸
2. Trotting is a very bumpy speed for most horses. Be sure to keep a firm hold on the reins, and your feet in the stirrups.
3. In English riding, riders "post the trot," which means they alternate sitting in the saddle and holding their weight on their feet in the stirrups, along with the rhythm of the horse's gait.¹¹

Canter and Gallop

1. In Western riding, the canter is often called a lope.⁷
2. From a trot, another leg squeeze or other signal should tell the horse to transition into a canter.
3. When you're in a canter, try to relax your muscles and move with the rhythm of the horse.
4. Since the horse's head needs to move up and down in a canter, allow some slack in the reins and move your hands slightly forward and back with the horse's head.¹¹
5. From a canter, one more squeeze or signal will move you into a gallop.
6. The gallop is the fastest speed, and it's just a faster version of the canter.
7. In a gallop, you'll have your weight in the stirrups, with your bottom off the saddle the entire time.⁷
8. Leaning slightly forward in the saddle will help you keep your balance in a gallop.

Step 5: Slowing Down and Stopping

• No matter how much fun you're having riding a horse, eventually you're going to want to stop.

1. Most horses are trained to slow down and stop when the reins are pulled backwards.
2. Even if you want to stop quickly, never jerk back hard on the reins. This could cause the horse to rear up.
3. Release any leg pressure on the horse before you ask it to slow down or stop.⁶
4. Make sure you have a solid seat on the saddle before pulling back on the reins.
5. If the horse stops abruptly, you might need to lean backwards and push on the stirrups with your feet, heels forward, to keep your balance.
6. Once the horse has come to a complete stop, remember to release the pressure on the reins to let the horse know its finished obeying the command.⁷

Step 6: Dismount

• Now that you're stopped, it's time to get off the horse!

1. Hold both reins in your left hand. Be prepared to pull back gently on the reins if the horse starts to move forward as you dismount.
2. Take both of your feet out of the stirrups.
3. Lean forward and put your hands on the horse's neck, or hold onto the saddle.
4. Swing your right leg completely up and over the horse's back.⁶
5. As you do this, put your weight onto your arms and push slightly away from the horse with your hands so you land clear of the horse rather than sliding down its side.⁸

Horseback Riding Tips

1. Learn to ride on a horse that is well trained and has a gentle disposition.
2. Horses may be stubborn or try to challenge your authority. Be firm and consistent with the horse.
3. Never hit a horse, jerk the reins or kick it.
4. Remember: falling off a horse is part of learning to ride. Don't be afraid to get back on!⁷
5. If you fall off the horse, try to roll away from the horse as you hit the ground to avoid being stepped on or kicked.⁴
6. When you're a beginner, consider using special break-away stirrups.⁴ They'll separate from the saddle if you fall off and your foot is caught in the stirrup.
7. Horses can be easily startled. A loud noise or small animal running in its path could make a horse jump or want to run away. Stay calm and in control.
8. A fenced-in area of flat terrain is the best place to learn to ride a horse.
9. After riding a horse, remember that the horse will need adequate cool-down time.¹¹ Always end a ride with a slow walk.

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References for How to Ride a Horse

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Wikipedia.com: Western Riding
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Wikipedia.com: English Riding
3. ↑ eHow.com: Learn to Ride a Horse
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons: Tips to Prevent Horseback Riding Injuries
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} DIYNetwork.com: Riding Attire, Horse-Care Tips and Prep for Riding
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5} Everything2.com: How to Ride a Horse
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9} Wikihow.com: How to Ride a Horse
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4} DIYNetwork.com: Mounting, Dismounting, and Reining
9. ↑ Wikipedia.com: Neck Rein
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Ezinearticles.com: How to Ride a Horse
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} DIYNetwork.com: Riding Tips and Techniques

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