Girl riding a white horse

What Will You Learn in a Beginner Horseback Riding Lesson?

Learning how to ride a horse takes practice, and instruction from a professional horseback riding instructor can help. Horseback riding lessons are an excellent way to learn the basics of riding and caring for a horse. As with any new thing you learn, it’s best to start with the basics. Even the greatest equestrians had to learn to trot before they could canter and how to turn before they could jump! Here’s a list of things you will learn in a horseback riding lesson as a beginner:

1. How to put tack on the horse.

Tack refers to the variety of accessories worn by a horse. Some examples of horse tack are harnesses, bits, and saddles. Knowing how to properly put tack on your horse will ensure that you and the horse are both comfortable. Additionally, putting the horse’s tack on correctly is essential for safety. A saddle put on incorrectly could cause a rider to fall. You will also learn how to properly take the tack off.

2. How to lead the horse on a rope.

As a beginner, you will learn how to use a lead-rope. Learning to lead a horse is an important part of ground training. You might be questioning why learning this ground skill is important. Aren’t you supposed to learn how to ride on the horse? Yes, and leading is one of the first steps! Learning to lead your horse will improve your ability to control the horses’ movements and improve your communication with the horse on the ground and on the horse.

3. How to stop and start the horse.

You will learn how to stop and start the horse both on the ground and on horseback. On the ground, stopping the horse will include verbal and physical cues. Once on horseback, you will use the reins to control the horse’s movement in addition to other physical and verbal cues.

4. How to mount the horse.

Proper mounting technique varies. English and western styles of riding each require their own particular method of mounting the horse. The English style of mounting and western style of mounting a horse differ in hand placement and the type of saddle used. Many beginners struggle to mount on the first time and may require assistance. This is because new riders have not developed the muscle strength needed to mount a horse. With practice, you’ll build up strength and master the mounting technique for your riding style.

5. How to ride at a walk pace.

Now that you’ve established communication with the horse and know how to mount the horse, you’re ready to ride! You will begin with a walk pace and practice walking in a circle around an enclosed arena. Riding at a walk pace is a great opportunity for riders to learn how to direct their horse around bends and corners of the arena.

 

Girl in uniform riding a horse, working with coach

6. How to trot.

A trot pace is slightly faster than a walk, and the horse lifts each pair of diagonal legs alternately. Learning to trot is an exciting step for a beginning rider. The ability to trot indicates that the rider has learned to communicate with the horse and feels comfortable in the saddle.  

7. How to move from a seated to standing position in the saddle.

The movement from a seated to standing position it called posting. When you reach a trot pace, an up and down movement of the torso occurs naturally. To enhance this movement, the rider presses down into the stirrups and keeps the ankles relaxed, not bracing the ankles to force an up and down movement. The pressure on the stirrups and flowing with the natural movement of the horse will help a rider post.

8. How to clean and groom the horse.

At the beginning or end of the lesson, the instructor will have you clean and groom the horse. You will learn about the different types of brushes and how to use them. Different types of bushes, such as the dandy brush and curry comb, are used on different areas of the horse’s body. The mane and tail require a different brush than the body and face. You’ll also learn how to pick a horse’s hooves.

 

Child cleaning a horse's hoove

 

Once you’ve mastered these beginner horseback riding skills, you’ll move onto intermediate skills such as jumping and cantering. The key to learning to ride a horse is to be patient while mastering the horse riding basics. Many riders are eager to canter and want to move at a faster pace. However, taking your time as a beginner is essential in order to become a well-trained and safe rider.

 

The instructors at Cramer Quarter Horses love working with new students. Horseback riding lessons for beginners are available at their location in Needville, Texas. Lessons are available for children and adults at a variety of skill levels and riding styles. Get more information on horseback riding lessons here.

 

10 Health Benefits of Horseback Riding

There are many benefits of horseback riding for your health. Those who ride competitively know that horseback riding is a physically challenging and rewarding activity. Additionally, interaction with horses is believed to have therapeutic effects. This has resulted in the rise of an experiential therapy called horse therapy or equine-assisted therapy, which involves interactions between patients and horses to treat conditions such as substance abuse, mental illness, and autism. Continue reading

Tips for Choosing the Right Horse Boarding Facility

Horse boarding staff

Horse boarding is a service offered to horse owners that allows them to keep their horses at an equine facility for a weekly or monthly fee. Perhaps you’ve heard of a horse livery, which is another name for a horse boarding stable. In addition to a place to keep your horse, boarding can also include horse care. Tasks such as feeding, cleaning, and training are commonly offered as a part of horse boarding, and these tasks are fulfilled by the boarding facility staff.
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Cramer Quarter Horses’ Summer Camp for Kids

girl, horse

 

One task parents face during the summer is figuring out how to keep their children entertained while school is out. No parent wants to hear their child repeat the monotonous “I’m bored!” cry all summer long. You might set up a kiddie pool in the backyard, play movies, or plan arts and crafts. These are a few of the tactics parents use to keep their kids entertained at home. However, sometimes it’s best to just get your children out of the house. That’s where we can help the most! Cramer Quarter Horses (CQH) hosts an annual summer horse camp, and your children are invited. Take them to the farm for a full day of fun that’s all about horses! They will get to expel all their youthful energy playing, learning, and meeting new friends on the farm!

About CQH Summer Horse Camp

CQH’s summer horse camp is an annual event that takes place on our 35-acre equine facility and farm. When you research the summer camps in Houston, you’ll find that there are a variety of camp types to choose from. Education, sports, and nature are common camp themes. The theme for CQH camp is “All About Horses!” At this equestrian summer camp, campers will ride horses, bathe horses, paint horse pictures, and enjoy more horse activities! The camp combines educational and outdoor activities, ensuring that campers are learning and having fun simultaneously.
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