Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
There are numerous styles of horseback riding, but most can be generalized as "English" or "western." The English style is a blanket term that includes dressage, hunt seat, showjumping, eventing, and polo. The English riding style is also called the classical style, with its origins found in England. Dressage, show jumping, and three-day eventing (a combination of dressage, eventing and show jumping) appear in the Olympic games.
Riders from many disciplines use varieties of riding crops and whips to help control their horses. Riders should limit their use and never yield them with excessive force. Riding crops are constructed from a long shaft of flexible material such as fiberglass and are usually coated with leather or fabric.
Horses have four basic gaits, or patterns of movement: walk, trot, canter and gallop. While not the fastest gait, the trot is one of the more challenging to learn to ride because the two-beat movement can be bumpy and jarring to a beginner rider. At the trot, the diagonal front and hind legs move forward together. Posting the trot helps riders absorb the gait's bounce and allows the horse to trot forward with more freedom of movement. Posting involves rising up out of the saddle for one stride and sitting for the next in an up-down motion.
English riding is a style of horseback riding that allows as much freedom of movement as possible for the horse. It also establishes contact between the horse and rider using pressure on the bit, signals from a crop or whip and cues from the rider's legs and feet. The English saddle is flat and lightweight. It is designed to maximize physical communication between the horse and rider. It requires skill and training to ride a horse, and new riders are encouraged to learn with an experienced trainer.
Spurs are worn on the keels of riding boots. They are used to guide horses and give them commands. They are used in combination with other riding techniques, such as reins and voice commands.
Horseback riding has become an increasingly popular sport, and with a wide range of competitive events available to young and old equestrians alike, there is always a need for qualified, professional instructors and trainers. Teaching people to ride horses requires years of experience working with horses. Having a teaching certification is also an important career step for serious riding instructors, because most insurance companies do not cover instructors who are not certified.
A riding crop is another name for the short whip used by horseback riders. It can be switched from hand to hand and used when necessary. When not in use, it is held in one hand along with the reins.
Correctly fitting boots, whether field or dress boots, for English riding are one of the most important investments you can make for competing in the sport. Boots that are too big around the calf drop too much and the leather will begin to slouch. Boots too long in the foot make it hard to put your foot on the stirrup correctly. Boots that are too small are horribly uncomfortable and may be impossible to get on or off.
Riding boots, whether for show, schooling or work, can be an investment and they see a lot of daily wear and tear. Regular care will make your boots last longer, and clean boots in the show ring give a favorable impression to the judge. Besides cleaning, you also need to properly store your boots between wearings.
Spurs are used by intermediate and advanced riders to increase the pressure of the leg aids when a horse is not willing to move. Only riders capable of controlling their legs so that leg aids and spur aids can be applied separately should consider riding with spurs. A rider that grips with the heels or applies the heels to give leg aids, rather than using the calf, should work on strengthening her legs before putting spurs on.
The bond between horse and rider is unmistakable; there have been amazing stories of the lengths that both have gone to protect and serve each other. One of the most graceful displays of this bond is the English riding event.
Making your reins longer or shorter tells the horse a lot more than just vocal commands. With some riding disciplines, like dressage, you are not allowed to use vocal commands at all. Shorter reins tell your horse to wake up, and longer reins tell him to relax. Adjusting your reins should be done with as little motion as possible. Always remember, the reins are connected to your horse's sensitive mouth. Learn to work with a single set of reins before moving on to a double bridle.
If you're serious about horseback riding, you're going to need a good pair of English riding boots. You can get one of several different kinds and spend a little or a lot of money on them. These riding boots are an important investment for any rider.
Learning to ride English style is the starting point for any novice rider. After acquiring the fundamental skills of the sport in the English ring, you'll be able to use your new abilities to master other riding styles.
