Introduction
Even thought there are various sports, equipment and breeds, there is one sure way to mount and ride a horse. This page will explain the basics of this and outline the basics of walking, trotting and galloping.
Mounting your horse
Once you horse is saddled, approach the horse either head first or from the side. Some horse will kick out if approach from the rear. a key point to mounting your horse is to stand on the side where you will feel most comfortable putting your leg over. for instance, if you are right handed, you might feel more comfortable from the right side. Hold onto the sides of the sadle withyour hands and put your right foot in the stirrup. You might need a boost up to get your leg over. once you are seatred in the saddle, position your hands correctly on the reigns and you're ready to go. You might need to practise this manouvre a few times to get it right
Walking
Once you have mounted your horse, you will want to start riding. The first step is to start walking and you might want to have the horse on a lead so that someone can direct the horse while you get used to the feel of your horse. You should sit up right and have your arms relaxed and out front of your body. Your horse would have been trained to understand voice commands and pressure on their sides. Once the horse is off the long lead, make the appropriate command and give gentle pressure and a very slight kick to the sides. This will start your horse walking forward. To stop, you simple tug gentle at the reigns a give the voice command.
Trotting
After walking comes trotting. This is like a jog for the horse. Your body should be at the same position as it is for walking but you have to raise you body with the rythm of the horse. You only have to life it up a slight amount. To get you horse to start trotting, command the horse to walk forward and when you are comfortable, give the voice command to trot and give a slight kick to the sides. To stop the horse, you need to repeat the stop command and tug on the reigns gently.
Canter
The canter is a fast paced trot which is slightly slower than a gallop. For more advanced riders, this would be the speed they would approach a jump or play Jimcana. Once you horse is walking, give the command for a trot and almost immediantely, give the horse a slight kick to get a canter. When cantering, you lean your body forward and put your weight on your feet.Place your hands close to the horses neck and remember to shorten the reigns as well. This helps to stabilise your body.
Gallop
The gallop is a full speed, almost uncontrollable run. To get your horse to gallop, which is extremely fun and dangerous, give a small kick and lean even more forward and this should get your horse to gallop. The only way to stop a horse while galloping is, not to lean back, but to hold on and squeeze the sides.