Friday, October 16, 2015

Professional Horse Riding Lessons California Offers Begin With The Basics For Children And Adults

By Mattie Knight


Children as young as four can take equestrian classes. They will be mounted on ponies that are suitable in size. Horses and ponies are measured in height at the withers in increments of four inches. The withers is the place where the neck meets the back. A hand is equal to four inches. For example, a pony can be thirteen hands high and a tall horse can be seventeen hands high. Most horse riding lessons California provides will teach this to all beginners.

The children age six and under usually take a half hour lesson at a time. For those seven and older, including adults, the classes last an hour. Before riding, the class will tack up their horses. This includes learning to brush, saddle and adjust the stirrups. Then they learn how to put the bridle on.

The major portion of the hour is spent riding. The last five minutes are spent untacking and putting him in the barn or pasture. Brushing its back after a ride is always welcomed by your mount.

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.

Placing your left foot in the left stirrup of the saddle, you lift yourself up, swing your right leg over the saddle and put both feet in the stirrups. The reins are used to give signals to your mount. For example, to stop you pull back on the reins, but gently. Too much pressure may cause a horse to rear up on its hind legs.

To move forward make a clicking sound or shake the reins gently against his neck. Most horses respond to the sound as they are accustomed to riders using it. When riding Western the reins are connected to each other and held in the left hand. When you ride English, hold one rein in each hand. The reins are not connected in this style of riding.

First lessons are spent in an enclosed area for security purposes. You will learn to signal for a right turn by moving the reins in that direction and a left turn to the left. You will practice starting, stopping and turning until it becomes routine. This is step one in a series of lessons to enable you to learn to ride.




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