When you think of horse riding, most people imagine galloping across a meadow or picnicking alongside a stream. There are many different ways to enjoy and care for horses. Some people enjoy horse riding as an activity while others use it for farming, ranching, hunting or other purposes. If you’re thinking about getting into horse riding for the first time or just want to take your experience one step further, read on for our ultimate guide to horse riding!
What is Horse Riding?
Horse riding is the skill of being mounted on and controlling a horse. Typically, these activities involve the rider being seated in a saddle, using reins to guide the horse and stirrups to secure the rider. Developed for warfare, equine cavalry has been used for centuries for transportation, hunting, and farming. Even though transportation via horseback is still a popular activity, it has also seen many other applications. For example, some people enjoy riding for recreational activities such as trail riding, horse-drawn carriage riding, or as a competitive sport.
Types of Horse Riding
- Trail Riding – This is the most casual form of riding. The rider might use a saddle or even a blanket to get around. Trail riding might be done on a beach or trail, in a park or forest or even on a road. There is no particular length or distance for trail riding. The length and distance of trail riding will vary with the terrain and the type of riding. A trail rider might ride as long as they want and never set a particular goal.
- Recreational Riding – This type of riding might include shows or competitions, dressage and even gymkhana. Recreational riders might focus on improving their skills or competing against friends. Depending on the discipline, the rider might compete with other riders at a particular level, against a time or score or for a particular event.
- Competitive Riding – Competitive riding includes both eventing (a competition covering the disciplines of cross country and show jumping) as well as hunter/jumper. A hunter/jumper rider might compete at a regional or national level.
- Show Jumping – This is the discipline of holding a series of hurdles and then jumping over the set of fences. The height of the fences depends on the level of competition.
The Basics of Horse Riding
- Mounting – This is when you get on your horse. A mounting block might be used to get on your horse, or you might be mounted without a saddle.
- Dismounting – Dismounting is the opposite of mounting and is usually done when you want to get off your horse. You might dismount using a mounting block, or dismount in a controlled way.
- Reining – This is the act of using the reins to guide your horse. There are usually two reins on a horse: one to guide the horse’s head and one to guide the horse’s tail.
- Ground Skills – A horse is an intelligent animal with natural skills. Ground skills are the mental exercises that a rider does to get their horse accustomed to the action of being ridden. There are many ground skills. Some examples include trotting, cantering, reining, picking up the gait, etc.
What to Look for in a Horse?
- Temperament – This is the overall demeanor of your horse. You want a horse that is calm and gentle. It’s important to get a horse with a good temperament to help you learn how to ride.
- Level of Training – This horse should be well-trained. This includes being able to walk on a leash and having basic ground training. A horse that is untrained might be dangerous to ride.
- Fit – This horse should be healthy and fit. This might mean a horse that is used to exercise or a horse that is scheduled to be ridden regularly. If your horse is not fit enough, you might get injured.
- Size – This horse should be approximately the same size as your height and build. A short or stocky person might get injured if they are too small for their horse.
What to Look for in a Saddle
- Comfort – You want to be comfortable when you ride. You don’t want to get injured, but you also don’t want to get in the way of your horse. There are many kinds of saddles to choose from, but they all have one thing in common: they should be comfortable for you.
- Fit – Your saddle should fit you and your horse. It should not be too high or too low. You want to be able to sit comfortably in the saddle without being in the way of the horse.
- Strength – You want your saddle to be strong enough to support you. A saddle that is too weak might break when you need it most.
- Weight – A saddle should not be too heavy for you to carry or too light to be safe. You want to choose a comfortable weight for you and your horse.
Showing and Eventing
- Shows – This is the discipline of showing off your horse, their skills, and their talents. Shows might be competitive, where the winner is decided on a combination of judges’ scores, the winner’s time or the winner’s score. There are many different shows, depending on the discipline and level of competition.
- Eventing – This is the most competitive discipline. It is a combination of show jumping and dressage where the rider and horse compete in timed, judged events.
- Other Ways to Enjoy Horses – Horseriding, horseback riding and riding lessons are just a few of the many ways to enjoy horses. Some people enjoy using horses in farming, ranching, hunting or other activities. Others simply enjoy the companionship of horses and enjoy walking them or riding around the property with a cowboy hat. Whatever your reasons are, the possibilities are endless.
Conclusion
Horse riding is a skill that can be enjoyed in many different ways. There are many different disciplines to choose from and many ways to enjoy each discipline. Whether you enjoy recreational riding, competing in shows, or using horses for farming or other purposes, you will find something enjoyable in horse riding. Horse riding can be a great activity for many people. There are many different ways for people to enjoy their time around horses. The only thing that people have to do is find a way that suits them the best.
