How to Ride a Horse - 2

Tips:

1.    Make sure you're confident at 1 level of riding before you move on.

2.    Talk to your horse while going around him or coming up behind him so he knows you're approaching.

3.    Horses can actually tell what mood you are in when you are riding. If you are nervous, the horse will sense it and become nervous as well. That is why you should always stay relaxed and calm in the worst situations.

4.    Your helmet should be ASTM or SEI certified equestrian helmet. Biking helmets are not acceptable. If you fall off your horse or you've had your helmet for more than five years, replace it.

5.    Be gentle with the bit; don't yank. If your horse bolts, it is essential that you stay completely calm and you don't start getting rough with your horse. If you have a choice,start circling your horse and gradually make the circles smaller. As they get smaller,your horse will have no choice but to slow down. Do not simply yank your horse in one direction because you could (and most likely would) knock them off balance. See How to Handle Yourself on a Runaway Horse.

6.    Keep your heels down and look where you want to go.

7.    Accept that you'll fall off at some point. If you do, just mount again - treat falling off as something that is unpleasant, but not a reason to be afraid of riding.

8.    Ask your instructor what cues your horse responds to.

Warnings:

1.    Always ride with someone else in case of an emergency.

2.    Never sit or kneel near a horse.

3.    Have an experienced rider do a safety check of your tack before you mount.

4.    Try not to look down! You don't want to go that way do you? :)

5.    Wear appropriate clothing while riding.

6.    Try not to stand directly in front of a horse. A horses' vision is very different from ours. A horse cannot see as well in front of them because their eyes are on the sides of their heads. They do, however, have very good eyesight all the way around except for their rear. Try to approach your horse slightly from the side and keep any scary or strange objects in their view.

7.    If you need to go behind a horse, put your on hand on the back so they know you're back there

8.    Never approach a horse from behind as he may not know you are coming and get frightened.

  Things You will Need:

1. Tack
2. Appropriate riding clothes
3. A Riding Helmet
4. A horse
5. A grooming kit

Ref: http://www.wikihow.com/Ride-a-Horse