How to Be a Good Horse Rider

Co-authored by Alana Silverman

Last Updated: February 24, 2023 References

Horse riding is a fun and challenging sport which takes a lot of practice and dedication. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned professional, there is always something new to learn! Work on skills to help you in the saddle, such as remaining calm, improving your fitness, and practicing balancing exercises. It’s also important to use the correct tack and to maintain a good posture while you ride. To get plenty of practice, ride regularly, work with different trainers, and enter competitions to gain experience.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Improving Your Fitness and Confidence

1
Try to maintain a calm and confident attitude when you’re in the saddle. Horses easily pick up on their rider’s emotions and attitude, and this can play a huge part in how the ride goes. Practice breathing deeply and slowly, using positive self-talk, and talking through any fears you have with someone you trust.^{[1]
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- There are also plenty of ways you can work on being calm and confident without even being near a horse. Practice meditation and relaxation techniques so that you can learn to remain calm in stressful situations. You can also try visualizing your rides going well and being able to cope in difficult situations.
2
Improve your fitness to enjoy riding more and reduce injury risk. Horse riding is hard work and you need to be healthy and strong to ride to the best of your ability. Practice cardio exercises 2-3 times per week, such as running, cycling, or swimming to keep up your fitness. This can help you to have better posture, to give your horse more effective cues, and to increase your endurance for long or taxing rides.
- Being fitter and stronger can also prevent fatigue while you are riding, which helps you to make better decisions, react faster, and maintain your balance.
3
Practice balance exercises to learn how to distribute your weight evenly. Holding your weight correctly in the saddle can largely improve your riding ability. Practice exercises 2-3 times per week such as squats and balancing on a single leg. These exercises help you to spread your weight equally across both stirrups and to center your seat in the saddle.^{[2]
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- It can be helpful to imagine how giving a piggyback to someone feels. If the person is centered, it’s much easier to move and carry them. If the person is leaning to one side, your job is much more difficult. This is how it feels for your horse.
4
Expect to fall off from time to time. Although it can be scary, all riders do fall off occasionally, even those with plenty of experience. Learning to expect this and to learn from it is an integral part of becoming a good rider. Try to remain balanced in the saddle at all times and stay as calm and assertive as possible to reduce the risk.
- If you do fall off, it's incredibly important to get straight back on as soon as you can. This helps you to restore your confidence and to put any mistakes behind you.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Learning to Ride and Care for Your Horse

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Groom your horse before every ride to remove any dirt or dust. Learning how to be a good horse rider starts before you even hop into the saddle! Brush your horse to remove any dry mud or dust, and to keep your horse’s coat healthy and shiny. Then pick your horse’s hooves using a hoof pick to remove stuck dirt and stones. While you’re grooming, check your horse for any injuries or loose shoes.^{[3]
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- Grooming also provides you with a valuable opportunity to bond with your horse.
2
Use tack that is correctly fitted to your horse. Having the correct tack is vital in your path to becoming a good rider because it strongly influences how comfortable, safe, and happy both you and your horse feel. Get the saddle, bridle, and any other equipment that you use fitted by a professional before you start using it with your horse. Learn how to tack up your horse from an experienced rider or trainer and ask any questions about the equipment that you may have.
- Some important things to keep in mind about tack are a tight girth to keep the saddle in place, stirrups that are the right length for your legs, and a bridle chosen specifically for your horse and riding discipline.
3
Mount your horse from the left-hand side. Learning how to mount your horse is the first part of learning to ride. Position your horse next to a mounting block and place your left foot into the left stirrup. Then push your weight into the stirrup and carefully swing your right leg over your horse. Gently rest your weight into the saddle and put your right foot into the right stirrup.
- It can be helpful to have a friend hold your horse while you mount.
4
Move with your horse and straighten your back to have a good posture. Posture plays an important role in how effective your cues are and how well you and your horse can communicate. Try to keep your ears, shoulders, hips, and heels in a straight line at all times. Keep your back straight but relaxed, and try to move with your horse as it moves.^{[4]
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- This posture rests your weight over your horse’s center of gravity, which helps your horse to move and respond the most effectively.
5
Use your seat and legs to give your horse effective signals and cues. To begin walking or increase the speed, imagine you are growing tall toward the sky to lighten your seat in the saddle. Then begin gently pulsing with your legs as your horse starts to move. To slow down or come to a full halt, rest more weight in your seat, slow down or stop pulsing with your legs, and gently stop moving with your horse until you reach the desired pace.^{[5]
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- Most of your work while riding will be done using your seat and your legs to communicate with your horse.
- Your trainer will be able to teach you about using cues in much more detail, as often horses are trained slightly differently.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Gaining Riding Experience

