Category Archives: beginner horse riding

What Does a Beginner Rider Need

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The only thing you need as a beginner rider is a helmet and paddock boots with a slight heel. There are many on the market that are reasonably priced.  Paddock boots come up to the ankle and provide protection for your foot both in and out of the saddle. This way your foot stays in position in the stirrup and your feet are protected should a horse step on you while working around them on the ground.  If you are starting out, the facility where you are taking lessons should have all of the other necessary equipment including all tack and grooming supplies.  In fact a good first lesson is one of simply learning to groom the horse and how to tack him up. Some lesson barns have the horse saddled up and ready to go.  Make sure you ask if you will be learning how to groom and tack up. If you are ever going to own your own horse, this information is vital and you need to know how to do it.

Admitting Limitations

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For the timid rider, being around those that seem absolutely fearless can make them feel insecure and inept.  The fearless or gutsy rider likes to point out that they are on the craziest animal on four legs. My response? Good for you!!!  Being older, I’m not into to taking stupid risks for the sake of showing off or to prove a point. I could simply care less that you can jump a 4 foot oxer on a bat shit crazy horse and win first place. Sorry, that just ain’t my gig.  My interest in riding and being around horses is one of pleasure riding and  relaxing. At my age, the adrenaline rush holds no magic for me and I could honestly give a shit. I’ve got way too many responsibilities that no one else is going to take care of if I get hurt.

If you find yourself in this situation be proud of the fact that you are smart and know your limitations. It’s people that are goaded into doing something beyond their capability that are going to get hurt and the person that goaded you into it isn’t going to pay your bills or give a damn if you’re laid up for months because of an injury.  With these people, I usually turn it on them and ask them if I can forward the bills to them while I’m recovering. I have no shame in the fact that I can’t ride like that. That’s the key.  There is nothing wrong with not being able to jump or perform advanced dressage and anyone that belittles you or makes snide comments about it have their own issues. Often times they won’t verbalize what they’re really thinking and yet everything about them is saying “You’re a wimp”. This is where you have to have the back bone to simply not care. By making it clear that you don’t respect their opinion, you’re taking their power to make you feel inferior away from them. Without attention, these people lose their punch. Simply ignoring or avoiding them is the best course of action. However if you find them unavoidable, don’t engage in their conversation. Just smile and nod. If you don’t feed their appetite for superiority they will move on to someone else.

Learning to Ride A Horse

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I’ve seen a lot of stuff online lately that I just find scary. There are many books out there that claim to be able to teach you how to ride simply by reading them. Now, I’m not opposed to anyone reading to gain knowledge that will help them better understand some of the concepts that their instructor may being trying to teach them, however, the only way you’re going to really learn how to ride is by taking lessons from a competent riding instructor.  Many people who know nothing about horses or riding make the big mistake of buying a horse and then watching their dream of horse ownership turn into a nightmare. They usually end up with a horse that is way beyond their ability and the horse is then left in a field not being worked with and becoming even more unruly.  Learning to ride comes through “feel” and you need to be on a horse that is suitable for someone who’s just learning as well as have an experienced eye on the ground guiding you so that you know that if what you’re feeling is right or wrong. There have been some lucky people that have embarked on their horsemanship journey without the aid of a professional and everything has turned out ok. However, these scenarios are few and far between.

If you want to learn how to ride then don’t take shortcuts. Find a qualified instructor who specializes in the discipline of your choice and make your introduction to riding and horses a pleasant one.

Horse Shows – It’s About the Kids Isn’t It?

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After having recently attended a horse show in which my daughter was riding I noticed something that I hadn’t really paid much attention to before. Horse show parents.  We’ve all heard of stage moms of 5 year olds competing in beauty pageants or a dad that starts a fist fight at a little league baseball game, but it never occurred to me before that equestrian parents can be just as bad.  This is the parent who is living vicariously through their son or daughter and feels the need to make the show about themselves.  I view the horse shows as a way for my daughter to get objective feedback on her horse and her riding and of course to have fun while doing it. I’ve always emphasized good sportsmanship and that there are going to be good days and bad days.

On a hot summer day, if the show officials have made jackets optional (and it’s a small local show) then for the love of god why would you force your child to wear a jacket in steaming temperatures?  Or, if your child doesn’t do well at a particular show, how about you don’t react in an immature and pouty manner?  I’ve actually witnessed some parents throw hissy fits when their child doesn’t come in the ribbons. This negative attitude carries over to children where showing is only about the ribbons and not the experience.  Many of these children treat the horse as a machine and a means with which to garner attention with little or no thought to the welfare of the horse.  And this my friends, is how the adult horse show divas are created.  They are programmed from an early age that they are superior and how they treat others and their horses are second to the winning of a ribbon.

What they don’t realize is, that if they are competing at local shows they are not going to get anywhere to the level needed to compete in the Olympics, and yet they still present themselves as prospective Olympic riders. The rest of us are realistic and know that the local shows are fun and nothing more than another activity with which to have fun with horses.

If you are relatively new to horses and decide you want to compete, always practice good sportsmanship whether you win or lose. This will give you a reputation of a pleasant person to be around and no one will be avoiding you at the next show.

