Riding Your Horse Safely and Easily

Horse handling is a skill perfected with training and experience. Receiving the right kind of training and instruction from a qualified expert is important for getting the most from the time you spend with horses.
After you have some knowledge under your belt, you can safely handle your horse in a variety of situations. Remember that horses are large animals, and it takes some know how to deal with them.
  Working with your horse from the ground:
Before you can ride your horse, you need to handle him from the ground. Given that your horse outweighs you by something like 10 times, it’s a good idea to know how to properly deal with him when you’re standing at his side.
A horse with good ground manners maintains a proper distance from you — doesn’t crowd your space — and respects you as the authority when you’re leading him or working around him. In turn, you need to know how to handle your horse properly so you don’t confuse him or inadvertently
put yourself in harm’s way. Make sure you know to succeed at:

-Approaching your horse in a stall or pasture
-Haltering your horse
-Leading your horse
-Tying your horse
-Longeing your horse


  Looking at riding basics:
Getting up on a horse’s back can be exciting. It can also be frustrating and scary if you don’t know what you’re doing. Learning to ride in a formal setting is crucial, because qualified instructors know how to properly teach you riding basics.
Your first decision is determining in which riding discipline you’d like to learn; Hunt seat is used by people who want to jump their horses, although plenty of hunt-seat riders don’t jump — they simply enjoy this style of riding.
Dressage is an ancient discipline that’s growing in popularity among English riders in the U.S. It emphasizes grace and athleticism in the horse.
Saddle-seat riders tend to ride a certain type of horse, one that tends to have high leg action. Many saddle-seat riders show their horses.
Western riding, the most popular of all the disciplines, is often the style of choice for beginning riders, because Western saddles provide the most security. Western riding is popular with casual trail riders, as well as those working with cattle.

Part of your equine education will include learning to saddle and bridle your horse. When you have hoisted yourself into the saddle, you are ready to start riding. For most people, this is what being around horses is all about. Of course, doing it right takes education and practice.

  Staying safe on your horse
Horseback riding has been deemed one of the most dangerous sports, and it results in a significant number of serious injuries to people every year.
For this reason, safety when riding is crucial. One way to ensure that you have a safe ride on your horse is wear the proper apparel. Footwear designed especially for riding is mandatory. Proper footwear can keep you from getting caught up in the stirrups and being dragged if your
horse becomes out of control.
A riding helmet is an important part of safety apparel.
Most horse-related accidents involve head injuries, and more than one rider has ended up in a vegetative state as a result of a blow to the head when falling off a horse.
Helmets designed specifically for riders can protect your valuable grey matter in the event of an accident.
Knowing the proper way to handle a horse — on the ground and in the saddle — also increases your odds of staying safe while participating in your new hobby. Don’t skimp on getting a good education on how to ride and handle horses.
You should find out how to do the following:
-Care for a horse’s hooves
-Handle yourself when you’re in close quarters with a horse
-Lead a horse
-Move around a tied horse
-Check your tack
-Ride safely by yourself and with others