Want to be a better horseman? One of the key elements to superior horsemanship is safety. Accidents happen, but with a little common sense and planning, the chance of a bad accident can be minimized as you work on your horsemanship skills. Here are some tips for safe riding. Follow these basic guidelines and you will improve your horsemanship skills ? guaranteed!
Dress appropriately
From head to toe, prepare yourself before you get on the horse. Safety helmets are important to prevent head injuries. Whenever working around horses or riding, wear an approved equestrian safety helmet. Wear long pants and proper boots or riding shoes, with a sufficient heel to prevent your foot from becoming caught in the stirrup and being dragged. If you are doing jumping or speed events, consider wearing a safety vest as well.
Make sure your horse is dressed appropriately also
Make sure that your tack and equipment fits the horse, is in good condition and appropriate for the type of riding you are doing. For example, do not use a western saddle if you are wanting to practice going over jumps. Check for worn leather and other signs of wear that may result in a disaster if breakage occurs while you are riding.
Before mounting, recheck the girth to make sure it is snug enough. Check that all other gear is fitted properly. If you use a back cinch on a western saddle, don?t have it too loose so that the horse?s hind foot can get caught up in it. Adjust your stirrups to the proper length before getting on. Always dismount to adjust your tack or clothing.
Handling the horse
It?s important to be comfortable but cautious when working around horses. If you are calm and focused, the horse will be too. Horses are sensitive animals. They don?t like to be yelled at and fast movements make them jumpy. Be calm and deliberate in your actions. Make sure that the horse knows where you are at all times. Most horses will not kick unless they are startled. Never walk up behind a strange horse, and when walking around the horse, either stay very close in or stay far away, out of kicking range. The horse?s blind spots are directly in front of him and directly behind him. Avoid standing in these areas. If the horse is tied, do not walk under the tie rope.
Never, ever wrap the horse?s lead rope around your wrist or arm. When leading the horse, keep two hands on the lead rope.
Use caution when feeding your horse treats. Some horses are very well mannered and it is safe to feed them treats from your hand. But often, young horses especially may be too grabby and bite your hand when offered a treat.
Don?t be in a hurry when working around horses. They will pick up on your feelings of impatience and they will respond in like manner.
Ride to improve your horsemanship
That?s a no-brainer, right? But it is the most important thing to do if you want to improve your riding skills. Becoming a good horseman takes time and effort. There?s nothing like riding a lot of hours and a lot of miles if you want to improve your horsemanship. Be prepared to take however much time it takes to achieve your goals.
Prepare yourself mentally for each ride.
As you prepare your horse, grooming and tacking him up, think about what you want to work on. If you have a particularly issue to work out, think about how to approach it so that you can make progress with your day?s ride. For example, if your horse is resistant to making a small circle to the left, think about what exercises you can do to encourage your horse to be more supple and balanced going this direction. Think about what aids you need to use in order to complete the exercises. If you want to improve, have a plan.
One of the best ways to improve your riding skills is to study. There are numerous books and videos available if you do not have an instructor. Read, watch others, have others watch you. And listen to your horse. Your horse is the best teacher. He will tell you when you are doing something right, because he will perform correctly and consistently for you. If your horse is acting up, not cooperating, resisting, or unable to do the job being asked of him, think about it. Figure out why. Achieving harmony with your horse is the basis for good horsemanship, regardless of what level of riding you are at.
Safety, harmony and excellence all go together. That is what makes a good horseman.
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