Wear the proper helmet and shoes. A closed-toe shoe with a very low heel is the best choice.

If you’re going to be riding horses, safety is paramount. You’ll need to wear the proper helmet and shoes for your lesson. A closed-toe shoe with a very low heel is the best choice. There are many reasons why this is so important:

• Closed-toe shoes will protect you in case you fall off the horse. You can still break an ankle or get injured even if they’re not flip flops or open toe sandals, but it will help prevent serious injury to your feet as well as any cuts that may happen while falling off a horse (like stumbling into rocks).
• Low heels are better than high ones because they don’t get stuck between stirrups when mounting/dismounting from horseback rides; having them stick can cause tripping over them or making it difficult for riders who have trouble lifting their legs high enough due to arthritis or other joint problems that affect mobility in older riders (and there’s no shame in being one of those!).

Don’t miss your opportunity to groom your horse.

There’s a time and place for everything, so let your horse know you’re serious about grooming. When walking into the stables, put out your hand and say, “Hello there.” Then gently stroke their nose and face. Under no circumstances should you forget to groom them after riding as well! When they’re finished spending their energy on moving around in circles, sit down next to them with some brushes and shine up their coat. This will let them know that they’ve done a good job today—and it’ll make sure that tomorrow is just as bright!

Groom Your Horse Before You Ride It

• Make sure the saddle is cleaned off from any mud or sweat marks left behind from earlier rides. If this isn’t possible due to time constraints (or if you really don’t care), then at least wipe off any hairs stuck onto it with some water—this’ll save time later when trying to get dressed again after dismounting!
• Check over all equipment used by yourself or other riders over past weeks/months/years: reins; stirrups; stirrup irons; bridles (including bit styles); girths/cinches). Replace anything worn out beyond useability (old leatherwork especially). Check straps too often–they tend not last long given how much abuse they take from constant rubbing against furrows caused by movement during riding sessions–so replace those too if need be.*

Don’t move your body in a way that will throw off your horse’s balance.

A horse’s balance is crucial to a rider’s safety. You should be able to stay upright on a horse without moving your body in any way that will throw off its balance. It is also important not to ride too fast for the level of experience you have—a faster pace may cause your horse to become anxious or tense, which could lead it to stumble or misstep. If you are riding at a speed that makes you feel uncomfortable, slow down until you feel more comfortable again.

Try not to tense up and try to relax.

You need to try not to tense up and try to relax. Tense muscles make it harder for you to control your horse, so remember that a relaxed body is more responsive and efficient. A horse can sense when you’re nervous, so if you can relax yourself it will help ease any stress or fear in the situation.

If you have never ridden before, start with something safe like a pony or an older horse that is used to being ridden by beginners. If something happens and the horse does not respond well then there won’t be as much potential for injury for either party involved.

Learn how to control your horse’s pace with your legs and feet, but be gentle.

Learning how to control your horse’s pace with your legs and feet is an important part of learning how to ride a horse. You can tell the horse to go faster or slower by using your legs, but you should always be gentle and calm when doing so. If you start yelling at the horse and kicking it, then it will get scared and won’t want anything to do with you anymore!

You’ll also need to learn how use your feet while on top of the saddle. If there are other people around that are riding their own horses nearby, they might ask if they can ride alongside yours so they can talk; this is what makes it important that both riders know exactly where their feet should go before starting off down one trail path together (or whatever). It would be annoying if every time someone wanted directions somewhere along their journey because theirs was different than yours!

If you are uncomfortable in the saddle, don’t be afraid to ask for help from an instructor or stable hand.

If you are uncomfortable in the saddle, don’t be afraid to ask for help from an instructor or stable hand. You can ask them directly, or if they aren’t available, another student may be able to assist you. And don’t forget about family members and friends!

Listen intently to your instructor and follow their instructions carefully.

As you embark on your horseback riding journey, it’s important to learn all you can about the sport. One of the most important things you can learn is how to listen intently to your instructor and follow their instructions carefully. In fact, there are many different reasons why listening intently will help improve your riding experience and improve your overall skills as a rider.

• Your instructor should be certified and have years of experience: Your instructor should be certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl), which means they have completed at least 500 hours of hands-on training with horses over three years and passed an exam that assesses their knowledge base of western riding styles as well as safety regulations for horseback riding programs (such as helmets). It’s also important that your instructor has been working with horses for several years so that they know what kind of movements work best for different breeds or types of horses; otherwise, there could be some confusion if one animal doesn’t move like another one does!
• They must have a positive attitude: For safety reasons alone it’s essential that everyone involved in any kind of equine activity has good attitudes towards each other so there aren’t any conflicts between riders during lessons or shows! It’s also helpful when instructors encourage their students rather than discourage them – this helps build confidence among learners which makes learning easier too.

Be patient. Even slow progress is still progress!

It’s a slow process.

Riding is a very physical activity, and your body needs time to adjust. It might take several lessons before you feel comfortable on the horse’s back, so be patient with yourself and your instructor. Long-term commitment. Most people start out with private lessons, but after a few months, many decide they want to ride more than once a week or join group lessons instead of private ones so that they can ride with other students their own age and level of experience. This is completely normal—it just means that you’re getting into it! It’s also important to realize that riding isn’t cheap: boarders have monthly fees as well as payment for every lesson taken (about $60 per hour), which adds up quickly over time! That said… Enjoying the process is key!

Basics of equine lessons for beginners

You’ve decided to give horseback riding lessons a try. You know you’ll have fun and be able to bond with your horse, but what are you actually learning?

It’s important to remember that there are different levels of lessons; some instructors will teach students how to walk, trot and canter (the three gaits of the horse), while others may only focus on walking and trotting. Students also need to learn how to go from walk to trot, back again – this can be done by just tapping lightly on the bit or giving an extra firm squeeze with your legs. When it comes time for mounting up (getting onto your horse), there’s more than one way: some methods involve swinging one leg over the saddle before sitting down; other ways include using mounting blocks or having someone hold up their arm for balance. In any case: these are just some basics! Don’t worry if it doesn’t all make sense right now; practicing these skills will come with time and practice!