Yee-haw!
Okay, I’m not quite sure what that was—maybe a horse sound in Romanian? Anyway, hello, fellow equestrian enthusiasts! 🐴 Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve got a bit more experience under your belt, I’m here to share some horseback riding tips I’ve gathered from YouTube, my lessons, and personal experience. I like to go over these tips before each class to refresh my memory, and I hope they help you too!
PS: Keep in mind, these tips are geared towards beginners and intermediate riders—not professionals. But hey, we all start somewhere!
General Riding Tips
– Engage your abs: Keep your core strong and engaged to maintain balance.
– Corners: When approaching a corner, press with your inside leg and gently pull on the outside rein.
– Grip with your thighs: Use your inner thighs for grip, not your knees.
– Cantering: To avoid bouncing and stay connected with your horse, isolate your hips to move with the horse—think of scooping your hips forward.
– Heel technique during canter: Lightly press down with your heel on the first beat of the canter (1-2-3 rhythm). I know, I’m a natural at explaining! Not.
Rising Trot
– Timing is everything: When the horse’s outside leg is forward, you should be up in your trot; when the inside leg is forward, you should be down.
– Thigh grip: Again, avoid gripping with your knees. Focus on the inner back thigh muscle instead.
Cantering
– Stay tall: Keep your abs engaged, arms back, and posture upright.
– Check the lead: If your horse is on the wrong lead, the outside leg will be noticeably more forward. When the lead is correct, the distance between the legs will be more even.
– Move with your horse: Remember, isolate your hips to move with your horse during the canter, using that scooping motion.
Sitting Trot
– Posture is key: Flex your abs, keep your shoulders back, and hold your head high. And, of course, try to stay relaxed—easier said than done, I know!
– Thigh grip again: Use your upper groin muscles for grip, not your knees.
– Gentle pelvis movement: Your pelvis should move “up, neutral, up, neutral”—but very gently. Please, no exaggerations!
– Absorb the shock: Press down with your heel to absorb any jolts.
Jumping
– Squeeze evenly: As you approach the jump, make sure you’re squeezing with both legs evenly.
– Arch your back slightly: Almost as if you’re preparing to take off.
(Full disclosure: I haven’t done that many jumps yet, so my tips here are a bit limited—please bear with me! 😉)
Additional Tips
– Keep your toes in: This helps with balance and alignment.
– Corners again: Remember, push with the inside leg and pull with the outside rein for smooth turns.
– Canter Lead Switch (Left to Right):
– Push your right seat bone forward towards your horse’s right ear.
– Close your right leg on the girth to encourage forward movement.
– Swing your left leg behind the girth to signal the new lead—think of it as spring-loaded, giving a quick aid.
– Close your left hand into a fist to keep the left hind leg grounded and maintain balance.
– Soften your right rein to allow the new inside front leg to come forward.
If you have any additional tips or do things differently, I’d love to hear from you! Your input helps me learn and improve too. Happy riding, everyone! 🐎
