Loose clothing can cause injury when riding because it may get caught in the saddle or on other things along the trail. Wear riding pants, if you can. These are stretchy pants without an inseam. They also have suede patches along the inner knee area to help with grip. Jeans are comfortable options for horseback riding.
You can wear riding boots, hiking boots, winter boots, and boots that come above your ankle. If you don’t have boots, you can use closed-toed shoes like running shoes or sneakers.
If you are taking lessons, most stables provide helmets. The brim of your helmet should sit about 1 inch (2. 5 cm) above your eyebrows and level across your face. If you don’t have a riding helmet, put on a bicycle helmet. You must wear a helmet to prevent head injuries when riding.
Try aerobic exercises like walking, running, biking, and swimming. If you can’t do get aerobic exercise every day, aim to exercise at least 3 times a week. You should also practice good posture and stretch regularly.
For example, if a burr is left under the saddle pad, your horse could buck when you sit on the saddle.
If your horse is younger or unfamiliar, you can let them smell the saddle pad before you put it on.
Avoid approaching your horse by carrying a saddle so the cinches drag at your feet. This could cause injuries.
Avoid dropping the saddle or placing it down roughly. This may scare or hurt your horse. If you need to move the saddle or pad, lift it up rather than sliding it. Sliding can pull or bind the horse’s hair and cause a sore back.
If the horse is known to kick, have a friend help. They can pass you the cinch from the other side of the horse.
Collars and martingales are used when your horse is pulling a cart or carriage.
This makes it easier to put the bridle on.
It is helpful to have the bridle and reins on your arm ready to put on.
Pulling up with your right hand, keep the bit taut.
Avoid bending the horse’s ears backwards, as this is very uncomfortable them.
Make sure you don’t fasten it too tightly so you don’t restrict the horse’s breathing. You should be able to fit your fist through the throat latch strap when it is buckled.
You can also make sure the stirrups are properly adjusted to fit your feet.
Mounting blocks also put less strain on the stirrups when you get on the horse, which decreases the chance of slipping. Mounting blocks also make your mount smooth, which in turn makes your horse less likely to spook.
The right side of the horse is known as the “off” side.
Your foot should be completely inside the stirrup.
Move your right hand forward as you do this and take hold of the rein with your right hand.
If you drop into the saddle quickly, you could startle the horse and they could jump or buck.
