There are several common mistakes that new riders make when learning to ride horses. Here are the top ten beginner horseback riding mistakes and how to fix them.
Hands in the Air
Beginner riders often end up with their hands up in the air, sometimes at shoulder height. This leaves the reins much too long and the rider with no control of the horse. Some riders may also allow the reins to slide through their hands and lift their hands to make contact, rather than shortening the reins. To fix it, work on following the movement of the horse with your seat and core. Keep a light, even tension on the reins. Readjust the reins if the horse pulls them loose. There should be an imaginary straight line that goes from your elbows, forearm, wrist, hands, reins and to the bit in the horse’s mouth. Keep your hands at hip level and your elbows at your side.
Gripping with Legs
Clenching with your upper or lower leg is tiring and may be understood by your horse as a cue to move forward. Clenching and gripping will make your body tense, which can affect your horse’s attitude. When you sit in the saddle, let your legs hang. Allow your weight to fall down on your heel. If you’re jamming your heel down, you may also be pinching with your knees or clenching with your legs. Keep your foot under you, rather than allowing your leg to swing to the front or back. There should be an imaginary straight line from your ear, shoulder, hip to your heel.
Standing Tippy Toe
This often happens when riders first learn to post the trot. Trying to lift yourself out of the saddle by rocking up and standing on your tip toes will likely have you behind the rhythm of the trot and double bouncing heavily in the saddle. Your hands may go up as you try to counterbalance yourself. This leads to a grumpy horse and an unbalanced, uncomfortable rider. Instead, keep your lower leg still, with your feet under you as if you were standing on the ground with your knees slightly bent. Learn to use your core muscles to help you post the trot and not your feet.
Ramming Feet into the Stirrups
Having your feet rammed too far into the stirrups is uncomfortable and can be dangerous if you’re not using safety stirrups or wearing proper boots. Make sure your stirrups are the proper length. The stirrup should just hit your ankle bone when your legs are hanging free with your feet out of the stirrups. Place your foot in the stirrup so the ball of your foot is resting on the stirrup.
Slouching
Some nervous riders appear to want to curl into the fetal position as they ride. However, it’s hard to control a horse while hunched, and your balance will be affected. Anything that affects our balance also affects our horse’s ability to do its job well. Sit up straight, but relaxed. Keep your chin up and look where you are going. Think of opening up your chest and letting your breastbone float upwards. You want to stay supple and tension free.
Drawing Up Knees
Many new riders look as if they’re sitting in a chair when they first get in the saddle. Their knees are drawn up and their heels may be up, or they may be forced down, with their feet pushed forward. Some riders look like they are trying to imitate jockeys. Work on letting your leg hang downwards from the hip, keeping the proper leg alignment. Don’t pinch with your knees.
Letting the Reins Slide
Horses move their heads when they move. If a rider does not accommodate this movement, they will have the reins pulled through their hands. This leaves the rider with little contact on the bit, or ability to cue the horse with the reins properly. The rider then compensates by either lifting their hands high up or attempting to pull the reins with their hands almost behind them. Riding is a constant process of re-balancing and readjusting. Let your arms hang down your sides, allowing them to swing subtly as if your shoulders were hinges. Learn how to shorten your reins as you go.
Holding Your Breath
Even experienced riders do this when learning something new. However, beginner riders who are tense or are concentrating very hard, often hold their breath. Smile, laugh, hum a tune, or try breathing in rhythm with the horse’s strides.
Death Grip on the Reins
Pulling hard on the reins can confuse and frustrate the horse as the rider’s legs and seat say ‘go’ but their hands say ‘whoa’. Doing it over a period of time will lead to the horse ignoring rein aids because their mouth becomes desensitized. They will also toss their heads to avoid the pressure and pain. If the pulling becomes too constant, some horses will become balky, or rear to evade the pressure. Learn to feel the horse’s mouth without pulling. Squeeze back with your hands in downwards transitions, rather than yanking and tugging. As with letting the reins slide and get too long, learn to readjust the rein length as the horse moves. Hold the reins firmly but lightly.
Looking at the Horse
Looking down means you can’t see where you are going, your head is down and neck is bent, which stiffens your spine. Any stiffness in your body makes it more difficult for your horse to carry you. You need to look where you are going. When turning, look at your destination, before cueing for the turn. This puts you in better balance, with your chin up, and your eyes forward.
Most important, before you ever get on a horse, make sure you are wearing a proper riding helmet and safe footwear. Not having regard for safety before everything else is perhaps the biggest riding mistake you can make, and one that can cause the most injury.
