Tammy Patterson asked:


ts and helmets come in different designs and the design is often chosen dependant on the discipline. More often than not the design of the hat that riders choose will be down to personal preference, comfort and fit. It is important that the hat you choose is new and conforms to current safety standards BSEN1384, EN1384 or PAS015.

The correct leg wear can contribute to an enjoyable ride. Wearing uncomfortable leg wear that pinches or allows the riders leg to move too much can hinder the rider when performing aids and affect their safety when on the horse. While riding skills are not going to be improved with the use of suitable clothing, improper clothing can hinder the progression of the rider. Jodhpurs and breeches are fitted to the leg, have durable seat and knee patches with many giving extra security in these places too. They are stretchy and the material used keeps the rider from overheating. Typically the quality, fit and additional features are improved as the price increases.

Riding boots are important for more than one reason. The sole and heal of the boot will be made with safety in mind. It should be made of a hard wearing material with a fine grip tread and heel to prevent the foot from slipping right through the stirrup. Boots can be ankle height, these are called Jodhpur boots and long riding boots cover the rider’s calf finishing just below the riders knee. Comfort is vital as a lot of control when riding your horse will come from your legs and feet.

Riding jackets come in all shape and size and for many different purposes. Many riders will have a number of different jackets, for cold wet conditions, for warmer breezier weathers and for showing or competing. Any jacket the rider wears should be comfortable, suitable, leave the rider with plenty of movement through their arms and across their shoulders and should not flap or have parts that could get caught making them unsafe in any way.

Chaps are a widespread piece of horse riding wear that many riders choose to use. They are brilliant as they fit over yard boots or Jodhpur boots and on top of jodhpurs giving the rider the additional grip and comfort that Long boots would provide but whilst giving them the peace of mind that they are not damaging or ruining their more expensive Long boots. They come in two forms, full length which fit hip to ankle and half chaps which fit the lower half of the rider’s leg. They can be worn on the yard for additional warmth and available in a variety of materials. Gaiters are closer fitting chaps and are commonly made from leather.

Janine Carter asked:


Horseback riding vactions are a time of the year that horse lovers look forward to, whether its with the whole family with kids included or just the two of you. Here we will talk about a few vacation spots to take your horses to, or if thats not possible rent the horse, saddle and tack right there. Either way you will have a great western riding experience.

Walden Creek Stables in the Smokey Mountains of East Tennessee is our first stop. This riding stable has five hundred acres with one-hundred horses and fifty riding cowboys to keep the action going for seven days a week, and that includes Christmas Day. So you can pretty much plan a trip here all hear round complete with saddle and tack. This Stable has horses for every level of horsemanship so there are no worries there. Not only do they have several trails to choose from but on special nights there is a Wild West Show with live entertainment.

Now lets jump on over to Wyoming where jumping in the saddle all tacked up and riding horses is just about second nature. Bitterroot Cattle Roundup is a great place to learn to ride in some of the most beautiful country you’ll ever see. The Bitterroot cattle graze on the adjacent national forest land from July to October. Guests who ride well enough can help the cowboys with the work of herding the cows into the mountains the first week of July and rounding them up again in the last week of September, known as the “roundup”. The cattle are spread out over fifty square miles of high mountains, forests, clearings and river valleys. When you return to your log cabin each evening, you’ll have a nice cozy bed waiting for you.

One of the most awesome places in the world is in the Grand Canyon located in Utah and Arizona. Grand Canyon Winter Pastures is one of the few stables that allows you to ride your horse down in to the canyon all saddled up with pack horses. This trip is not to be confused with infamously tedious donkey rides. This is a rigorous horse pack trip into some of the canyon’s least frequented drainages. Often riders need to dismount in order to lead their horses throught hazardous spots. Checking your saddle and tack often is the norm on this trip to make sure all is secure. The groups are small and everyone must be willing to pitch in around camp. The scenery alone is worth the trip.

Now we find ourselves in California at the Redwood Coast Ride stable. This ride goes everywhere from sandy beaches of the Pacific to the majestic redwood forests in northern California. Your riding guide has twenty-five years experience as a riding instructor. I would say a beginning rider might want to take a few lessons before trying this ride, although it is certainly more tame than the Grand Canyon adventure above.

