Horses have to be one of the most attractive animals that is known to mankind. Horses were a major part of human evolution, making work and daily life much easier. Now, they are simply animals that are reserved for the wealthy, in most cases, because they are expensive to keep and maintain. But that doesn't prevent people from wanting to learn to ride them and dream of having them. Having said that, it is important to take basic lessons in horse back riding beforehand.
Introduce yourself to the horse before you do anything else. Stand in front or next to it and pet it and maybe even feed it. It's important to establish a positive relationship right at the beginning. From there, it would be important to lead the horse. The important thing here is to get control and be in control. Control is crucial in horseback riding.
A horse will know it if you're afraid. And if that happens, you will never gain control. But, this doesn't mean that you should handle it roughly. You should be strong and firm.
Before you start, it might be beneficial to you to read a book or watch some videos regarding the subject. It would be to your benefit to take these lessons with a trained professional. Finding the right stable and instructor is key.
There are things that you can pay attention that will give you insight on the matter, in addition to interviewing the instructor. Of course, the most important thing will be to ascertain whether the horses are happy and healthy. Don't take lessons at a place where the horses are mistreated. There are many wonderful places for horseback riding in Orange County.
This might be difficult for an amateur to detect, but you can look around to get some clues. How does the area look? Yes, it's a stable, and there will be dust and dirt. But it should be neat with the equipment in good repair.
Are the riders at this stable wearing helmets, especially the children? Riding can be fun, but also extremely risky, especially for those who are new at it. Ask the instructor where they stand on the issue of helmets. From there, you should be discussing whether he or she will be with you to teach you how to properly ride the horse, or will an assistant be assigned to you.
Before you commit to the lessons, try to spend some time observing. Look at how the instructor is communicating with the other riders or students. For example, do the students look stressed or happy and having a good time. This can be some very informative indications as to whether you want to associate yourself with this instructor. What about any challenges that arise with students or horses? How are they handled?
You should also ask if you are given the opportunity to spend time with the horse before your lessons begin. Grooming and saddling the horse is a very good idea. It provides time for you and the horse to get used to each other. It also teaches some of the responsibility that comes along with horses. If you can, try to find a situation where you will use the same horse at each lesson. This will give you the chance to have an ongoing relationship with the animal, giving you more control and more confidence with every lesson.
Written by Coleen Smith horseback riding orange county horseback riding lessons san diego
Posted under Horses
This post was written by Coleen Smith on August 22, 2010
