Sunday, October 18, 2015

Professional Horse Riding Lessons California Offers Begin With The Basics And Progress Over Time

By Mattie Knight


A child can take equestrian classes as soon as he reaches the age of four. Ponies are the suitable mount at that early age. Ponies and horses have their height measured at the withers. They are measured in increments of four inches, which is referred to as a hand. Ponies are generally under fourteen hands high while horses are taller than that. Horse riding lessons California offers will provide a horse or pony appropriate to the size and skill of the rider.

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.

The riding instructions take up the major amount of time. When the lesson is over, the students untack their mount and sometimes take him to the barn or the pasture. A horse will enjoy having his back brushed after a lesson.

There are rules about what to wear for a riding lesson. A shirt with sleeves is good, but a tank top is not. Jeans are worn but shorts are not. If the child has no jeans in her wardrobe, long pants are fine. Shoes or boots should have at least a one-inch heel. A helmet is mandatory.

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.

Always approach the horse from the left side whether walking up behind him or getting up on the saddle. Stand on the left as you get him tacked up. If entering a slip stall, walk up on the left side. Always talk to him or make a sound to alert him that you are behind him. It may startle the animal if you fail to make your presence known.

To mount the horse, put your left foot in the left stirrup. Then lift yourself up and throw the right leg over his back and place your feet firmly into the stirrups. Use the reins to signal him to turn left, turn right, move forward or stop. Pull back to stop, usually saying whoa is customary.

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.

Initially, lessons are conducted in an area that is enclosed. The instructor will teach new riders how to signal for a right turn and a left turn in addition to stopping and moving forward. The students will practice their reining skills until they do it naturally and are comfortable with controlling the horse. This is the first lesson for those learning to ride.




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