22/11/2020 Back to Basics - Horseback Riding Skills Every Rider Should Know ⋆ The Phoenix Filly

Riding can be a lifelong pursuit for many, so one should have lifelong foundation
riding skills. These are key factors every rider should be taught and carry with them
through each riding experience and horse. It is good to revisit these horseback riding
elements, as they will make a you a better, more knowledgeable rider.

Eyes
Becoming self-aware of where you are looking during your rides is crucial. Do you
stare at the ground? Are you distracted and looking all over? Picking an object in the
distance or around the bend of the arena helps you maintain a more upright position
and brings your focus back where it should be- looking ahead, not staring at the
ground.

Continually staring at the ground or at your horse brings

your focus to some negative aspects. Focusing on your
horse can actually hurt your riding – instead of looking up
and feeling your riding with your seat and legs, you
become immersed in your horse’s headset and face.
Constantly looking down at your horse will lead to frequent
jerking of their mouth, or fussing with their face.

Bring your attention upwards. You can glance at your horse

or use your peripheral vision. Stretch your leg down and
use your seat to move forwards or gain more collection
and the proper headset will follow.

Have you ever heard the horseback riding saying,“If you stare at the ground you will
end up there?”Lift your eyesight and look at where you are heading – whether it be
on the trail, around the arena, over to the next barrel, or to the next jump on your
course.

Hands
Do you ride with “puppy dog” hands?
Are your wrists turned in or held at a
“broken” angle? Do you clench the
reins, or instead barely have a grip on
them? The reins are a direct form of
contact with your horse and a power
that is not to be abused. Harsh hands
or soft, weak hands can confuse the
horse, even if your other riding aids are
solid.

You want your horse smooth, calm, and responsive, and your hands are the driving
factor. Are you riding using only your reins? Do you use a rein to turn or do you use
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22/11/2020 Back to Basics - Horseback Riding Skills Every Rider Should Know ⋆ The Phoenix Filly

your leg and the weight of your seat?

Becoming too “handsy” will make your horse have a hard mouth and brace against
anything you ask of it, and for a good reason. It hurts. Be flexible but firm with your
reins and hands. In the bookCentered Riding, Sally mentions holding your reins like
they are two little birds- soft enough to not hurt them, but firm enough to not let them
get away.

Ride with forgiving hands, and your horse will

respond accordingly. CLICK TO TWEET

Seat
Riding with your seat is a key fundamental element in horseback riding. Riding with
your seat drives the horse up into the bridle. Not enough leg and hands that are too
hard will leave a horse unwilling or afraid to go forward. Too much leg and no hands
at all will encourage the horse to run through the bridle or rush around through all of
its gaits.

Riding with your seat and legs can allow a rider to stop their horse, start forward
motion, back up, adjust the speed of each gait, and move laterally.

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Time in the saddle is the best way to learn to ride with your seat. Follow the horse’s
motion at the walk and allow your legs to become long – stretching down with your
weight in your heels. This may take some time to accomplish, but once the balance
between riding with your seat and using your hands has coordinated, your riding
experience will only get better.

Patience
Patience is a fundamental element all riders need to have. At some point frustration
between horse and rider happens. Frustration can stem from unclear or mixed
signals coming from the rider, asking the horse to do something it is not familiar with
or has not yet been trained on, outside influences such as bad weather or scary
surroundings, and many other factors that can affect your ride time.

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22/11/2020 Back to Basics - Horseback Riding Skills Every Rider Should Know ⋆ The Phoenix Filly

Remember that a horse can only respond to what it has

been taught- or with the information you have provided it.
The problem may be the rider. The problem can also be the
horse. Is it scared? Confused? Patience with horses
establishes trust.Take a deep breath and calm and center
yourself.Ask again slowly and clearly.

Have patience when training something new. Does your

horse understand? Are they physically and mentally
capable of what we are asking them to do? Your horse may not be ready physically
for the task you are commanding.

We as humans are generally NOT expected to get something right on the first try.
Horses too need time to comprehend and understand.

Consistency
Consistently working with your horse will yield results faster. It is similar to going to
the gym. Consistently hitting the gym will help you drop weight and build muscle
(depending on the type of exercises you are doing.) You will see results quicker.
Stopping your gym sessions can cause relapses in your progress. If you wait long
enough, you may have to start all over because your muscles will have shrunk, or
you might have gained the weight back that you had lost.

Horses need consistent work. Teaching

them something and then not following
up is confusing. They may need to start
all over and relearn. Consistency also
helps develop a rapport between you and
your horse – establishing trust and
familiarity which helps
with immensely with training.

The best teacher is time spent in the

saddle.Taking a few lessons can also
help further your understanding and
equestrian knowledge as well. Remain
patient and consistent, and the progress
will come.

Don’t break the trust by losing your temper. Take a step back and take a deep
breath. Understanding and training can take time, and as you and your horse reach
milestones with each fundamental element, you will begin to see how horse and rider
work in harmony. Have a great ride!

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