Horse riding is a nice hobby, but a few rules should be observed, especially if it is the first time that you are going to mount a strange horse, for example on vacation.
Horses Are Prey Animals
Perhaps strange for such a large animal, but they were indeed prey to various predators. Not in the horse riding school or on the land safely on the pasture, but the horses that used to live in the wild did not have such a quiet existence. This has remained in the blood, so they are always on the lookout for danger.
If you approach a horse, always do so in a calm, confident manner, always a little obliquely or frontally, never approach a horse from the rear, there is a good chance that the animal will be startled and you will come into contact with its hind legs in a painful way.
Since horses are emotional animals, it is also useful to talk calmly to the animal, the animal senses your state of mind and will adapt to it. It is best not to pet a strange horse on the head unless you feel that the animal likes it, in some countries horses are not always treated well and they do not tolerate this.
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Left-Hand Side Horse Riding
A non-scientific fact is that it is best to walk along the left side of a horse and mount it on the left side.
If you walk next to the animal try to keep the same step, put its left leg forward then do the same so you are less likely to step on your foot.
Taking off on the left would simply be down to the fact that not many horses are used to someone taking off on the right. The best way to take off is to place your left hand on the withers of the horse so that you have contact with the animal and your other hand on the saddle so that it cannot slide away.
Mood Horse Riding
You can tell a lot about his mood from a horse’s ears.
- Ears erect and slightly forward; the animal is friendly and curious
- Ears flat back; the animal is angry or very frightened be careful is the message
- Ears hanging; the animal is tired or in pain.
If a horse scratches the sand with its front leg, it is impatient. Their tail usually swings back and forth to chase away flies and horseflies, however, if the animal starts to do this violently, this can indicate severe nervousness
Driving A Horse
It really couldn’t be simpler, pull the left rein and the animal goes to the left, right rein and the animal goes right, and tightening both reins means stopping, one should be careful not to pull too tight because this can cause pain to the animal. The horse will leave if you gently push against the flanks with the heels. The stirrups should be at such a height that your legs are always at an angle so that your feet cannot shoot out of the stirrups.
Fall And Rise
If you fall and the animal runs away don’t panic, the chance that your horse riding in the school for you is very high as it will always find its way back. If you panic on your horse due to some circumstance, don’t start shouting or screaming, the animal will run wild with all possible consequences. Always keep in mind that a horse has only limited vision in front of it because its eyes are on the side of its head and it also sees everything bigger than it actually is, so never suddenly start waving your arms because the animal will inevitably startle.
Rewards
A friendly pat on the neck is a nice reward, but a carrot, apple, or piece of stale bread will also be gratefully accepted. Never give fresh bread because a horse cannot digest this and a sugar cube is out of the question