So far we haven’t talked that much about beginner riders or lessons. At Medicine Hat Trail Ride in Carthage, MO, you can find a place to do both. You start off by learn how to groom and prep a horse for riding to putting on all the tack, then on to the trail for an hour long lesson that is relaxing and educational. While riding, you learn all the little signs of reading a horses disposition with the position of his ears and a swish of his tail. Great for kids and adults alike.

Lily Woods asked:


Horseback riding has been popular for centuries for a many reasons. Soon, horseback riding became a primary mode of travel. In the beginning, horses were primarily used for fighting and hunting. The speed of the horse gave people a great advantage. With the advent of wagons and carriages, people could move themselves and their belongings long distances with comparatively little difficulty.

Today, horseback riding is primarily used for recreation and therapy. Horseback riding camps are available from and to almost anywhere in the world. From Alaska to Mexico, from Botswana to Mongolia, horseback riding camps provide much more than just merely riding through hills and valleys.

Instruction about horse care and grooming are also basic requirements for attending a horse camp. They also teach about different kinds of tack, such as saddles, bridles, halters, bits and other horse gear. Most riding levels are catered to in horseback riding camps, and they are suitable for both novice and experienced riders who may find themselves fortunate enough to own a horse for the first time in their life.

When choosing a horseback riding camp, you must first decide which style of riding your child wants to learn. Western riding is generally associated with cowboys, ranches, and rodeos. Horseback riding camps can be found throughout the United States, and are also known as Dude Ranches or Guest Ranches in many western portions of the country. Popular western riding activities include trail riding and barrel racing. Western saddles were designed with the comfort and security of the rider in mind, so it has a higher seat back (cantle) and front (pommel) so riders feel secure while on the horse.

English riding, on the other hand, generally focuses on jumping, racing and horsemanship. This style of riding requires the horse and rider both to have more freedom of movement, so these saddles don’t provide as much support and security as does a Western style saddle. If your child is a first time rider, they might want to consider a Western riding camp.

Horseback riding is great therapy for persons of all ages with physical or mental disabilities. This type of therapy provides a fun environment to practice new skills and existing skills that people are seeking to improve. In addition, they are able to enjoy the benefits of being around people with whom they can easily relate.

If you’re looking to do something a little different the next time summer rolls around, consider horseback riding camps whether you own a horse or not. The experiences and fun gained at horseback riding camps will ensure that your stay will be a highlight you’ll remember forever.

Tammy Patterson asked:


ts and helmets come in different designs and the design is often chosen dependant on the discipline. More often than not the design of the hat that riders choose will be down to personal preference, comfort and fit. It is important that the hat you choose is new and conforms to current safety standards BSEN1384, EN1384 or PAS015.

The correct leg wear can contribute to an enjoyable ride. Wearing uncomfortable leg wear that pinches or allows the riders leg to move too much can hinder the rider when performing aids and affect their safety when on the horse. While riding skills are not going to be improved with the use of suitable clothing, improper clothing can hinder the progression of the rider. Jodhpurs and breeches are fitted to the leg, have durable seat and knee patches with many giving extra security in these places too. They are stretchy and the material used keeps the rider from overheating. Typically the quality, fit and additional features are improved as the price increases.

Riding boots are important for more than one reason. The sole and heal of the boot will be made with safety in mind. It should be made of a hard wearing material with a fine grip tread and heel to prevent the foot from slipping right through the stirrup. Boots can be ankle height, these are called Jodhpur boots and long riding boots cover the rider’s calf finishing just below the riders knee. Comfort is vital as a lot of control when riding your horse will come from your legs and feet.

Riding jackets come in all shape and size and for many different purposes. Many riders will have a number of different jackets, for cold wet conditions, for warmer breezier weathers and for showing or competing. Any jacket the rider wears should be comfortable, suitable, leave the rider with plenty of movement through their arms and across their shoulders and should not flap or have parts that could get caught making them unsafe in any way.

Chaps are a widespread piece of horse riding wear that many riders choose to use. They are brilliant as they fit over yard boots or Jodhpur boots and on top of jodhpurs giving the rider the additional grip and comfort that Long boots would provide but whilst giving them the peace of mind that they are not damaging or ruining their more expensive Long boots. They come in two forms, full length which fit hip to ankle and half chaps which fit the lower half of the rider’s leg. They can be worn on the yard for additional warmth and available in a variety of materials. Gaiters are closer fitting chaps and are commonly made from leather.

