How to Teach English Horse Riding Techniques

Encourage your student to develop a bond with their horse.

English riding techniques are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. English riding is more formal than Western style, and riders use English tack. When introducing novice riders to English riding, the focus is on balance and a correct seating position.



When the rider is seated correctly, you should be able to see a straight line running from the horse's bit to the rider's hand through the rein. A second line should bisect the body vertically as the rider's ear, shoulder, hip and heel come into alignment.



Start the initial lesson by teaching the student on the lunge rein. This will enable the instructor to keep control of the horse as the lesson progresses. Novice riders should be encouraged to help groom and tack up the horse before riding, to help develop a bond.

Things You'll Need

• Horse
• Tack
• Enclosed riding area
• Mounting block
• Lead rein
• Assistant
• Lunge rein

Instructions

1. Check your student's clothing. They should be wearing a helmet and flat shoes or boots with a 1/2-inch heel to prevent feet from slipping through stirrups.

   Ask your assistant to hold the horse's head. Position the mounting block by the horse's left shoulder. The student should stand on the block and put their left foot in the stirrup. Their left hand should hold the pommel (front) of the saddle and their right hand should rest on the far side of the saddle for balance (not the cantle (back) of the saddle, as this may damage it). The student should swing themselves up and onto the horse, raising their right leg over the horse's back.

2. Adjust the student's stirrups so that the bottom of the stirrup iron knocks against the student's ankle bone. Replace the foot in the stirrup and adjust the other stirrup in the same way.

   Attach the lead rein to the horse's bit by passing it through the outside bit ring, under the horse's chin and clipping it to the nearside bit ring. The assistant should lead the horse from the outside so that they do not get between the student and the instructor.

3. Ask the student to relax and imagine a long string attached to the top of their hat. When pulled from above, this string will align the head, back, hips and heels into a straight line. Once the student has achieved the correct position, they should remain relaxed. Students often 'freeze' into a position and become tense. If the student sits incorrectly, the instructor should gently correct them but should not ask them to 'hold' a position. The student's heels should point slightly downwards to keep the foot in the stirrup.

   Encourage the student to feel the rhythm of the horse and to breathe deeply and regularly.

4. Ask the student to hold the reins. They should run up through the bottom of the hand between the little and ring fingers. The student should close their thumbs over the top of the reins to stop them from slipping through their fingers if the horse moves its head. Thumbs should point forwards towards the horse's ears. Once the rider is more advanced, they should learn to move their hands forward and back in time with the rhythm of the horse's head.

   Ask the student to look up and forward, and teach them to look in the direction that the horse is travelling. This will help both horse and rider to balance around corners.

   Teach turning and halting. Ask the student to 'feel' the inside rein and apply the outside leg behind the girth to ask the horse to turn inwards, and vice versa. To halt, the student should sit up tall, 'feel' both reins together and squeeze both legs gently.

5. Move on to the trot. While still in a walk, ask your student to practice rising up and down in the stirrups. When they can do this in a controlled manner, introduce the trot. The horse should still be held by an assistant. The student should learn to rise in time with the movement of the outside front shoulder.

   When the student is competent at turning, halting and trotting, use a lunge line to introduce the canter. This will enable you to keep control of the horse as the student practices. The student should concentrate on sitting up tall, relaxing and maintaining their leg position.

   Always encourage your student to help you untack and groom the horse at the end of each session. This teaches correct discipline and helps the student maintain a bond with the horse.

Tips & Warnings

• Horses are unpredictable animals and can react in unexpected ways. Make sure that your student rider is aware of this and is wearing a correctly-fitted helmet. Instructors and riders should both have appropriate liability insurance.

References

• Horsemart: Teaching a Beginner's Riding Lesson

Resources

• English Riding Supply: Helmets