How to Teach a Horseback Riding Lesson

Teaching a horseback riding lessons requires not only an extensive knowledge of horses and riding, but also the ability to effectively convey techniques to your students. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A school horse
• A student
• Organizing materials
• A place to teach

1. Find a way to teach lessons. You'll need to either give horseback riding lessons on your own horse(s), or you'll have to work at an established equestrian facility. Either way, you'll need to work out the details before you can offer lessons.

2. Introduce the student to the horse she'll be riding. This might include a primer on the parts of the horse, an explanation of how to tack a horse up, or just a get-to-know-you session where the student pets the horse.

3. 
   Western Saddle

   Select appropriate equipment. You might have to provide the student with an ATSM approved riding helmet, but she should come dressed in long pants and boots. You'll need to select a saddle that will fit the student well, and stirrups that are neither too big or too small.

4. 
   Give careful instructions.

   Help the student mount her horse to begin the horseback riding lesson. For young children or students who are less confident, you might want to start on the lunge line. Explain how to ask the horse to walk on, and how to steer correctly.

5. Conclude the horseback riding lesson when the student has mastered walking around the arena at the walk. There is no reason to go further than that until she is completely confident in the saddle. The first lesson should be focused on walking and steering.

Tips & Warnings

• Obtain liability insurance to protect yourself in the event one of your students is hurt.
• Require that all students sign a liability waiver to protect you from being sued.
• Purchase colored rubber reins that can help your students learn where to hold their hands. For example, you can say, "Shorten up to the red!"
• Novice horseback riders can easily be hurt if you don't pay attention. Never leave the arena while students are mounted.