FEBRUARY 2014 THE RIDER /39


9 Things you Need to Know if you Want to Ride Horses You might have liked


you are ready to take the first steps on the long road of becoming an equestrian. You’ve booked riding lessons at a local barn and you are convinced that you are ready to tackle the learning curve that lays ahead. Before you begin, here are nine tips to smooth the way into your new adventures!


friends, you even like the smell of a barn! And now, you know


1. Be prepared to be a beginner – for a long time!


school, and have had the chance to ride many horses over the course of a few years, you will truly under- stand that there is some- thing to be learned from every horse you ride. If you part-board or lease a horse, you can have the opportunity to work with one horse over the long term. You might develop a deeper relationship and maybe even know each other so well that you can read each other’s minds. But always be appreciative of the chance to ride new horses because they will add to your depth of expe- rience and repertoire of “language” you need to ride effectively. 3. Find an excellent men- tor.


might not be your instruc- tor. However, this person


Your mentor might or


fingers fumble when putting on the bridle. Have no worry when the horse gives you a knowing look out of the corner of his eye: “This one is a beginner!” Just take the plunge into new feels, new learning curves and new coordina- tion. It’s all about the joys (and challenges) of being on the path. 2. Every horse has some- thing to teach you. If you ride at a riding


Instead, get all pumped up for the accomplishment of doing something for the long term. Don’t worry if your


that stirrup for the first time, forget all about instant


gratification. Once you step into


time you drive by horses in a field. Contrary to your


eyes away from the sight of glowing coats and rippling muscles. You get excited every


horses all your life. Or you might have had an awaken- ing not too long ago that is urging you to explore horseback riding for the first time. You can’t tear your


should be like. Watch videos of professionals and even amateurs (especially now that videos are so easi- ly accessible on the Inter- net). Go to clinics and watch how other riders develop under the eye of an


that there is much learning to be done off the horse’s back. Read books to study what


the movements


and chewing gum is an easy task compared to rid- ing! In order to truly move with the horse, you have to learn to coordinate body parts you never knew you had, and then also stay on top of a moving 1,000- pound animal! But have no fear – it will all come together in the long run. 7. Watch, read, study, do. It goes without saying


other sport because of the presence of the horse. Rubbing your belly


riding skills will plateau and try as you might, new learning becomes frustrat- ing and difficult. Be ready for that time period and be willing to keep trudging through – until you reach your next series of leaps and bounds. However, the plateaus will always reap- pear, just before the next real learning curve; they are just a fact of life. 6. Be ready to be physical in a way you’ve never experienced before. Riding is like no


fessionals in your area – from nutrition, to health care, to training – it is essential for you to be sur- rounded by kind, compas- sionate people who always put the horse first when they make decisions. 5. Although the initial learning seems quick and easy, don’t despair once your learning curve seems to slow down. At some point, your


the sum of the influences around you. So search for people you admire and look up to. Find the ones who you would like to emulate. Then, be around them and learn from them at every opportunity. Get to know the pro-


will be critical to the suc- cess of your first years as a horse rider. She will be the one who can listen to your questions and concerns and give you the answers you need for your situation. She will guide you in your decisions and help you find the solutions that are neces- sary for your development – even if you are not aware of them at the time. Find someone you can trust. 4. Surround yourself with great professionals and horse friends. It is true that you are


experienced clinician. Then take your own lessons, go to clinics and shows or video yourself. Use every available means to solicit feedback. Then study some more!


everyone at least once in her riding career. There eventually comes a time,


8. Be wary of the “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing” stage. This happens to


come together like this, you might become a little more confident than were at the beginning. You start to take more riding risks. You might think about changing routines to suit yourself better – change the barn, or ditch your instruc- tor!


into the land of grass is greener everywhere else,


Before you head off


once you have made your mistakes and learned from them, that you begin to feel pretty confident about your equine-related skills. The tack no longer defies you. You develop the balance and coordination needed to walk, trot and canter with- out feeling like you might fall off any second. You can even ride and talk at the same time! When it all starts to


little far-fetched, it is indeed possible to “hear” your horse if you under- stand their routines, struc- tures and communications. If life is good, your horse will show you his pleasure by becoming more ride- able. He will be calm but at the same time responsive to you. He will improve his ground manners, develop consistency under saddle,


heed these words! You will want to spread your wings and fly – that is a fact. However, although there are certainly many ways to Rome, especially in the equine world, don’t “instructor hop”. Nothing is more confusing than try- ing to comprehend differ- ent people’s systems over and over again. 9. Listen to your horse. Although it sounds a


it! Hopefully, these tips will help you as you progress from newbie to old-timer!


and work with you toward a better partnership. If, on the other hand, he becomes less receptive, more difficult to handle, and lose overall condition, you will know this is not the path you want to be on. Just listen and then make decisions according to the feedback. Well, there you have


© 2013 Horse Listening Bio: Kathy Farrokhzad is an EC coach and writer of the blog, Horse Listening. If you liked what you read here, check out her blog at www.horselistening.com for more articles about horses, riding and life in general.


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