| It is hard enough to start out learning how to ride a | | | | quiet your hands, sit up straight in the saddle, keep your |
| horse. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of | | | | chin up, keep a light contact with his mouth, now, heels |
| these five guidelines that will assist your efforts and | | | | down again!" Until it comes naturally, it seems to be a |
| make your goals attainable faster! | | | | textbook of rules to remember! The more you hear |
| 1. Start out with the right horse. So often it seems | | | | what to do, the more stiff you become, the more |
| someone falls in love with a horse that they think is | | | | difficult it seems and the more impossible to achieve. |
| beautiful, or exciting, or loving and because of this | | | | But just hang in there! Keep listening, stop talking and |
| unfettered commitment, continue riding a horse that is | | | | keep trying to do what the instructor is telling you. |
| completely wrong for them. Horses come in all sizes, | | | | Have faith that it will all gradually become muscle |
| colors, breeds, and talents, just as humans vary in | | | | memory and will come much more naturally after |
| experience and talent. If you are riding a horse that is | | | | more and more hours in the saddle. It is certainly okay |
| simply too hot blooded for you, or too rough gaited for | | | | to tell your instructor if you are confused or have a |
| you, or simply too bull-headed for your temperament, | | | | question. Generally speaking, however, be quiet, keep |
| you will not be happy. Some things can be changed. | | | | trying, keep practicing, and keep the faith! |
| Your horse's training can improve and your skills as a | | | | 4. New riders are usually so enthralled with their new |
| rider will improve. But, there is simply nothing that will | | | | sport that they pay more attention to themselves than |
| change that rough gait of his that throws out your | | | | to what is going on around them. Everything is so new, |
| already-weak back. There is nothing that will change | | | | they lose themselves in what they are doing and that |
| his hot blooded spirit that you find so difficult to control. | | | | is understandable. However, new riders will benefit so |
| Have the good sense to rethink your mount and | | | | much more if they stop, listen, and learn from other |
| consider trading or finding a horse more suitable for | | | | professional riders, and I mean professionals. It is not |
| you. | | | | going to help you much if you are trying to augment |
| 2. Many riders do not know when they are getting into | | | | your equine education with a barn pal who has had all |
| trouble. Riders can get into precarious situations simply | | | | of three riding lessons more than you have. Watch the |
| because they lack the knowledge to know better. | | | | horsemen who have the skills and the knowledge of |
| Take the time to learn about horse behavior, their | | | | horsemanship you can truly learn from. I remember in |
| instincts, their natural reaction to their surroundings and | | | | my earlier days of showing horses, I would go to the |
| use that knowledge. I have seen a beginner riding a | | | | warm up arena at the horse show, late at night and |
| mare who was in season too close to a paddock in | | | | watch the professional trainers working their horses. |
| which a stallion was turned out. That is a potentially | | | | Although I could not hear much, I could watch their |
| catastrophic situation! The old adage about rookies | | | | techniques, their manner, their demeanor, their methods |
| who "know just enough to be dangerous" could not be | | | | to communicate certain things with their horse. Even if I |
| more true than with horses! You gain a certain | | | | did not get it all at the time, their professionalism and |
| comfort level after a short time of riding that gives one | | | | their respect for the horse left an indelible impression |
| a false sense of competence. There is SO much to | | | | on me. |
| learn about horses and horsemanship. It is a lifelong | | | | 5. Lastly, gain a realistic perspective of yourself, your |
| journey to become the best horseman you can | | | | goals and how to attain them. A frequent mistake |
| become. | | | | made by new enthusiasts is to evaluate their progress |
| 3. One of the most frustrating things an instructor deals | | | | based on how they placed in a horse show class. As |
| with is the new rider who has an excuse for | | | | with so many things, it is the journey that is worth |
| everything they are being asked to change. It goes like | | | | while. Do not get caught up in who got first place, who |
| this: | | | | got second place. It is only one person's opinion |
| Instructor: "Lower your hands" | | | | anyway. It is not an indictment of your ability or your |
| Student: "I can't because my reins are too long." | | | | horses' ability if you do not win a horse show class. |
| Instructor: "Well, shorten your reins" | | | | Focus on the larger goal, the pursuit of excellence |
| Student: "I can't because ....blah, blah, blah" | | | | within yourself, achieving that union with your horse. Do |
| You get the idea. I call this the "shut up and just do it" | | | | not worry about anybody else, including your |
| rule. There is so much to learn and so many things to | | | | competitors and your fellow barn students. |
| think about at the same time "Keep your heels down, | | | | |