The canter is by far my favorite gait when horseback riding. It is smooth, it is fast and it is relaxing. If you haven’t cantered before, think of the motion of a rocking horse, they really are quite similar. But it can also be a bit scary when you try to canter for the first …
Horseback Riding 101
Jumping is an exciting part of riding that almost every new rider looks forwards to trying. Many times a rider will then realize their passion is in another discipline like dressage or barrel racing, but that doesn’t stop the initial excitement people feel when they see a jump for the first time. There are many …
Safety is extremely important when interacting with horses, and one of the most common piece of safety advice around horses is to never walk behind a horse. In this article, you’ll learn why it’s (usually) not a good idea to walk behind a horse, and other basic safety dos and don’t. Why we have to …
It’s normal to feel sore after horseback riding- but a quick trail ride doesn’t mean you are doomed to days of stiffness and muscle soreness! Use the methods in this guide on how not to be sore after horseback riding to prevent muscle soreness from ruining your riding experience. Why We Get Sore After Horseback …
Every rider knows that one day, they will fall off of their horse. Some riders will have their first fall minutes after mounting a horse (a too-often occurrence on ill-fated vacation trail rides), while other horseback riders may not have a fall until they’ve been riding for years. In any case, though, anyone who saddles …
Hyper. Hot. Fizzy. These are a few of the typical descriptors of highly energetic horses. You know, the ones who always seem to be bursting with energy when you get in the saddle. Perhaps they go a little faster than you are comfortable with. Maybe they have to let out a few bucks before they …
When it gets hot in the South, it gets really hot, so I’ve learned a thing or two over my years of riding about how to continue to train, condition, and enjoy my horses in extreme summer temperatures. When it gets hot in the South, it also gets humid. And when a regular southern summer …
Perhaps you are interested in learning to ride, or maybe some new neighbors just moved in with horses. No matter the situation, it is always good to know how to safely approach and pet a horse before actually doing it. If you know what to look for, horses will communicate if they want to be …
Sometimes it can feel like every lesson is the same as the last, or maybe it feels like your students aren’t as engaged as they should be. Adding some fun riding lesson ideas for warm ups, cooldowns, and lesson plans can go a long way for both you and your riding students, while still improving …
Journaling after horseback riding lessons is an excellent way to gain perspective on your progress as a rider, your horse’s progress in training, and to track how things like weather, feed, or footing impact your training progress. Many riders, especially horseback riders training for elite competition, use a training log or a riding lesson journal …