| When you decide to ride your horse you would | | | | rider's aids. When you ask him to move forward |
| be wise to think a few things over before you | | | | in a walk there is little chance that he will buck or |
| mount up. Practically every rider will fall off a | | | | bolt in that exact moment. |
| horse at least once in their lifetime. An | | | | There are horses that may well ignore your leg |
| experienced horse person may take risks that to | | | | aid to "walk on" for a variety of reasons. You can |
| them are simply the natural way of doing things. | | | | use a riding crop to tap him behind your leg as |
| If you do not have years of experience with | | | | you give the leg aid. Use your voice and in an |
| horses take your time to learn good horse riding | | | | authoritative tone say "walk on". The use of spurs |
| skills. | | | | is not recommended for any rider until they have |
| Once you are on your horses back you use the | | | | learned and mastered the basic riding skills. |
| correct riding aids to ask him to move forward. If | | | | Once your horse is moving forward allow your |
| you do not know the exact aids you could take a | | | | hands and body to gently move with his motion. |
| few riding lessons, read them up in a horse riding | | | | You do not need to sit rock still and fix your |
| book, or ask some one who does. | | | | hands on the reins; this will only hinder you |
| If you are new to horse riding, it is always helpful | | | | forward moving progress. |
| and supportive to have some one, with horse | | | | Turning in either direction is once again directed |
| riding know how, to watch you and give you | | | | from the rider's seat using leg aids. The reins are |
| advice. If your horse is new to having some one | | | | used as a guide, not to yank him in a different |
| on their back the same concept applies, have | | | | direction. You only need to watch a single western |
| some one around. This provides an important | | | | movie to see how the action is exaggerated. A |
| step in safety when working with horses. | | | | horse's mouth is sensitive and pulling or yanking on |
| Safety cannot be overemphasized when horse | | | | the reins will hurt. |
| riding. Accidents can happen and should be | | | | Learning to go forward and turning are important |
| prevented. When you mount up and are safely in | | | | lessons to learn. Once you have successfully got |
| the saddle you can ease your horse to move | | | | your horse to respond well, you can then learn |
| forward by gently giving him a nudge by | | | | and attempt to have him go backwards. Every |
| squeezing his sides with your heels. | | | | rider will at some time in their riding career have |
| Your heel should touch his flesh just behind the | | | | to ask their horse to go backwards. |
| girth. Your horse will take some steps forward | | | | Once you get moving forward you can proceed |
| and you will want to support this action by | | | | from a walk to a trot and then a canter. You do |
| allowing your hands to move with his motion. If | | | | your horse a service to warm him up first; if you |
| your hands are pulling tight on the rein this will | | | | simply start cantering he will be more susceptible |
| send a confusing message to your horse. | | | | to injury. Treat your horse well and he will be fit |
| The advantage of riding a trained horse is that | | | | and healthy giving you many pleasurable riding |
| they know how to respond appropriately to the | | | | days. |