How to Teach English Horseback Riding

One of the most important aspects of horseback riding is gaining confidence in oneself and in the horse. Respect for the animal is paramount. Without it, the partnership necessary for English horseback riding cannot be achieved.

1 Allow the student to prepare the animal for riding. The student can help groom the horse while learning the purpose of the different brushes and which spots the horse wants him to brush. This allows the student to acquire familiarity with the horse.

2 Have the student help put on the horse's tack, saddle and bridle. You stand at the horse's head to keep the animal still.

3 Teach the student the proper way to lead a horse. Start by having the student lead the horse to the ring where the lesson is to take place. Once inside the enclosed arena or ring, teach your student to mount on the left side of the horse. Have a mounting block on hand in case the student needs assistance in reaching the stirrup.

4 Spend the first portion of the lesson teaching proper position, which is a large part of English horseback riding. Have the student visualize a long string attached to her head, pulling her upright and aligning the head, back, hips and heels in one continuous line. Teach your student to hold the reins so that they pass through the bottom of her hands and up through the top, with her thumb pointing toward the horse's mouth. The hands should remain perpendicular to the ground, never horizontal. The student's heels should always be pointing down, allowing her to maintain her seat low in the saddle.

5 Practice the walk, and encourage the student to look up. Have him learn to look in the direction the horse is heading. Remind your student to allow his hands to move forward and back with the movement of the horse's head while keeping the reins slack-free.

6 Draw the student's attention to the letters in the ring. Ask her to use the letters as markers. Instruct her to do certain commands, such as turning right at A, making a large circle at C or reversing direction at D.

7 Attach the horse to a lunge line and work on the trot. Ask your student to notice the feel of the gait. Tell him to post (rise up and down in the stirrups) in time with the outside front shoulder. Encourage him to learn to post without looking down, and to learn the correct timing by feel. Reverse directions and repeat.

Wildkin English Horse Riding Backpack

8 Introduce your student to the canter while on the lunge line. Teach her the importance of relaxing and keeping the body straight while keeping the heels down. Teach her to allow her body to follow the movement of the horse's gait while still maintaining position.

9 Work on each of the gaits off the lunge line, until the student can control the horse while in the proper position. Have him make turns, circles, lines across the diagonal, and serpentines. Introduce the sitting trot (trotting without posting) and the jump position.

10 Introduce jumping by lying posts on the ground and have the student trot over them in the jump position. Over time add cavalettis (a pole attached to two x's that can be turned for jumps at varying heights) and small jumps.

11 Gradually create more complicated courses for students to complete so they can learn the importance of turning their horses at the proper time. This will help animal have a good, square approach to each fence.

12 Have the students memorize simple dressage tests that require the them to perform certain commands at specific points. Gradually increase the difficulty of these tests as each student's ability increases.

13 Have fun going on trail rides, where you and the student can ride in the country in a less formal fashion.

14 Continue teaching the importance of caring for the horse and the tack (saddle and bridle) when you teach English horseback riding. Such lessons will stand students in good stead if they decide to buy horses of their own.

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