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To Us!The Beginner's Guide to Riding Horses
by Sarah, age 13
Horse riding is a great experience for the young and old alike, and that first ride can be very scary. You should always learn about these magnificent animals, and reduce your chance of having a serious accident.
Remember to always wear a helmet. Horses can become very unpredictable when scared and so you should never ride your horse without a helmet.
Always approach the horse from the left side, as the horse will be used to this and will be less likely to become agitated.
Once mounted, hold the reins one in each hand (unless using western split reins). The reins will be like your handlebars, and are connected to a bar of metal called a 'bit' in the horse's mouth. To start walking, squeeze the horse's sides with your legs. Do not shake the reins or use a riding crop on the horse, as this may cause the horse to read your directions wrong and bolt.
To go left, simply give a small tug on the left rein. To go right, tug the right rein. The horse will feel your directions in his mouth and go the way you choose. To stop, lightly pull both reins. Don't pull too hard, or the horse may rear up. To take a few steps backward, pull both reins lightly and hold.
Be subtle in your
directions, and if the horse does not respond become progressively stronger.
Horses are powerful creatures and get scared easily, and a heavy hand
does not calm down a scared horse.
My name is Sarah, I am 13 years old and I am horse crazy! I have a blog
about horses at http://sarzah.blogspot.com.
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