How to Become a Good Horse Back Rider

Find a good trainer who is qualified in the discipline you want to pursue. Look at the American Riding Instructors Association website, which lists instructors in all states specializing in fifteen different aspects of riding. Book an assessment lesson with your chosen instructor, either on your own horse or at an approved riding establishment. Ensure your instructor knows what you want to achieve from horseback riding, so that he or she can target the lesson accordingly.

Start with the basics of position. If you're riding English, aim for a straight line when sitting in the center of the saddle, through your shoulder, hip and the the back of the foot. Let your arms hang naturally, then bend them at the elbow, as if you were holding a book. Keep the wrists supple and thumbs turned upwards, allowing a straight line from the elbow to the horse's bit for a better line of communication. Stretch your thighs down and ensure your heels are below your toes, which should point forward. Keep relaxed but upright, ensuring your knee is slightly bent but the stirrup leather hangs at a right angle to the ground. Your instructor will have you practice exercises without your stirrups to help you establish a deep, balanced seat, which is at the essence of becoming a good rider.

Begin working on changes of pace, known as transitions. Start with simple transitions, such as halt to walk to trot, squeezing your legs to encourage your horse forward, and resisting with your hands to slow him down. When you feel ready, start canter exercises, using your inside leg (the one farthest from the fence) on the girth and your outside leg (the one nearest the fence) behind the girth. Open up your inside hand and keep a firm hold on the outside hand without pulling back. This tells the horse to strike off on the correct canter lead, the inside foreleg.

Introduce circles and turns, aiming to keep your horse balanced and supple. For a horse to feel balanced he must feel like his weight is equally distributed; his footfalls should be rhythmic. A supple horse can bend whichever direction you ask him to, without falling in (this feels like you are riding a motorbike), or falling out (as if he is tilting to the outside). Use riding aids to cue the horse: With your inside leg on the girth, outside leg behind, open up your inside hand and support it with your outside hand. Try different exercises such as riding serpentines (loops across the arena) and figure eights at all paces.

Test your new skills by riding different horses, entering a simple competition, or taking your horse for a more challenging ride. Ensure at all times that you are safe but above all, enjoy your partnership with your horse.