Susanne Malloy asked:


When you purchase a horse you may not be aware of all the additional expenses you will have before you actually get to take the horse out for a spin. Before making the plunge, be sure to price out the various types of tack and make a decision which style of riding you want to do and what type of tack is best. If you are on a budget or don’t want to buy new tack right off the bat, a good option is to go to horse shows or even farm sales and buy used tack that has been well cared for and maintained. Another option is to buy locally from a tack or feed store, this option usually allows you to return tack that doesn’t fit, but be sure to check the stores policy. If you know what you want, what size you need and all the particulars, buying online can be a good option as well. Returning items from online purchases can sometimes be costly as well as a hassle, so always read the return policy carefully before buying.

The most basic pieces of equipment you will need, especially to bring your new horse or yearling home is a halter and a lead rope. If you are buying a full grown horse you can select the halter you are going to use for many years, but if you are buying a young horse you will need to buy a foal or yearling halter and then buy bigger ones as the horse matures. Nylon halters and even leather halters aren’t expensive as long as you don’t get the ornate show halters.

Since you will want to ride your horse, you will need a saddle, saddle blanket or pad, bridle, bit and at least one set of reins, possibly two depending on the type of riding you wish to do. There are two different and broad categories of tack, English and western. English tack and western tack have similarities but are distinctively unique in appearance. English tack is smaller, with saddles that are minimal without a horn, high fork, deep seat or wide fenders on the stirrup leathers. Western saddles are the heavy saddles with a definite horn, deep seat and high, rigid cantle at the back. The fenders on the stirrups and the skirts on the saddle may be ornately carved or may have gold or silver accents. Within both English and western tack styles there are several variations, so it is important if you are interested in a particular event or competition that you find out what specific tack is required.

Bridles, bits and reins are all needed to control the horse, with differences again between English and western styles. English bridles tend to have more straps, including a noseband and a browband, while western bridles may or may not have these features. Bits for both English and western riding are typically snaffle bits, although the western style has an additional bar on the outside of the horse’s mouth, known as a curb. These bits are sometimes referred to as a snaffle curb, which is different than a curb bit.

An optional piece of tack that you may wish to purchase if your horse is going to be kept outdoors or in an unheated area is a blanket. Turnout blankets are for use outdoors and have a water resistant exterior and a warm, padded interior. They strap close to the horse’s body. Stable blankets are for use indoors and are less fitted to the horse and generally slightly lighter weight. Flysheets and covers can also be used in the summer.

Jackie Johnson asked:


Riders are always searching for that edge to make them better. They try new instructors or new techniques with their horse, new gear, but many never stop to think about how they can improve their own body with a targeted horse riding fitness program you will train your muscles in a way that is specific for a rider. In taking such a course, any rider, beginner or experienced, will see improvements. You see, a rider is a unique athlete and needs to have particularly strong core muscles and most important flexible lower back joints. The understanding of the function of the riding muscles provides a rider with knowledge to improve. Once the rider is familiar with these muscles they need a simple specific routine to follow.

There is a great program, Applied Posture Riding, which is specific for riders. It is a very unique program designed for riders only. It has been created by a lady with a Masters degree in Physiotherapy, she is a Pilates instructor and has achieved great success as a rider. His simple Pilates based course will guide you through a complete set of exercises, teaching you HOW TO train your riding muscles. The exercises begin on the floor teaching you how to find, test and train your deep core abdominal muscles.

This horse riding fitness routine will strengthen your core muscles and all the riding muscles by teaching you to ride on a big physio ball. It will help you recognize any problems you have with your body and then how to correct them. You will gain control of your posture, and increase your body awareness.

By following her program you will gain good core stability, the foundation of a good rider. Her horse riding fitness routine will progress through many simple steps finally teaching you HOW TO apply your new found body control in the saddle. You will notice your riding posture will change dramatically. Your riding will become pleasant and effective, you will move with your horse and not bounce or stiffen against him. The riding lessons; she has created one each for walking, trotting, the canter and jumping will complete the program. You will have that AAH Haa experience. That deep independent seat will happen. You will improve on every level all it takes is a little guided practice.

This program will save you attending Pilates classes or buying gym membership, back pain will be managed, just think of the time and money that you will be saving. She has put it all in one place for your convenience. This course will reinforce any riding lesson you have done. Riding instructors worldwide are recommending Pilates for horse riders. Riding instructors unfortunately don’t understand how to apply it though. This is why she created this incredible horse riding fitness program. She uses this program herself everyday for good stability and flexibility. This program applies exercises specific for riders and will give you great results, unlike any other program. For more information visit http://www.applied-posture-riding.com.

