When starting horseback riding lessons, it can be challenging to anticipate what lies ahead. You might wonder about appropriate attire, the fundamental principles of western horseback riding, and the advantages you can gain from it. These are all queries that may arise in your mind.
If you are a beginner in horseback riding, we are here to assist you in being ready and comfortable for this new adventure!
The Steps of Beginner Western Horseback Riding
Now, let’s dive into the steps you can anticipate when you start pursuing your passion for horseback riding!
Steps to Take Before Arrival
To begin, ensure you have appropriate attire for riding. Opt for long pants and closed shoes with a slight heel. It is crucial to be alert of any loose ends or dangling fabric, as this can pose risks to both you and your horse. Wearing heeled shoes will prevent your feet from slipping out of the stirrups, while a helmet is essential to safeguard your head from potential impact with the ground or tree branches.
To ensure a successful ride, it is essential to mentally prepare yourself. Horses possess intuitive creativity and recognizing that they are capable of sensing all your emotions is crucial for a harmonious experience. It is advisable to maintain a calm disposition before and during the ride as a horse responds to any feelings of nervousness or unease. Additionally, it is strongly recommended to arrive at the stable at least 15 minutes prior to the ride in order to familiarize oneself with the horse and grant them sufficient time to acclimate to your presence.
When You Arrive
After considering the previous step, the subsequent action in horseback riding involves mounting the horse. It is advisable to arrive early and familiarize yourself with the amiable and sturdy animal that you will ride. In case you are not at ease with the process of mounting, many stables provide a mounting block or a small set of stairs to assist you.
To properly mount a horse, it is important to follow a specific sequence of steps. Firstly, place your left foot into the left stirrup before swinging your remaining leg over the horse. It is also advisable to hold the reins in your left hand or grasp the pommel of the saddle as you mount. This not only enhances stability but also ensures that you position yourself correctly for the ride.
Before and During Riding
After mounting the horse, the instructor will provide an explanation on the fundamentals of changing directions and speeds. The reins are connected to a bit that is placed in the horse’s mouth, which serves as a means of communicating your desired actions to the horse. To indicate a right turn, it is necessary to pull the right rein towards yourself, whereas a left turn requires pulling the left rein. In order to halt or decrease speed, simply pull back gently on the reins.
It is important to remember to handle the reins gently. To adjust speeds, simply squeeze the horse’s side with the inside of your legs. Occasionally, a gentle kick with the heel can be beneficial. It is worth noting that these movements and instructions may vary depending on the horse you are riding and their response to cues. Horses have three speeds, namely walk, trot, and canter. In the initial lesson, it is probable that you will primarily remain at a walking pace to familiarize yourself with being on the horse.
After the Lesson
1. At the conclusion of a lesson, and before engaging in a cool down, it is possible for you to dismount from your horse. 2. In order to do so, it is essential that you come to a complete stop. 3. Once you have come to a complete stop, you are then able to remove your stirrups, grasp onto the pommel with your right hand, and swing your right leg over the horse’s back. 4. After successfully completing the dismount, it is encouraged to pet your horse without hesitation. 5. The act of petting your horse serves to establish a connection and express gratitude for the ride.
The Cool Down
The cooldown is an essential final step. Similar to the need for rest after exercise, a horse requires a period of cool-down before concluding the lesson. To cool down the horse, the tack can be removed to alleviate the burden and enhance comfort. Following the removal of the tack, you can proceed to walk the horse for a few minutes. Observing the pace of its breathing can provide further insight.
If the horse’s breathing slows down, and it appears more relaxed, then it means that the horse has been cooled down.
Western Pleasure Basics
The original western pleasure horse was initially used for riding around the farm and going down the road, providing a pleasant experience for the rider as they walked, jogged, or loped along. Over time and many horse shows, this horse has become more specialized, primarily bred for this particular event, and no longer has the opportunity to be on a farm or trail since birth. In today’s standards, the modern pleasure horse should possess a fluid stride and effortlessly cover ground. It is desirable for the horse to maintain a level topline while executing well-balanced and rhythmic gaits. Additionally, the horse should be neat and well-groomed, with the application of hoof polish and typically a mane that is styled using bands. The use of tail extensions is allowed.
The gaits of the western pleasure horse consist of a natural, flat-footed four-beat walk that is straight and ground-covering in nature. Additionally, there is a smooth, two-beat diagonal jog with even strides in the front and hind legs. Furthermore, there is a rhythmic three-beat lope that exhibits forward motion in the correct lead. It should be noted that “forward motion” denotes ground-covering rather than excessive speed. In addition to these gaits, horses must exhibit the ability to back easily in a straight line without any resistance. Certain rulebooks also stipulate that judges may request moderate extensions of the jog in some classes, upon which riders are expected to sit the extended jog. Moreover, the ApHCC rulebook grants judges the option to request extensions of the walk, jog, and lope.
In the western pleasure class, horses are allowed to enter the ring on the rail, starting in either direction. They will be asked to perform all three gaits in each direction, and when reversing, they must do so at the walk towards the inside of the pen. After completing the rail work, the horses may be instructed to back up, either while positioned on the rail or from a central lineup. According to most rulebooks, the judge has the option to request additional work, although this is seldom done. The rider will only be required to dismount if the judge wants to inspect the equipment.
The equipment needed for riding includes a standard western saddle, bridle, and a good working outfit. A junior horse, which is five years old or younger, can be ridden with two hands using a bosal or snaffle bit. The bosal must be flexible and made of braided leather or rawhide without a rigid core. A senior horse, which is six years old or older, must be ridden with one hand using a curb (shank) bit. To find the appropriate snaffles and curb bits, as well as curb chains and straps, refer to the rulebook for descriptions and measurements. Additional equipment that can be used includes a rope or reata, hobbles attached to the saddle, breast collar, and spurs. Prohibited equipment includes boots, wraps and bandages, martingales, and nosebands. The required attire includes pants, a long-sleeved shirt, blouse, or jacket with a collar, a western hat, and western boots. Chaps are optional in most associations. In some associations, wearing hard hats or safety helmets is now optional.
Faults are scored based on their severity and can include: excessive speed or slowness, incorrect lead, breaking gait, failure to take the correct gait when asked, touching the horse or saddle with the free hand, carrying the head too high or low, overflexing (head behind the vertical), excessive nosing out, horse opening the mouth excessively, stumbling, using spurs before the cinch, horse being sullen, dull, tired or emaciated, choppy strides, too much drape in the reins, horse being overly canted at the lope, bolting or bucking, and refusal to back.
Disqualifications include a fall of either the horse or the rider, the usage of prohibited equipment, the holding of both reins with two hands (unless using a snaffle or bosal), switching hands while holding the reins, having more than one finger between split reins, and displaying obvious lameness.
There are various divisions in horse shows, including all-ages or senior horse, junior horse, three-year-old (excluding Appaloosa and Paint shows with no cross-entry to junior horse), and two-year-old. There are also divisions for youth, amateur (non-pro), novice amateur, and any other division provided by the breed association. It is important to note that two-year-olds cannot be shown under saddle prior to specific dates determined by each rulebook: January 1 for APHA, May 20 for ApHC, June 1 for ApHCC, and July 1 for AQHA. It is advisable to refer to your own rulebook for further clarification.
