All kinds of people ride horses for different reasons. Many people make a living working with horses. Cowboys herd cattle on horseback, while jockeys race at breakneck speeds. Some people ride for pleasure: trail riders visit remote places not accessible in a vehicle. Young people learn about responsibility in caring for a horse. And they all make it look easy. If you have never ridden before, though, your first encounter with that huge animal can be somewhat daunting. And riding is not without danger, so you need to approach it with care. Read on to learn how to hold the reigns on a horse.
Saddle the horse and walk her a few steps. If you're new to riding, you will need help with this task. You don't want your saddle to slip sideways while you're riding. This article assumes you will be Western riding and using split reins.
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Put the right rein over the horse's neck. Hold the left rein. Step up to the horse's left side. Take both reins in your left hand. Use your right hand on the horn to boost yourself up while using the reins in your left hand to control the horse. You always want to have control of the horse, so do not put your reins down at any point in this process.
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In the saddle, if you're right-handed, hold the reins in your left hand with the tails of the reins falling over the left side of your horse.
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When riding, make certain that your right hand is in front of your body to keep you square in the saddle. To get a feel for this, hold a rock in your right hand. With the reins in your left hand, your right hand is free to handle a rope.
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When you step off the horse, keep the left rein in your hand so you still have control of the horse.
