| Learning how to ride a horse should be on everyone's | | | | okay. All first time riders experience this. There is a |
| bucket list. When you know how to ride a horse, you | | | | learning curve to swinging your leg high and over a |
| have achieved a major skill. Riding horses can boost | | | | horse. |
| your confidence when you realize that you are now | | | | Third, know that your teacher will insist you master the |
| able to control an animal that weighs more than 1,000 | | | | slow walk before they even think about letting you |
| pounds. Learning how to ride a horse is about more | | | | gallop across the pasture. This is for the safety of |
| than just sitting on a horse, kicking your heels, and | | | | both you and the horse. If you can't learn to steer a |
| hollering, "Giddy up!" While no article can replace | | | | horse at a slow walk, you certainly will not be able to |
| qualified instructions on a real horse, keeping these | | | | do it at a gallop. The speed of your horse progresses |
| things in mind can make your first riding lessons go | | | | from a slow walk, to a walk, onto a cantor, then to a |
| more smoothly. | | | | gallop. It can take several weeks or months to develop |
| First, attend a riding class taught by a qualified and | | | | the skills and relationship with your horse to move from |
| knowledgeable instructor. It is so much easier to learn | | | | one speed to the next. |
| from a professional who has experience teaching than | | | | Finally, remember that this is supposed to be fun. Very |
| to just try and pick it up from a friend with an extra | | | | few people learn how to ride a horse for fame or |
| horse. | | | | fortune. If you always keep sight of why you wanted |
| Second, understand that you probably will not get your | | | | to learn how to ride a horse, then the experience will |
| mount correct the first time you try to learn how to | | | | hold more meaning for you and provide many hours of |
| ride a horse. It will likely take you several attempts | | | | relaxation and fun. |
| when you are learning how to ride a horse. That is | | | | |