Horseback Riding - Get Your Boots On

Time to buckle that saddle and get your horseback riding boots on.

If you've never ridden a horse before, it may be something that's on your to-do list. There is a sense of exhilaration and freedom that comes with horseback riding. And it's just plain fun.

However, there is more to horse riding than just getting on a horse and hanging on for dear life. There are techniques that must be practiced. Understanding how to properly ride a horse is important for the safety and enjoyment of the rider and the horse as well. The first step is dressing properly. You don't have to buy a pricey riding outfit but you do want a good pair of horseback riding boots.

Also, you want to wear pants or jeans when riding as opposed to shorts or a skirt. You might even want to wear some kind of padding in your seat area because your butt will probably be sore the next day if you aren't used to this. A riding helmet is also a good idea, especially if you are going to do more than let the horse walk.

When preparing to mount a horse, lead it out to an open area rather than mounting in the stall. It is dangerous to mount a horse in an enclosed area. Introduce yourself to the horse by allowing it to sniff you and touching it gently. Check the equipment and make sure your saddle is on the horse properly and all the equipment is buckled securely. Grasp the reins, put a foot in the stirrup closest to you and swing your other leg over, thus mounting the horse. Give the horse and yourself a moment to adjust before doing anything else.

Adjust your seating and grasp the reins gently. It is now time to get moving. You can nudge your horse into a slow walk. Horses can also trot, canter, gallop, and run. I prefer to skip the trot because it is downright uncomfortable. You'll bounce so hard you'll think it's going to rattle your brain. If you want to do anything besides walk slowly, you should definitely take horseback riding lessons. Actually, taking lessons is a good idea no matter how you want to ride. These lessons will teach you how to equip your horse, how to mount and dismount safely, and how to do all the gaits. You will be taught how to back your horse up and how to respond to emergency situations.

Horse riding is a fun hobby and can even turn competitive for some. If you want to get started, it helps to read as much as you can on the subject in addition to taking lessons from an experienced and qualified instructor. A few titles that can get you started learning about riding horses are as follows: Taking Up Riding as an Adult by Diana Delmar, Simplify Your Riding: Step-by-Step Techniques to Improve Your Riding Skills by Wendy Murdoch and the Complete Idiot's Guide to Horseback Riding by Jessica Jahiel.

Copyright 2007 Ellery Coleman - All Rights Reserved

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