Q&A for How to Ride a Horse

Absolutely have the benefit of someone who has experience guiding you. You want to read some books and really study horse care and horse behavior. Buy protective headgear and try setting yourself up to work with a horse that has experience so that they can help guide you. The more interaction and the more time you give yourself with the horse, the more skilled you'll become.

It would all depend on the rider, but most healthy people can do it their entire lives.

When you're riding bareback you normally just steer with you legs and hold on to the mane, however, you could gently pull left or right. It may not work if your horse isn't obedient, but it's worth a go.

A working trot is a trot that gets the horse moving and active. Unlike the jog, you will have to post this trot. The working trot is the "normal" trot which the horse does on a normal bases.

There are no words for it if you're on horseback. But, driving a wagon or cart, "gee" means right and "haw" means left.

You would step on a mounting block, fence rail, or get a leg up from another rider.

If you are a beginner, consider contacting a trainer, or whoever you will be taking lessons from. Ride the horse that they recommend until you know how to ride. Once you are comfortable riding, use your own knowledge to decide for yourself. Don't buy a horse until you have taken lessons and learned what horse is right for you!

Ask them to come into a large circle, and start making it smaller until they slow down, then start making it bigger. If they speed up again, tighten the circle again. It may take a few sessions until they get it, just be patient.

The Budweiser horses are draft horses, which means that they are a lot taller than normal horses. To ride a normal horse, you can be anywhere from age 8 and up, you just need to find the right sized horse and tack for your needs.

If you're a beginner, have someone hold the horse under the chin. If it tries to wander, gently pull on the reins. Repeat this action until it learns not to move while you mount.

To sit deep in the saddle means to put your weight on the stirrup irons and the saddle's seat and not the pommel. When you are in a rising trot, it helps when you land to think about the rises and falls of the trot's pace and feel comfortable as you land in to the seat (not the pommel/monkey strap) .

A collected trot is shorter than the working trot. The horse will seem more engaged and alert. Just try to keep the horse on the bit at all times. If you're a beginner, you won't know how to ask for it, but as you become more comfortable with the working trot, it will be easier to accomplish.

Yes.

Ask a professional trainer for advice at a local stable. Try lessons first to look at a bunch of different horses until you learn to ride, and then consider buying one!

The curry brush loosens up dirt and loose fur. The body brush sweeps it away. The different brushes may seem a lot at first but you'll get used to them very quickly.

You should research online to find the nearest place that provides lessons.

Depending on the type of saddle and girth you're using it will attach with one to three buckles. Attach the girth to the right hand side of the saddle first so it sits about half way up the girth straps. The girth then passes under the horse's belly about a hand-span behind the elbow and attached on the left hand side of the saddle. It should be done up fairly tight so the saddle can't slip but should be comfotable for the horse and should attach at about the same height on both sides of the saddle. Make sure you don't pinch the skin under neath.

Bolting is usually a result of your horse paying attention to something that's not you. If you see their ears go forward, that means they are paying attention to something else. If you see that, make a clicky sound, squeeze lightly or make any other sound that gets their attention.

Use spurs or give him the boots. Don't worry, this does not hurt. It's nearly impossible to hurt them with your boots.

Not all horses need shoes. Getting a farrier in to check your horses hooves to see if it needs shoes. Factors like breed, age, the ground the horse walks, and the type of riding the horse does, can effect if a horse needs shoes or not. Wearing shoes provides all of the following to horses and their feet: protection, traction, gait improvement and aide in soundness. Horses need their feet trimmed and their shoes reset on a scheduled basis because their feet are always growing.

Just know the main aspects of horse riding that people are most likely to talk about. However, you don't need to show off by pretending you know about something you don't. Just be yourself. Besides, what would you do if someone started asking you a bunch of questions about the topic that you didn't know how to answer?

If a horse seems to enjoy letting you pet, feed, or ride it, then that's a great indicator that the horse is comfortable around you and enjoys your presence.

It might be too long. As long as it doesn't cover your eyes or fall to a length where the horse could step on it, it probably will be okay.

A well-trained horse. Any horse that is trained well will listen, no matter the breed.

If your horse is wild, he/she might take it as an insult, but most horses will be fine with that.

If you have a horse of your own then say you will feed it, clean out the yard, fill up the water, look after it, or you could pay half of the money if you have enough. If you don't have a horse you can ask around and get prices for lessons. It is usually pretty expensive so call around until you find the most inexpensive one.

They are most likely referring to your calf. If you are still unsure, ASK. There is nothing wrong with not knowing.

Cross country is a type of jumping, mostly over jumps that don't fall over when you hit them. That makes cross country dangerous, and it can take a few years to learn. If you want to do cross country, you should get a trainer.

You go to the left side of the horse, then put your left foot in the stirrup while holding the reins tightly in your left hand. You then swing your right leg over the saddle and put it into the stirrup. Careful not to hold the reins too tight, as that will cause the horse to backup!

Take English riding lessons and ride English as often as you can to get used to the differences.