It makes a difference whether you ride a horse or just ride. It is said that one can ride after about 200 hours in a saddle. What are the general rules to follow when you start? It is necessary to think not only about how to hold on properly in the saddle but also about the horse itself.
Do you think you will start riding or take your children to horses? There is no age limit, neither lower nor upper. Children from kindergarten can also drive. However, if you want to teach them professional riding, for example at the Pohoda Ranch in Albrechtice near Havířov, they recommend starting with it from the age of 10. Adults should then consider their health and also take into account that after the first hour, the whole body hurts calmly for five days.
Horseback riding is a natural physical movement that significantly improves health and fitness. When riding a horse, in addition to the commonly used muscles, you also involve the deeply stored muscles, which are essential for good coordination and healthy posture. Also, movement in the saddle will help with back pain after a long session.
1) How to choose a riding school
First, look around for a suitable riding school. On the Internet, you will find a rich offer of stables in big cities and the countryside. You can also ask among friends or parents of your children’s classmates. One of the guarantees of the quality of the stable is membership in the Czech Equestrian Federation. It is a good idea to take trial training before enrollment and verify that the instructor is properly trained and has valid authority to provide lessons. You can verify this yourself on the federation’s website in the Equestrian Information System. During the first rides, you will find out if the approach of the instructor and the horse selected by him suits you. But you can also assess the atmosphere, appearance of the stable, and the health of the animals.
2) What I need
Equip yourself or a small rider with protective equipment, such as a protective three-point helmet, suitable riding boots, and a safety vest or spine protector is important for children. In the very beginning, you don’t have to buy riding breeches, other tight-fitting ones will suffice, instead of riding boots, higher ankle boots with a smooth sole will suffice for the first ride. However, protective accessories are essential. After a while, the rider will also need a whip. There is simply not much that riders take to the stables, so it is good to drive them with a large enough car, especially if you drive their friends in addition to your offspring. The Lexus NX, which has a large enough case for everything you need, will serve perfectly. It’s a crossover that can handle even more demanding terrain, but it’s still not big enough to make it difficult for you to maneuver in the city. Also, the hybrid version saves consumption and emissions, which is a great benefit in nature. Plus, it doesn’t make as much noise as a regular car.
3) What is a lounger
The horse on which the beginner sits and learns to ride serves as a trainer, as a sports equipment. A novice rider cannot coordinate his movements with him, so he acts like a heavy load, sometimes he kicks the horse with his heels, he pulls too hard on the reins, which can hurt his teeth. That is why there is a so-called lounger, which teaches the rider the right posture without hurting the animal. A lounger is a rope about 10 meters long that is held by a lounging man. He stands in the middle of an imaginary circle, holding a long lunging whip in one hand and a lunge in the other, with a horse at the end. The peasant is in charge of the horse, while the man on horseback is only in charge of himself. So for beginners, this method is ideal.
4) We start driving
Once you learn to sit properly, you will find out what a trot is and how the body works with it, and when you can stop the horse, you can put it off. It is usually after six to ten lessons in the lounge. It will probably be the phase when you will start teaching your horses to prepare for the ride. Take him out of the stable, tighten the saddle correctly, adjust the stirrups, and also get on and off yourself. Then you start stepping, like walking around the riding hall. From here, it is only a step towards independent trotting and further improvement.