Part III: Settling into the Saddle and Easing into Riding in .NET framework

Generator QR-Code in .NET framework Part III: Settling into the Saddle and Easing into Riding

3 After the horse has taken several steps backward (your situation determines how far back you want to go), stop his movement by sending your hands forward toward his neck and releasing leg pressure

Figure 13-13: To back up in English riding, gather up your reins and create tension by pulling back gradually

A good way to develop your riding skills is to practice Get on a horse and use the cues you ve been taught The following sections describe some exercises to try You can suggest these to your riding instructor or do them when you re riding on your own in an arena

A great walking exercise for Western riders uses barrels The stable where you ride probably has barrels set up in the arena or may have them on the property and let you use them with permission You can use poles if barrels aren t available

This exercise, which has you weave in and out of the barrels, helps you both turn and circle your horse, letting you develop the coordination you need between your rein-hand and your legs (Figure 13-14 shows the pattern in which you should move): 1 Line up three barrels, approximately 12 feet apart, in the center of the arena 2 Start at one end of the arena facing the barrels; walk the horse straight toward the barrels 3 When you re in front of the first barrel, turn the horse slightly to the right and make a tight counterclockwise circle around the barrel Walk all the way around till you re facing the second barrel, and then walk straight 4 Go to the next barrel and turn your horse slightly to the left of that barrel so you can circle it clockwise 5 After completing your circle, move on to the next barrel and circle counterclockwise 6 When you ve finished the circle on this barrel, continue back to the middle barrel and circle it again Continue this routine back and forth through the barrels three times altogether

The figure eight is a good exercise for hunt seat and dressage riders to practice at the walk It helps you figure out how to turn and circle your horse, and it develops the coordination you need between your legs and hands You can do this exercise in any riding arena (Figure 13-16 shows the pattern you want to make): 1 Start on the rail, and turn your horse to the inside as though you were going to make a circle 2 When you get halfway through your circle, straighten your horse 3 Ask the horse to change directions to make a connecting circle in the opposite direction If your first circle was clockwise, the second will be counterclockwise

4 After the horse completes the circle, straighten him again and then begin a connecting circle in the opposite direction Here, you re completing the half-circle you made in Steps 1 and 2 5 Continue walking through this pattern four to six times

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Asking a horse to jog or trot Riding the bouncy gait in different disciplines Practicing stops, turns, and circles Getting in some exercises

estern riders call it the jog; English riders call it the trot No matter what you call it, this intermediate gait between the walk (in 13) and the canter or lope (in 15) is one that every rider needs to master For most new riders, the jog or trot is the most challenging gait to ride This gait tends to be bouncy, especially for those who haven t developed the skills to ride it However, after you master this gait, the experience can be exhilarating When a horse jogs or trots, a front foot and the opposite hind foot come down at the same time, making a two-beat rhythm (see 2 for a figure of a horse at the trot) Most horses travel at around 9 miles per hour at the trot In this chapter, you discover how to ride the jog or trot in the Western and English disciplines, as well as how to make the horse change directions, circle, and stop from this gait At the end of the chapter, I present exercises you can try to help build your riding skills When riding the jog or trot in any discipline, make sure you maintain correct position with your body, hands, and legs Keeping the proper equitation (your overall position in the saddle) helps you stay balanced and improves the effectiveness of your communication with your horse Your instructor can help you master the proper form at this gait