If you have been taking riding lessons for any length of time, odds are good that you have heard the phrase “on the bit” by now. Instructors will often tell students to put their horse on the bit. Or, you might hear students saying they are having trouble getting their horse on the bit. If …
Horseback Riding 101
If you are just starting to take riding lessons, you will soon realize that there is a lot to learn, and a lot of new words! The horse world is filled with its own special lingo, and learning it can almost feel like learning a second language. Knowing the terms on this list will help …
Self defense may not be something you associate with horseback riding, but there are times on horseback when knowing a few self defense skills can give confidence and keep us safe- especially for those of us who ride alone on trails. For example, what would you do if you encountered a threatening character on the …
If you have a horse-crazy loved one in your life, then chances are you have been invited to watch them ride in a horse show. This means finding a way to make the rest of the horse show interesting and fun to watch as well. Growing up I competed in horse shows often, and I …
Riding Horses can be the most exciting part of a mountain vacation, tropical island retreat, or even African safari! To make the most of your experience riding horses on vacation, though, you’ll need to be armed with information about what to expect, how to prepare, what to pack, and how to avoid soreness the next …
One of the things that newer riders sometimes struggle with is knowing how tight the girth on their saddle should be. It can be tricky to get the hang of, since we do not want to hurt the horse, but we also need the saddle to be tight enough that it will not slip while …
The aim of riding is to stay on your horse and to have a good time. However, it is part of the horseback riding experience to fall off once in a while. As a safety strategy to prevent injuries during a fall, many hiding instructors teach beginner riders how to do an emergency dismount. What …
What is a Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Rider? If you are new to horseback riding, may notice people referring to riders based on one of three experience levels: Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. These terms are commonly used to communicate how much experience a rider has. Beginner Riders A beginner rider is someone who is still …
Horse riding is definitely a sport, and in this post you’ll learn 4 reasons why. If you are looking for a way to prove to your friends, co-workers, or even family that riding is a sport, keep reading! This article explains how horseback riding as an activity meets the four criteria an activity must meet …
If you want to bombproof your horse, you’ll need many training sessions, lots of wet saddle blankets, and a little bit of luck. It’s a process that requires time, effort, and endurance. Most people get a bombproof horse by buying one, training one, or raising their own foal or yearling. What is a Bombproof Horse” …