Horse riding is a fun activity if you can afford it. It’s a skill set that you can use if you’re ever in any trouble and a horse is your only getaway. You’ll be surprised how often that situation comes up. In any case horse riding is an important skill to possess, which is why it’s taught at fancy schools where rich kids go to study. If it’s important to a millionaire’s daughter, it should be important to you as well. However, before you saddle up take a look at these important tips.
horse and rider
Spend Time with Your Horse
Riding depends on the connection between a man and his horse. If that connection isn’t strong the horse isn’t going to have any qualms about knocking you over. Groom your horse and spend as much time as you can with it. It’s not a bad idea to talk things over with your horse before your riding sessions. Bribe your horse with an apple every time you meet him, so he perceives you as a caregiver and not some moron who wants just wants a ride. A rider’s safety depends on the horse’s mood.
A Little Warm up
horsemanship requires training
Before running a full sprint people usually jog. It helps them loosen up their muscles. Your horse should also warm up a little before your riding sessions. Before you test your equine companion’s horsepower it’s best to take a few laps. This will prevent any accidents halfway through your gallop. At that speed if your horse’s muscles tighten up, it could spell trouble for you. The horse will come to a sudden halt and you’ll become airborne. Where you land will be a simple matter of physics and luck. Knowing both I wouldn’t keep my hopes up if I were you.
Follow the Rules
Rules are meant to keep you safe, not to inhibit your fun. Following them doesn’t make you any less cool. Equestrians may dress up like pompous English royals, but there’s a reason for it. The clothes make it comfortable for you to ride and the helmet prevents your head from cracking open like an egg. Also, hold the reins with both hands and keep your body in a locked position. You’re not exactly John Wayne, so riding like a cowboy is out of the question. You may try to wave to somebody while riding and end up crashing at their feet.
equestrian saddles require routine maintenance
Inspect the Saddle
The saddle is meant to keep you on the horse, but if it’s loose, you’ll go down with it. It’s important to check your horse saddle before each riding session. Someone could have tampered with it or unknowingly loosened it up. Either way you’ll be the one eating dust. It’s best to replace your saddle once a year. Don’t wait for the wear and tear to become apparent before making this decision, or you may not live to regret it. A large number of horse riding accidents are related to saddles, so they can be quite deadly.
Fall Gracefully
Horse riding can be dangerous, it even injured the Man of Steel Christopher Reeves, so it’s important you know how to take a fall. The second you realize you’re going to fall your body tightens up due to instinct. You’ll need to fight this instinct and loosen up your body, because that way you’ll be better prepared. A rigid body falling on a rigid surface will end up with broken bones. Try to roll as you fall to avoid injury. Rolling will prevent the retaliation force of the ground from seriously injuring you. Keep rolling like a stone or you may accidently be trampled by the horse.
horseback trail ride
Horse riding in my mind equates to freedom. It’s just you, your horse and the open plain. Gallop away when you feel like it and leave your worries and your troubles behind. Following the tips mentioned here will prevent accidents while riding. Few people ever get back on the horse after taking their first tumble. If you want to ride like a cowboy, you need to be fearless like one. If you happen to fall, pick yourself up, brush yourself off and then try again. And keep trying until you succeed, because that’s the only way you’ll learn how to ride a horse.
Author Bio:
The contributor of this article, John Ray, is an employee at Saddle World, well-known providers of horse saddles. John loves adventure sports and goes paragliding with his friends every now and then.
