Horseback Riding

There are several things that you should do to ride horses. First, be sure that you are dressed wearing long pants, preferably denim. A pair of riding boots or cowboy boots is a good idea. Tennis shoes are not recommended because they can get caught and cause you to be dragged by the ankle. Spurs are probably not a good idea for inexperienced riders. It is better to learn how to use your legs to control the horse without spurs.

Anytime that you are going to get onto a horse, be sure that you walk up next to the horse on the left side. Have the reins in your left hand, but do not pull them tight. Grab the saddle horn with the same hand that you are holding the reins with. Hold the stirrup with the other hand as you put your foot in the stirrup. Swing your other leg over the saddle. Make sure you do not kick the horse while mounting, as this gives the horse a signal to go.

Once you are in the saddle, be sure that the reins are even. To get the horse to move, kick the horse gently with your heels. To steer left, pull the reins left. To steer right, pull the reins right. To get the horse to go faster, gently kick the horse a couple times. To get the horse to slow down, pull back on the reins evenly. To get a horse to canter with the left leg leading, gently kick with the right leg. To get a horse to canter with the right leg leading, gently kick with the left leg. To get a horse to stop, move your legs away from the horse’s body as much as possible and pull back on the reins.