By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Rate: (22 Ratings)
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.
eHow Sports & Fitness Editor
Comments
horse_lover said
on 11/12/2006 Be friendly- when you want the horse to know that you are friendly feed them a few corrots or sugar cubes, that way they know your friendly and they will want to let you ride on the horse.
said
on 8/8/2006 Though most horses are different, all of them hate it when you are too rough. Be gentle.
said
on 7/20/2006 If you want better balance, there are a few things that you can do!
1) Try riding without stirrups. I know it sounds horrible but it makes you a much better rider! Try to do two-point in it. Try it at the walk first! It is hard at first, but it builds up those leg muscles.
2) Try bareback riding when comfortable. You have to really hold on.
3.) Try standing in your stirrups for a long period of time. It is harder then it seems. If you need help, try holding on to a piece of mane at first. I had a friend whose instructor made her do a whole trail ride at a trot standing!
4) Try mixing up your post. It sounds easy, but it isn't! Try 2 strides standing 2 strides sitting. This will help you get your legs in the right position.
5) Try riding with 1 stirrup. I think it is harder then with no stirrups, so make sure you are ready for the challenge. Try riding without one for 5 strides, then pick it up again and ride with 5 strides with both. Then drop the other stirrup for 5 strides and then pick it up and so on.
I hope these tips help you! They helped me.
said
on 1/19/2006 When you're riding, remember to look up and straight ahead. Stick your chest out, arch your back and keep your eyes up. Also, hands out in front of you, heels down and toes out. I've been riding for years and I still am told to put my heels down and toes out. Each horse is different though. Some horses need to feel contact through the mouth, some through your legs. Some hate it when your legs are on them and some need your leg on them to keep them going. Remember, each horse is different. And either way; ride high.
said
on 12/16/2005 I can't stand it when I see a rider with bad position. It's unsafe, and uncomfortable for the poor horse and it of course makes you look like an idiot. It takes a lot to fix flaws in your position, you have to build muscle endurance rather than muscle strength to support yourself. The typical horseback rider has long lean muscles much like a dancer. Talk over your position flaws with your instructor and work on them. If you take regular lessons (or even just ride regularly) then work out at home. It's a nasty surprise to realize that your teacher has leg strength planned when you haven't worked on it in a while.