Have you Been Getting your Horse Moving?

When you decide to ride your horse you would be wise to think a few things over before you mount up. Practically every rider will fall off a horse at least once in their lifetime. An experienced horse person may take risks that to them are simply the natural way of doing things. If you do not have years of experience with horses take your time to learn good horse riding skills.

Once you are on your horses back you use the correct riding aids to ask him to move forward. If you do not know the exact aids you could take a few riding lessons, read them up in a horse riding book, or ask some one who does.

If you are new to horse riding, it is always helpful and supportive to have some one, with horse riding know how, to watch you and give you advice. If your horse is new to having some one on their back the same concept applies, have some one around. This provides an important step in safety when working with horses.

Safety cannot be overemphasized when horse riding. Accidents can happen and should be prevented. When you mount up and are safely in the saddle you can ease your horse to move forward by gently giving him a nudge by squeezing his sides with your heels.

Your heel should touch his flesh just behind the girth. Your horse will take some steps forward and you will want to support this action by allowing your hands to move with his motion. If your hands are pulling tight on the rein this will send a confusing message to your horse.

The advantage of riding a trained horse is that they know how to respond appropriately to the rider’s aids. When you ask him to move forward in a walk there is little chance that he will buck or bolt in that exact moment.

There are horses that may well ignore your leg aid to “walk on” for a variety of reasons. You can use a riding crop to tap him behind your leg as you give the leg aid. Use your voice and in an authoritative tone say “walk on”. The use of spurs is not recommended for any rider until they have learned and mastered the basic riding skills.

Once your horse is moving forward allow your hands and body to gently move with his motion. You do not need to sit rock still and fix your hands on the reins; this will only hinder you forward moving progress.

Turning in either direction is once again directed from the rider’s seat using leg aids. The reins are used as a guide, not to yank him in a different direction. You only need to watch a single western movie to see how the action is exaggerated. A horse’s mouth is sensitive and pulling or yanking on the reins will hurt.

Learning to go forward and turning are important lessons to learn. Once you have successfully got your horse to respond well, you can then learn and attempt to have him go backwards. Every rider will at some time in their riding career have to ask their horse to go backwards.

Once you get moving forward you can proceed from a walk to a trot and then a canter. You do your horse a service to warm him up first; if you simply start cantering he will be more susceptible to injury. Treat your horse well and he will be fit and healthy giving you many pleasurable riding days.

Carmel: It’s a dog’s world

Carmel: It’s a dog’s world
It’s not exactly a news flash that Carmel is one of the dog-friendliest towns on the planet. You can bunk down with your pet at no less than 25 lodgings; every outdoor restaurant and many indoor places welcome dogs. Leash-free Carmel Beach becomes an… Dog – Restaurant – Recreation – Pets – Dog Parks

Read more on San Francisco Chronicle

How to Have the Best Experience in Horseback Trail Riding

There are a great many activities families can enjoy together while on vacation that are different from those that they regularly get pleasure from in their everyday lives. One of these activities is trail riding on horseback. Not many people have regular access to horseback riding, so it can be quite exciting to hop up in a saddle and head out on a trail.

Horseback trail riding is available at a wide variety of vacation destinations. Families can plan beach or tropical vacations where horseback riding is available. Or, they can plan their entire trip around the very idea of trail riding, such as by planning a trip to a western dude ranch. Regardless, while trail riding on horseback can be quite fun, it is important to keep safety in mind. Here’s how:

Choose the right stable. If you are planning a trip around trail riding, ask for recommendations before booking your trip — travel agents may be a good source, but also search online for reviews. If horseback riding is just a vacation activity, try asking your hotel concierge or town locals for tips on the best stable.

You want to choose a stable where the horses are treated well. If there is manure all over the ground and the horses are dirty, head for another stable.

Be honest about your family’s riding experience. Don’t exaggerate and say you are an intermediate rider when, in fact, you are truly a beginner. The horse wranglers want to match you up with a horse that you can handle well. If you claim to ride better than you actually can, they will give you a more advanced horse — and you may not be capable of riding it (this is called being over-horsed). There is no shame in being a novice horseback rider; just admit it.

Get in line as you are told. While you may want to allow your wife to get in line ahead of you, it isn’t wise to alter the order in which the wranglers have placed the horses. Certain horses may not get along well, and the wranglers know this — and you don’t. If you change the line-up, you might end up behind a horse that doesn’t like yours — and you might end up getting kicked.

Wait for directions before doing anything. Do not approach your horse or mount him until or unless the wrangler has said you should. Of course, most horses at riding stables are gentle and kind; however, a wrong move could cause a horse to bolt — or worse.

Don’t wander off of the trail when riding. Generally, trail riding horses will know the trails very well and will stick to them. Just enjoy the ride. Even if you see something spectacular off of the trail, don’t try to wander off.

Make sure to hold the reins at all times. It is essential that you keep a good hold on the horse’s reins. If your horse steps on reins that have fallen, he could snap the reins — or, he could even break a leg.

For A Rewarding Pastime, Try Horse Riding

Starting a new sport or pastime can be one of the most exciting things you can do. In the UK, horse riding has grown massively in popularity over recent years, and the trend looks set to continue as more people discover the pleasure of equestrian sports. In 2006 The National Equestrian Survey revealed that 4.3 million people in Britain had gone riding in the previous 12 months, a significant increase on the 2.4 million people estimated to have ridden in 1999.

There are many reasons for wanting to learn to ride a horse, such as improving your own fitness levels and getting out and about in the countryside. Horse riding can be massively rewarding and exciting, and it is no wonder that so many people choose to spend their free time pursuing the sport.

Safety has to be a major part of horse riding, especially where beginners and children are involved. Although horse riding can be made far safer by following certain rules and wearing the appropriate safety equipment, you must always remember that animals can be unpredictable and riders need to be aware of the dangers.

Because of this it is highly recommended that beginners to horse riding find an approved riding school that caters for people learning to ride and provides lessons in a structured and safe environment. The first ride will involve the basic, yet essential lessons, such as how to approach a horse, how to mount it correctly and finding the best riding position. You will probably be shown how to control the horse during a gentle walking exercise and generally, just be given time to get use to having a horse underneath you.

Getting on a horse for the first time can be a daunting experience for anyone, adult or child, but by going through an accredited riding school, you give yourself the best chance of having a hugely enjoyable experience that you’ll want to repeat as quickly as possible.

If you’ve have progressed to the point where you’re considering buying your own horse, or are simply looking to invest in some equipment of your own to use while riding, then make sure you look on the internet for an equestrian supplies shop. There are specialist websites that cater for everyone, from beginners right through to competition riders, and offer a wide choice of equipment.

You’ll be able to find the best deals on everything from horse saddles to equestrian clothing, all under one roof.