Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Professional Horse Riding Lessons California Begin With The Basics

By Mattie Knight


Equestrian training is started when children are as young as four. Of course, they are put on ponies that fit their smaller stature. Height measurements are taken at the withers and each four inch increment is a hand. Ponies are thirteen hands and tall horses may reach seventeen hands or more. The Horse Riding Lessons California Instructors give will teach facts such as this to beginners.

A lesson for that child will ordinarily last for a half hour. Children older than seven will take a one hour class. Both adults and children start by brushing and tacking up their mount. This includes brushing, putting the saddle blanket and pad on, then the saddle and bridle.

About forty minutes are spent receiving instructions on how to ride. Lastly the students untack their horses and return them to a pasture or stall. A brushing over the back will leave the horse feeling comfortable.

Everyone, children and adults, is required to own and wear a helmet for safety purposes. A cowboy hat may appeal to a child, but, when riding he wears a helmet. Jeans or long pants are mandatory as are shoes with a one-inch or higher heel. Students may not wear shorts, tank tops or tennis shoes. A shirt may have either short or long sleeves.

A riding instructor frequently requires each student to be evaluated to determine what level of skills he or she has. There are also basic instructions on how to interact with your horse before mounting. When facing him hold out a hand, palm down, for him to smell. He will perceive this as a friendly gesture.

If taking him out of a slip stall make a noise or talk to let him know you are there. A slip stall is for one horse. You should always saddle and mount from the left side. When in a slip stall, he is secured by attaching the halter to the hay manger using a knot called the slip knot.

To mount up, put your left foot in the stirrup on the left side. Then placing your weight in the stirrup, swing the right leg up and over the saddle. Settle both feet comfortably in the stirrups. Hold the reins in the left hand if riding Western style. Hold one rein in each hand if you ride English style.

Use the reins to signal the horse as to what you want him to do. To signal that you want to move forward, hold the reins loosely and shake them against the horses neck. Another signal for go is to make a clicking sound. Pulling back on the reins signals him to stop. Be careful not to pull back too hard as this may cause some horses to rear up.

Early lessons are held in an enclosed indoor arena or an outside ring, which is a fenced-in circle. The students learn to turn the mount to the right and left in addition to moving forward and stopping. These signals are repeated until both student and horse are performing them correctly. The student must learn to be in control and is responsible for how well the animal performs.




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