The 1st time a human being gets onto the back of a horse, he experiences mixed feelings. For some of the people, fear is dominant. Others feel thrilled. Maybe there is the category of person who wonders what the fuss is all about, but happily I have not yet met this kind of person.

For the majority of people, a first-time horse ride can be breathtaking. It’s my experience that most people feel contented about riding horses; even those that are initially nervous get over it. If you’re riding a trained horse for the 1st time, you’ll generally find that he’s happy to be ridden. It’s this characteristic of the horse that leads to such deep bonding between humans and horses.

Before going out on a pony for the 1st time, try and create some accord well before you even saddle him. Pet him, feed him some treats, speak with him, try and make him feel comfortable with you. It you succeed at setting up a good understanding right away, you are never going to have a problem with that pony when riding him. You just have to keep in mind the pony is a prey animal and in the initial stages, will be more suspicious of than receptive to a stranger.

As you get set to mount your horse for the first time, your body language will have a major influence on your subsequent experiences. You need to broadcast confidence as you approach to mount. Don’t try to mount without assistance if you’re standing at a lower level, especially if you are short in height. Utilize a mounting block, there is no shame in it. A mounting block helps you keep your physical and mental equanimity as you get onto your horse’s back.

Custom is to mount the pony from its left, but you need to try out both sides. It is vital that in the first days, you work with a horse that’s trained to stay absolutely still when you’re mounting. If your horse does have a tendency to move a bit, get help holding him still while you mount.

Position yourself beside your horse’s shoulder as you get set to mount. Be very careful of how you use your hands. Don’t do dumb things like grabbing the saddle horn to leverage yourself up. Try and keep your movements smooth, so you do not upset the horse’s poise and equilibrium.

Learning how to ride like a champion

Don’t rush your pony into motion without making sure everything is in order, and you are seated comfortably. Start slow but particular. Stay receptive to any communication your horse is sending out, don’t make him do things that would discomfort him. Build up your riding speed slowly. Never lose control, never panic. You’re the ship master.

You can have plenty of highly enjoyable rides if you keep trying to fortify your bond with your pony. If he does something wrong, be patient about correcting him, and keep at it until he does work it out. Don’t lose your cool.

When riding a pony for the first time, try and do so in an environment that offers no distractions to the pony. If other horses are present, for instance, your horse may focus more on them and less on you, and that would imply loss of coordination.

Be a pro-active rider. Try not to be a total dead weight on horse’s back. Remember, you need to use your weight to work with or against the horse’s motions. When you are in the right type of coordination with him, you will make his life a whole lot easier and your ride a whole lot more pleasurable. This type of coordination incorporates practice, so don’t expect to be a miracle horse rider the 1st time out.

Horses are Heather Toms passion and she enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge through her 100s of articles with other horse lovers, like all things about mini chaps