Most Common Mistakes Made by Beginner Horse Riders
Have you recently started horse riding? Learning
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Count on us via WhatsApp if you’ve questions. Chat With UsHave you recently started horse riding? Learning to ride is great enjoyment and a real privilege… so first and foremost make sure you enjoy your time spent in the saddle!
It's normal to make mistakes while learning something new, as that's how we learn — and horse riding is no exception. There are a few typical errors that new riders create, but don't worry... they're easy to correct with a little practise.
Here are some famous mistakes and how to avoid them!
HANDS TOO HIGH AND REINS TOO LONG
Many inexperienced riders balance on the reins when things get a little wobbly because it's natural for us to use our hands and arms to balance. As this is combined with long reins (which are often the result of the horse steadily dragging the reins through the rider's hands and the rider becoming unaware of how to easily shorten them), it can be difficult to retain event rein contact... and control!
If the reins are too long, the rider will end up raising their hands too high while attempting to stabilise or making contact with the horse's mouth to turn or stop.
How to avoid it: Focus on ‘following' the horse with the saddle and core to keep balance without leaning on the reins.
Maintain a light, even tension on the reins while keeping the hands at hip level. An imaginary straight line should be from your elbow, forearm, and hands to the reins and bit (in the horse's mouth). Aim to re-adjust the reins as soon as they begin to slip to avoid them becoming too long.
GRIPPING TOO TIGHTLY WITH YOUR LEGS
It's not about gripping with your legs that holds you in the saddle; it's about balance and core strength. Consider a clothes peg attempting to stay fixed to a rounded PVC pipe; the peg's continuous internal friction allows it to rise up and finally "pop" off the tip.
To put it another way, grasping with your legs makes it more difficult to sit ‘deep' in the saddle and keep your balance — and the ride will feel bouncy! Gripping through your legs can even confuse the horse into believing you want to go quicker, which isn't a good thing if you're having trouble keeping your balance.
How to avoid it: Take a deep breath in and out while seated in the saddle, allowing yourself to sink into the seat (while remaining upright, of course!). Allow your leg to dangle from your shoulder, and your weight to slip from your heel (without jamming your heel down). So that an imagined straight line stretches across your ear, shoulder, hip, and heel, your leg should stay under you.
USING THE STIRRUPS TO HELP YOU RISE TO THE TROT
Learning to climb to the trot can be difficult at first, and many novices rely on their stirrups to help them get up and out of the saddle. When paired with a forward leg stance, this leaves them balancing on their tip toes in the ‘up' section before bumping down down into the saddle and winding up behind the movement.
How to avoid it: Maintain the balance by keeping your legs beneath you and focusing on rising with your core muscles rather than your feet. The trick is to sense the trot's rhythm and allow it to lift you out of the saddle rather than forcing it.
FEET DANGLING TOO FAR FROM THE STIRRUPS
Beginners sometimes find themselves with their feet too far into the stirrups, which is both painful and dangerous. The stirrup tread should be in line with the ball of your foot (the widest part); the stirrup should not be jammed against the heel of your boot.
How to avoid it: To fix this, make sure your feet are down and your toes are pointed down. This makes it easier for your foot to slip into the stirrup. Maintain your legs beneath you and sink your weight down into your heel, as in the previous point (but avoid jamming them down). It's also crucial to check if the stirrups are the right length.
HOLDING YOUR BREATH
This is a natural occurrence, and it isn't limited to beginners! When anxious or trying something new, riders often do not realise they are holding their breath. The problem is that this will cause you to become nervous.
How to avoid it: Humming a song, breathing in and out of your horse's steps, smiling — something to keep your breathing going!
LOOKING DOWN
When learning to ride, some novice riders look down, concentrating on the horse's head, neck, or paws. Looking down is bad for balance and position, whether they are trying to focus on what they are doing with their hands or actually staring at the horse (because, after all, horses are pretty cool!).
How to avoid it: Raise your head and concentrate on your destination. This not only ensures that you sit up straight, but it also lets you maintain your equilibrium. When turning, remember to peek around the corner to see where you're going!
HOLDING THE REINS TOO TIGHT
Nerves are also to blame for overtightening the reins. Unfortunately, it makes the rider nervous and can make the horse anxious, particularly when coupled with short reins. The importance of soft hands cannot be overstated (and this does not imply that you can increase your hand-moisturising routine).
How to avoid it: Imagine you're holding a baby bird in each hand, and you don't want to kill it! That said, you'll need just enough pressure to keep the bird from falling (i.e. to stop the reins sliding through your hands). It's also necessary to use your hands to 'follow' the horse's mouth; instead of staying frozen, they can shift back and forth slightly following the horse's action. As previously discussed, learning to readjust the reins when they fall is also vital because it helps you to retain even pressure and avoids abrupt yanks or jabs of the reins. Your horse would thank you if you learn to use gentle hands.
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Have you recently started horse riding? Learning
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