There is nothing more enjoyable than venturing out into nature on top of a healthy horse. On average, there are approximately 4 million Americans involved in horse riding in some capacity. If you are relatively new to the world of horseback riding, you might be intimidated to go on your first trail ride. Rather than dreading this great experience, you need to prepare yourself for this adventure.

One of the main goals you should have as a horse riding beginner is looking like you have years of experience when hopping onto a horse. Here are some things you can do to accomplish this goal.

Mount Your Horse With Confidence

For most people, riding a horse is something they do to forget about their problems for a while. As you start to prepare for your trail riding experience, you need to consider every facet of this process. The main thing you need to consider is how you will mount your horse the right way. Most newcomers to the world of horseback riding are extremely nervous about mounting their animals, but there is no need to be if you take the right approach.

The average horse is trained to be mounted from the left side, which is something you need to be aware of. Rather than just assuming this is the case with the horse you will be riding, ask the owner or establishment that is providing you with the animal. Putting your left foot into the stirrup and holding both of the reins with your left hand is the first step in this mounting process. Once you have completed these steps, you will use your right leg to hoist your body onto the horse.

Avoid Slouching During Your Ride

If you watch an experienced rider in the saddle, you will notice that they have impeccable posture. This is because these professionals know that sitting up straight is the best way to keep their horse under control. Not only is sitting up straight good for controlling your horse, it also provides you with more balance. Having this balance allows you to stay atop the horse even when the terrain you are riding on gets a bit bumpy.

Develop a Gentle Touch

Another important thing you need to have when trying to look experienced in the saddle is a gentle touch on the reins. As you grip the reins, you need to relax your arms to avoid pulling them too hard. Making the mistake of pulling the reins too hard can actually hurt your horse. You also need to keep the reins relativity low and never bring them to shoulder level. As time goes by, you will be more comfortable with how to properly control your horse with a minimal amount of force.

Are you looking for an opportunity to go on a once-in-a-lifetime trail ride? If so, it’s time to check out the rides offered by Ocean View Stables!

We Suggest you read these two books to gather information on natural horsemanship:

• True Horsemanship Through Feel

• Think Harmony With Horses: An In-Depth Study of Horse/Man Relationship
  
  Two must reads if you are interested in our horsemanship school!