Professional Horse Riding Lessons California Offers Begin With The Basics For Children And Adults

By Mattie Knight


Children as young as four can take equestrian classes. They will be mounted on ponies that are suitable in size. Horses and ponies are measured in height at the withers in increments of four inches. The withers is the place where the neck meets the back. A hand is equal to four inches. For example, a pony can be thirteen hands high and a tall horse can be seventeen hands high. Most horse riding lessons California provides will teach this to all beginners.

The children age six and under usually take a half hour lesson at a time. For those seven and older, including adults, the classes last an hour. Before riding, the class will tack up their horses. This includes learning to brush, saddle and adjust the stirrups. Then they learn how to put the bridle on.

The major portion of the hour is spent riding. The last five minutes are spent untacking and putting him in the barn or pasture. Brushing its back after a ride is always welcomed by your mount.

Clothing and helmet requirements must be respected. No person will ride unless he or she is wearing a helmet. Sure, those cowboy hats look glamorous, but, safety is more important than appearance. Pants or jeans are mandatory too. No shorts are acceptable. Shoes should have a heel at least an inch high. No tennis shoes are acceptable.

A riding instructor will take the time to evaluate each student for the purpose of placing him or her in the right class. Those with similar skills belong in the same class. Basic instructions include how to approach the mount while you are still on the ground. Hold out one hand with the palm down which is perceived as a friendly gesture.

The correct way to approach the animal is on the left side. You will brush, saddle and bridle him from the left, except while brushing the right side. If you are walking into a slip stall, make a sound to alert him that someone is behind him. A slip stall is one that is wide enough to accommodate one horse.

Placing your left foot in the left stirrup of the saddle, you lift yourself up, swing your right leg over the saddle and put both feet in the stirrups. The reins are used to give signals to your mount. For example, to stop you pull back on the reins, but gently. Too much pressure may cause a horse to rear up on its hind legs.

Use the reins to signal the horse as to what you want him to do. To signal that you want to move forward, hold the reins loosely and shake them against the horses neck. Another signal for go is to make a clicking sound. Pulling back on the reins signals him to stop. Be careful not to pull back too hard as this may cause some horses to rear up.

Initially, lessons are conducted in an area that is enclosed. The instructor will teach new riders how to signal for a right turn and a left turn in addition to stopping and moving forward. The students will practice their reining skills until they do it naturally and are comfortable with controlling the horse. This is the first lesson for those learning to ride.




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