How to Ride a Horse - The Top 5 Mistakes Made by the New Rider

It is hard enough to start out learning how to ride a horse. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of these five guidelines that will assist your efforts and make your goals attainable faster!

1. Start out with the right horse. So often it seems someone falls in love with a horse that they think is beautiful, or exciting, or loving and because of this unfettered commitment, continue riding a horse that is completely wrong for them. Horses come in all sizes, colors, breeds, and talents, just as humans vary in experience and talent. If you are riding a horse that is simply too hot blooded for you, or too rough gaited for you, or simply too bull-headed for your temperament, you will not be happy. Some things can be changed. Your horse's training can improve and your skills as a rider will improve. But, there is simply nothing that will change that rough gait of his that throws out your already-weak back. There is nothing that will change his hot blooded spirit that you find so difficult to control. Have the good sense to rethink your mount and consider trading or finding a horse more suitable for you.

2. Many riders do not know when they are getting into trouble. Riders can get into precarious situations simply because they lack the knowledge to know better. Take the time to learn about horse behavior, their instincts, their natural reaction to their surroundings and use that knowledge. I have seen a beginner riding a mare who was in season too close to a paddock in which a stallion was turned out. That is a potentially catastrophic situation! The old adage about rookies who "know just enough to be dangerous" could not be more true than with horses! You gain a certain comfort level after a short time of riding that gives one a false sense of competence. There is SO much to learn about horses and horsemanship. It is a lifelong journey to become the best horseman you can become.

3. One of the most frustrating things an instructor deals with is the new rider who has an excuse for everything they are being asked to change. It goes like this:

Instructor: "Lower your hands"
Student: "I can't because my reins are too long."
Instructor: "Well, shorten your reins"
Student: "I can't because ....blah, blah, blah"

You get the idea. I call this the "shut up and just do it" rule. There is so much to learn and so many things to think about at the same time "Keep your heels down, quiet your hands, sit up straight in the saddle, keep your chin up, keep a light contact with his mouth, now, heels down again!" Until it comes naturally, it seems to be a textbook of rules to remember! The more you hear what to do, the more stiff you become, the more difficult it seems and the more impossible to achieve. But just hang in there! Keep listening, stop talking and keep trying to do what the instructor is telling you. Have faith that it will all gradually become muscle memory and will come much more naturally after more and more hours in the saddle. It is certainly okay to tell your instructor if you are confused or have a question. Generally speaking, however, be quiet, keep trying, keep practicing, and keep the faith!

4. New riders are usually so enthralled with their new sport that they pay more attention to themselves than to what is going on around them. Everything is so new, they lose themselves in what they are doing and that is understandable. However, new riders will benefit so much more if they stop, listen, and learn from other professional riders, and I mean professionals. It is not going to help you much if you are trying to augment your equine education with a barn pal who has had all of three riding lessons more than you have. Watch the horsemen who have the skills and the knowledge of horsemanship you can truly learn from. I remember in my earlier days of showing horses, I would go to the warm up arena at the horse show, late at night and watch the professional trainers working their horses. Although I could not hear much, I could watch their techniques, their manner, their demeanor, their methods to communicate certain things with their horse. Even if I did not get it all at the time, their professionalism and their respect for the horse left an indelible impression on me.

5. Lastly, gain a realistic perspective of yourself, your goals and how to attain them. A frequent mistake made by new enthusiasts is to evaluate their progress based on how they placed in a horse show class. As with so many things, it is the journey that is worth while. Do not get caught up in who got first place, who got second place. It is only one person's opinion anyway. It is not an indictment of your ability or your horses' ability if you do not win a horse show class. Focus on the larger goal, the pursuit of excellence within yourself, achieving that union with your horse. Do not worry about anybody else, including your competitors and your fellow barn students.

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Top Ten Horse Secrets

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

1. Gain the horse's trust. If your horse does not trust you, he won't really listen to you.

2. Gain the horse's respect. Respect is equally important as trust. If your horse has no respect for you then he won't pay attention to you either.

3. Horses learn on release of pressure. A horse's mind is programmed to always look for an escape. Release of pressure satisfies the horse's deepest psychological need. The need to escape. Always begin with being as soft as possible until they show the slightest try.