Jason asked:


Horse riding looks fun and enjoyable but it is a skillful job. For a smooth ride, both horse and the rider need to strike the right balance. It is important for a rider to follow a horse’s motion and stay in balance, if not you will end up gripping the horse with your thighs, clinging on to him by holding their calves etc. if this creates some unbalance in the horse’s motions, his ability to turn would get affected.

If you want to understand how a rider’s balance affects a horse’s movement then read through.

An off-balance rider typically falls behind the motion of the horse. Leaning to far forward is another mistake that riders make. Leaning more towards one side also affects the balance. Shifting the weight onto the wrong seat bone is another mistake that should be avoided.

If a rider goes off balance, the horse feels uncomfortable and is bound to react but this reaction differs from horse to horse. Some horses might speed up and move forward faster and faster, some might slow down and even stop running, some might turn more or less than the rider’s expectations and some might turn in completely different direction than what the rider intended.

In the above mentioned scenarios, if anybody has to be blamed then it is the rider and not the horse. the horse’s reaction gives you signs of the rider’s balance issue. If you are facing similar problems with your horse, check out your own balance and the position of your body position before blaming the horse.

For further details visit Horse Directory or visit http://www.horses-directory.com/

Margarethe De Clermont asked:


When you have had a bad fall, it can take a long time before you feel confident enough to get back on a horse. And so it should be, caution is the body’s way of protecting itself. But what do you do if you love horse and you love horse riding and you are yearning to get back in the saddle but your riding confidence is a rock-bottom low?

1. Maintain physical fitness, strength and suppleness

Start with what you have. Get fit. Lose any surplus weight that may have accumulated while you were laid up. Slowly build up your strength again and gradually regain your suppleness with stretches and yoga. If it was a severe injury, work with a professional, like a physiotherapist. You will automatically feel more confident when you are strong and fit

2. Eat a healthy diet. After an injury, you need to rebuild your physical strength. Eat enough, but not too much. Make sure you ingest all the vitamins you body needs while it is under all this physical and mental stress.

3. Limit alcohol, avoid drugs. Most horse riders know to avoid alcohol (and drugs, for the same reasons) if they plan to go anywhere near their horses. Be careful not to self-medicate with alcohol while you are feeling low and bored, it will not make you feel happier or better. You are only delaying the healing process; a very unwise approach indeed

4. Get enough sleep. When you sleep, your body takes time out to heal itself, physically and mentally. At no other time does your body need to recharge its batteries as desperately as after an injury. Invest in eight hours of deep, rejuvenating sleep a night, until you are fully restored.

5. Increase your body awareness. If you were injured physically, you probably have no difficulty paying attention to your body’s messages – especially the parts that were injured. Even if you did not sustain a serious injury, pay attention to what is going on inside you and in the immediate area around you. Rediscover your sense of touch and physical orientation. Body awareness is an essential attribute of all good riders.

6. Review your commitment to observe standard safety procedures. Always wear appropriate riding apparel, always check your equipment, always wear a helmet

7. Learn how to fall. Martial arts students spend a lot of time learning how to fall without injuring themselves. If you haven’t mastered this useful art yet, take some time to do so now. You will be investing in your future.

8. Get your timing right. Next time you ride, take all the variables into account. Don’t go riding if you are rushed, or feel under the weather, or have too many other things on your mind. Give your horse not only your time, but also your full attention.

9. Take the environment into account (as well as your horse’s reaction to the environment). Do not put either yourself or your horse at risk because you are desperate to go riding. Life’s too short.

10. Buy insurance, personal, horse and third party.

Make sure you are fully insured, and so is your horse. Last thing you need when you are recuperating from the physical and mental effects of a horse riding injury is to worry about doctor’s and/or vet’s bills.

So you see, there is a lot you can do to restore your confidence long before you gat back into the saddle. And doing something physical is good for your body and your mind. Once you are strong enough to start exercising again, remember exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural analgesic. So get out there and start mucking out those stables. It will cheer you up no end and in no time. (Just joking!)

Darren Roberts asked:


Taking Riding lessons from an instructor with Polo experience and a school of horses rather than hopping aboard your neighbour’s hardly trained 5-year-old nag gives you the twofold benefits of a knowledgeable instructor and a highly experienced and well trained horse with a good temperament that can tolerate added bouncing at times.

