1. Learn how to saddle the horse
Getting a horse is a superb way to get out in nature. You don’t have to go to the suburbs for that—instead, you can take your favorite pet outside and let them roam free. And then ride on their back! You can bond with your new best friend as they trot through the woods.
Once you’ve got a horse, there are many things you need to know before you ride it. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know about getting ready for a day of riding—from choosing the right saddle size, to mounting and dismounting properly, to what kind of grooming is needed after riding.
2. Mount the horse safely
Before you mount a horse, place your hand gently on his neck or shoulder and wait for him to calm down. This will help reduce the likelihood of the horse moving around when you’re trying to get on it. Find the left stirrup with your feet—the stirrups are the loops that hang from either side of the saddle which you put your feet in to ride. Put your left foot in the stirrup, pull yourself up and swing your right leg over the horse’s back. Then put your right foot in the other stirrup so that you can sit evenly in the saddle.
3. Take your first ride
The first ride on a horse is an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with how to sit on a horse and control its actions. Before going on your first horse ride, consider doing some stretches so that your muscles are flexible enough to move comfortably along with the horse’s gait.
Once you’ve stretched, reviewed how to steer and stop the horse, and given yourself a quick pep talk, you’re ready to mount your new equine friend! At first, keep the rides short so that you can get used to the feeling of being on top of such a large animal. You’ll want to spend some time getting used to each sensation before moving onto longer rides or ones where you have more control over steering and stopping.
4. Keep yourself safe with proper riding habits
•Wear a helmet: You already know the drill. Unless you’re a cowboy from the wild, wild west, your head needs protection
•Wear the correct shoes: It’s time to invest in some riding boots. This is especially important if your horse spooks or gets startled by something. If you aren’t wearing proper shoes, you could slip out of your stirrups and fall off the horse.
•Stay on designated trails: Do not go off-roading on your horse without permission from a park ranger or guardian! Going off the trail can be extremely dangerous for both you and your horse. Horses are well-adapted to treading on trails, but they can stumble and flounder around when it comes to rocky terrain or overgrown areas with low-hanging branches.
•Don’t ride alone: This is important for safety reasons. If something happens to you while you are riding alone (you pass out, get thrown off of your horse, etc.), no one will know that anything is wrong until it’s too late! You should always have at least one other person with you when riding horses so that someone else knows what’s going on in case of an emergency situation occurs.
Horseback riding is a great way to explore the world on horse back!
Horseback riding is a great way to explore the world. There are a lot of reasons to try it!
For example, people who love horseback riding enjoy the freedom they feel while they’re on horseback. Also, if you like traveling, but your car isn’t working, you can use a horse to get around instead. Finally, if you want to care for the environment and not use gasoline, try going places with your horse!
It’s important to take good care of your horse. For example, when you ride your horse in the wintertime, give him/her an extra blanket at night so he/she doesn’t get cold. Also, make sure that your horse has enough food and water at all times. Finally, brush him/her every day so his/her coat looks nice and shiny!