1
Ride 4-6 times per week to get plenty of practice. Take as many opportunities as you can to ride so that you can get different experiences, gain new skills, and grow your confidence in the saddle. Try to take 1 lesson each week and to ride 4-6 times per week to get the best results.
- While lessons are a great way to learn, they can be pricey. You could volunteer your time at your local barn and help out with chores in exchange for lessons. Alternatively, you can offer to exercise horses for busy owners.
2
Watch other riders to learn from them. You don’t even have to be in the saddle to keep learning about horse riding! See if you can watch from the sidelines during lessons at your local barn and pay attention to the techniques that the riders use and how their horses respond. Listen to the feedback the trainer gives each rider and see what you can take on board for your own riding. There are also plenty of riding videos available online which are easily accessible.
- If you want to watch the experts ride, often large, prestigious events are televised or are broadcasted online. This is a great way to observe a variety of disciplines from the comfort of your own home!
3
Swap trainers every 2-3 years to gain valuable new skills and insights. It’s great to work with a new trainer from time to time to make sure that you are learning as much as you can. Start working with a different trainer if you have stayed with the same one since you began riding, as this change can offer you valuable new insights and observations. It’s also a good time to swap if you don’t feel like you’re making progress with your current trainer.
- Similarly, if you are finding it difficult to gel with your current trainer, don’t be afraid to change! Having a trainer that you trust and work well with can help your riding to progress tremendously.
- Each trainer has different strengths and learning from different trainers can give you a well-rounded and balanced skill set
- Attending clinics is a great way to work with different trainers without signing up for lessons.
4
Ride more challenging horses as your confidence grows. Riding different horses is one of the best things you can do to become a good rider. Stick to an experienced, schoolmaster horse while you're a beginner and when everything feels new. However, when riding your current horse feels too easy or like you aren't always learning more, ride a horse that has less experience or is more forward-moving. Ask your trainer for guidance about what horses are suitable for your skill level and take up opportunities to work with the different horses.
- Because every horse is so different, this means that each one can teach you different things. This is great for helping you to become a better rider.
5
Enter competitions to have new experiences and lots of fun. Competitions provide a good opportunity to put yourself in new and unfamiliar situations and to put your skills to the test! If you’re a beginner, enter competitions that are designed for novice riders and if you’re more experienced, look into intermediate and advanced level events. Take any feedback you get on board to help you learn and watch how your riding improves as a result.
- Competitions are also great for networking and meeting new friends with a shared interest in horse riding.
- You can also watch other riders work with their horses and learn from them.
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Expert Q&A

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Question

Do you need to be fit to ride a horse?

Alana Silverman
Certified EAGALA Equine Specialist
Alana Silverman is a Certified EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) Equine Specialist and the Assistant Manager of Paddock Riding Club, a 200-horse premier equestrian facility based in Los Angeles, California. Alana has over 25 years of experience caring for and riding horses and specializes in English riding and riding instruction. She has a BA in Psychology from the University of Arizona.

Alana Silverman

Certified EAGALA Equine Specialist

Expert Answer

Ideally, yes. It's really important to be fit as a rider, because you want your body to be symmetrical, and it will also improve your stamina. Focus on activities like running, biking, and hiking—anything that allows you to practice controlling your breathing while your heart rate is up.

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Question

What if my horse spooks?

Community Answer

Get down, and lead the horse to what spooked it. If it is something that cannot be seen, hold on and speak in a soothing voice.

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Question

Why does my horse keep pulling his head down - trying to make the rains longer when I ride him?

Community Answer

He might be trying to tell you he need more rein. Let him have a loose rein after every ride to relax.

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