4. Violence and rough handling begins when knowledge ends. Good communication and patience go a lot father than being rough. Violence removes any trust or respect you earned from your horse.

5. Teach or improve something in each time you and your horse interact. Always seek refinement in yourself and your horse. A stale horse and rider makes a stale ride.

6. Habit and routine are powerful training tools. They also make your horse more emotionally comfortable.Horses love to be able to predict what is going to happen. It makes them feel safe. Routine and habit are also powerful ways to teach your horse. I always do the same thing and same way every time. I catch my horse the same way. I brush her the same way. I pick her feet the same way. She has to go into a trailer every time before I ride. I do the warm up, skill improvement, conditioning, new skills and cool down the same way each time.

7. Constant consistency. Your horse will learn faster if you are consistent. You must be the same rider each time you ride. You can't be a dominator one day, and then a push over the next day. If you want your horse to be consistently good, you have to be too.

8. A positive relationship with your horse encourages the horse's motivation. Have you ever worked for somebody you just hated? Don't be that person to your horse. You need to figure out how to make your horse want to please you.

9. Constantly seek new and better horsemanship skills and knowledge. No body knows it all. Everyone has something to teach. Remember your horse may just be your best teacher. Humans don't have all the answers either.

10. Finish your interaction with your horse on a good note. This means two things. Completing your ride is huge release of pressure. That means that the horse will remember vividly what he did to get you off his back. If it was something negative then you have in essence rewarded that negative thing. Stack success in your favor, make it something you have the skill to be successful with. Don't try a triple flying backward lead change with a flip unless you can teach that well. Also do something that the horse thinks, "Boy oh boy I love my owner, I can't wait to see him tomorrow." Remember that your horse just lugged you around for the past couple hours. You want him to remember the good times.

"Good, better, best, never let it rest till your good is better and your better is best." - St. Jerome

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The Importance Of Horse Supplies In Maintaining A Healthy Animal

In the care and keeping of horses, it is necessary to have a variety of standard horse supplies at the ready in order to responsibly fulfill our duties as horse owners or caregivers.

While fundamental needs such as quality food, adequate water, and comfortable shelter are obvious, there are additional supplies that are absolutely essential to the health and functionality of the horse in question and they are classified by the physical care for the horse and utilization of the horse's abilities.

Included in physical care are those horse supplies that feature the materials used for grooming the animal. Frequent horse grooming is imperative for the comfort and appearance of the horse.

The supplies most often used in grooming include a curry comb - used to loosen dirt in the horse's coat, a dandy brush which removes the dirt, a body brush which grooms the coat, a mane comb which does the same for the horse's mane, a hoof pick/brush which cleans the hoofs, and a polishing towel used to give the horse a healthy sheen at the end of brushing.

As important as grooming in the physical care for a horse is medical care. Just as we keep a first aid kit in our homes should anyone require assistance, we must also keep a horse first aid kit as a part of your standard horse supplies.

Of course, in the event of illness or injury it is imperative that a veterinarian be called immediately; but in the meantime, a first aid kit can help you keep your horse comfortable - and out of immediate danger - until the doctor can arrive. Such items that should be included in first aid kit for horses include:

*antiseptics

*wound dressings

*bandages

*splints

*tweezers

*thermometer

There are, of course, those horse supplies that are associated with the utilization of the horse. For example, in order to ride your horse, you must have a variety of horse supplies on hand for riding.

The equipment used in this case is referred to as tack and includes:

Saddles - The "seat" in which the rider sits.

Stirrups - Which act as a support for the rider's feet.

Bridles and Halters - Which slip over the horse's head and are used to control the movement of the horse.

Reins - The ropes that run from the bit to the rider's hands.

Bit - Which fits in the mouth of the horse.

Ultimately, there is a variety of equipment that is used for different styles of riding, racing, or showing a horse. The type of supplies used differs in each particular situation.

Owning a horse requires a significant amount of responsibility. As owners, we are committed to the physical and emotional care for the animals that have been entrusted to us.

Proper medical attention, healthy nutrition and hydration, frequent and loving grooming, and a dedication to having proper horse supplies on hand at all times are all a part of taking comprehensive care of our horses.

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