The other benefits of learning to ride a horse are that, it is a great activity for young and old alike, and is also excellent for people with physical, cognitive or emotional disabilities.

A quick crash course into Polo

You don’t want to have a bad experience, before you head out into the field you want to make sure that you have control of your animal.

A lot of the gaining control of your animal will come through experience and just gaining confidence, and realising the horse will do what you tell it to do when you tell it to do it. That is if you know what you’re doing, and safety should always come first.

When equipped, each rider has a long-handled mallet that they use to try and score a goal by hitting a white wooden ball into the opposing teams’ goal. It is fast, furious and exciting to behold, especially as the horses seem to come within inches of your sideline lounge chair.

Polo is an incredibly fun and exhilarating sport to watch and even more so to play. It is a game played in seven-minute periods called chukkas, with six chukkas being the normal length of play. There are four riders and their mounts on a team.

The Grounds and Field

On a full sized grass field, each team has four people. The Polo grounds are 300 yards long, 160 yards wide if boarded. Being boarded means the field has a 12-inch upright board bounding the perimeter, which stops the ball rolling easily out of play.

If the ground is un-boarded, it is 200 yards wide and marked with a white line.

The goal posts, which are poisoned at each end, are measured to be 8 yards wide.

The duration of Play

A full Polo match is 8 chukkas, but often in club matches only 4 or 6 chukkas are played. Each chukka is timed to last 7 minutes, then a bell is rung, but the game goes on until the ball goes out of play, or for another 30 seconds when the bell is rung again, the chukka ends where the ball is.

The clock is stopped between the umpire blowing his whistle to stop the play, and the whistle to restart play if a foul is committed or the ball goes out of play.

There are intervals of 3 minutes between each of the chukkas and 5 a minute half time. Ends are changed at every goal scored – this has been found to be fairest when there is a wind.

Jackie Johnson asked:


Every rider understands the need have control of the horse, but many do not understand they need to have full control of their own body. By using a horse riding exercise program a rider can gain control of their body to improve their riding. The deep abdominal core stabilizers are the most important muscle group to train, for riders. Core stability allows a rider to have a deep, independent functional seat . By strengthening specific muscle groups and stretching the lower back and pelvic area a rider can become a more skillful, sensitive rider. By addressing your own muscle imbalances your riding will improve.

A targeted and specific exercise routine designed by an expert will greatly improve your riding skills. Even a highly skilled rider can learn more about their body to improve even more. A beginner can start with the correct techniques, before habits start. Having a great resource to give you the guidance specific to your sport , that is, how your muscles work, how to use and improve them is a great find. Such a horse riding exercise program offers a great benefit to all riders.

By training core stability you will be able to control all aspects of your body, better. With a specific training program you will learn to use these muscles independently and synchronize your riding muscles. This will give you the ability to apply aids with precision and effectiveness. With a good understanding of your muscles you will be able to control your upper body and not lose your seat when changing paces. You will be still at the sit trot and balanced at the canter. You will see an improvement in your total riding ability when you achieve posture control. Your horse will be happier and enjoy being ridden.

A horse riding exercise program should be tailored specifically for a rider. This Applied Posture Riding program is a complete program. You will learn how to test, train and control your muscles and learn how to apply your aids to communicate efficiently between you and your horse. Not only will you learn about yourself but how to improve yourself and your riding.

This great horse riding exercise program incorporates all aspects of the body functions for riding. It is a course created by a Physiotherapist, a Pilates instructor and a successful rider, having competed up to international level. The combination of all this knowledge into this one great package is rare. This is a proven program, hundreds of riders have had great success already. The program starts on the floor , progresses to a big physio ball learning both Pilates and riding muscle training. The exercises are rider specific, you will learn HOW TO ride on the ball.

The second part of the program teaches you HOW TO apply these functions in the saddle.

The physio riding lessons are unique to Applied Posture Riding. The lessons teach you how to ride in separate walk, trot and canter lessons. There is also a jumping lesson. You will need to practice all of the elements of this program for a guaranteed successful outcome. You will see a difference in yourself and your riding. There is no program out there that is anything like this. The vast amount of information offered in one program is exclusive to this program.

With this program you will get a complete package and be taken step by step through the whole process. You will get a training program not offered any where else or as specific and complete. The benefits of this program can be gained for all levels of riders from the beginners to the experienced. This program trains the rider not the horse. Try it today at http://www.applied-posture-riding.com