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Handling Horses |
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the animal kingdom, horses stand out as having very large eyes. There are
positioned to the side of the head so that the horse has a tremendous field
of vision and just two blind spots, directly in front and behind. If you
quietly approach a horse head, you will therefore startle it, so one of the
basic rules of handling horses is to approach them from the side and to
speak so that the horse is aware of you.
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Many horses like to have a leader who can make decisions and instill confidence. It is vital to remember this if you want to handle, ride or train horses. By persuading the horse that you are its leader you can achieve a great deal together. Think of how event horses launch themselves off fences, when they cannot see the drop beneath them or the landing site. They do so because they have trust and confidence in their leader-the rider. |
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| The horse's strong power of association (ability to link a stimulus with a response) is what allows them to learn. Aided by a memory said to be second only to an elephant's, the horse rarely forgets his lessons....good or bad. | |||
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The most important rule in horseback riding is: Keep your heels down! Why? Because not only does it make you more secure, but it also stops your foot from being caught in the stirrup should the horse spook. 2. The second most important thing is: keep your head and shoulders up and sit straight up and down or lean slightly back. This puts you in a secure position for riding. For instance, if your horse were to buck and you were leaning forward, you would find yourself on the ground. 3. If the sport you choose to ride in requires speed for the most part (ie: eventing, games), it is best to choose nylon-backed stirrup leathers (for english saddles) as these can stand a lot of wear and tear and are almost unbreakable. 4. If you horse is going strong on the forehand or is lazy, you might want to try leaning back a little with your shoulders behind the perpendicular. This will make your seat stronger (as long as your legs stay in the correct position) and push your horse forward into better movement. But Beware... don't overdo this as it may put strain on your horses back. 5. Do not wear jeans when you're riding English. Western is okay, but not english. They make you slip extremely easily; specially on a leather saddle and the seams can be very uncomfortable. Riding breeches are best because they are designed for riding. 6. Some horses are troubled by riding through water. Having a friend ride a calm horse through while you and your horse watch will show your horse there is nothing to be afraid of, or gently leading your horse through the water if it isn't too deep can both help your horse overcome this problem.
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In
Conclusion:
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