Beware The Screaming Harpie

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As an avid reader of the Fugly Blog, I couldn’t agree more with one of her recent posts regarding rabid trainers that do nothing but scream while you’re on the horse.  I thought this would be a good opportunity to mention that if you are new to riding and you’re on the horse and the instructor isn’t paying attention or worse just barking orders at you without explaining concepts or why you need to do something, run as fast as you can.  They are quite frankly ripping you off and you won’t learn a thing if your instructor is texting friends or talking to someone else on the sidelines.  It’s also important that your riding instructor knows your goals.  If you have no intention of competing and would just like to improve your riding, then make sure that he or she knows this.  Even if you want to compete, make sure that your instructor also understands that you don’t have Olympic aspirations.  As posted on the Fugly Blog, most of us want to have fun when riding and we aren’t going to train 5-6 hours a day.  Hell, most of us don’t have that kind of time with work and family. This is particularly true in the case of older riders that are either just starting out or returning to riding.  Does the instructor honestly think we’re competing in a world cup qualifier?  That being said, you do have to have realistic expectations for the amount of time you can spend in the saddle.  You’ll have to accept that you’re going to take a longer amount of time to reach certain goals if you can only ride once a week.  As long as you’re ok with that, then the instructor should be too.

Whatever you want your riding to be, make sure that you are getting what you pay for. If the instructor is nothing more than a screaming harpie, then move on. It’s time to change the attitude of the horse professional so that they understand that if they were a nicer person to be around, then their students would to spend more time at the barn and riding in general.

Horse Shows – Are We Having Fun Yet?

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If you are interested in competing and you are close to going to your first horse show, there’s some things you can do to minimize the stress of the day.  I think to really enjoy a horse show you sort of need to know why you want to show in the first place.  Once you know what it is that’s motivating you, you’ll be able to gear your experience toward that end. There are those that are competitive, those that use it as a social outlet and those that simply want an objective opinion of their horse or their riding.  I fall into the third category, and although I would like to win, winning is more of a reflection of how well me and my horse are doing as opposed to me being better than someone else. If you’re using a show as a social outlet, then you are spending a lot of money to socialize, but hey who am I to judge. The more serious competitor is more of an athlete and is someone who takes shows very seriously. When warming up they are hyper focused and often aren’t too talkative until after their ride.

Regardless of which category you fall into, the best way to avoid stress and friction is to make sure all equipment is in its place, clothing is clean and ready to go and you get plenty of rest and are on time. When you arrive at the show grounds, you are already going to be a bit nervous, particularly if it’s your first show. Any added stress of not having everything you need is just going to make things fall apart once you enter the ring. Being on time is critical so you don’t feel rushed and exasperated. Your horse is only going to pick up on this which again, will make things go sideways.  This can be particularly stressful if you have a trainer that gripes at you for it. Be ready and be on time.

If you suffer from show nerves, the only real way to get over it is to do it a few times.  Having performance anxiety can often lead to mistakes or tension which won’t add to the ride. If you are worried about what other people think, just bear in mind that they have all had their own mishaps at a horse show, so if you fall off or make a mistake, you’re in good company. It might not feel that way at the time, but you’ll only improve the more you do it.  The most important aspect of any horse show is to have fun and learn from what does and doesn’t go well.

Horse People are Crazy

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You’ve undoubtedly heard this before along with the thought that if you don’t know any crazy horse people look out because it’s probably you.  I tend to think this is because those that love horses are passionate about them. At the end of the day we all have the horse’s best interest at heart. Now we all know that this can lead to heated debates and sometimes outright animosity. I think the best way to get along with your fellow horses lovers is simply live and let live and respect their right to enjoy  horses in a manner that works for them. Provided that the horse is well cared for and not abused, there’s no need to nit pick.

As an example, I’m not a big fan of chiropractors on people let alone on horses. Now that being said there are those that will swear by them. If someone chooses to have an equine massage therapist or chiropractor come out and work on their horse and the horse is none the worse for wear, it’s none of my business, period.  I can still be friends with these people even though we might disagree on this point. I won’t brow beat them and tell them what a waste of money I think it is. This is how feelings of resentment and malcontent get started.  The sense of being better than others is rampant in the horse world and is often the start of barn drama. I’m really at a point where I think all of this ridiculousness needs to stop.  I frequent equine forums and it never fails to amaze me how someone will admit to offering unsolicited advice and then can’t figure out why it was not well received.  Again, if a horse isn’t in any danger, there’s no need to push your attitudes and opinions onto others.

Conversely, if you post on a forum asking for advice and you post pictures of your horse clearly showing signs of neglect, don’t expect everyone to roll out the welcome rug for you. This is particularly true if you become defensive when someone points out that your horse is underweight or needs a veterinarian visit and you just simply refuse to do it. I’m not by any stretch of the imagination suggesting that we should let people abuse or neglect horses, but simply let people be so that we can all enjoy our horses and stop this holier than thou silliness.

If you see a newbie clearly struggling with a behavioral problem, you can politely offer to help. This doesn’t mean immediately jumping all over them and telling them that they’re wrong. It just simply means offering them assistance and telling them what worked for you in the same situation. If they don’t seem receptive to you helping, then let it go. You aren’t the self professed equine savior and some people are only going to learn by getting hurt. The key to being someone that others trust and look up to is knowing when to offer help and when to leave well enough alone. As in all things, balance is the key and those that feel the need to force their opinions on others will find the world a lonely place to be.

Enjoying Horses Takes More Than Fairy Dust

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Most adults who have returned to riding or are parents of a child that’s enamored of horses comes into the horse world with the attitude of magical horsies and rainbows.  Hollywood has often reinforced this belief with movies depicting a horse saving its owner’s life or facing extreme adversity to be reunited with its owner.  Although we would all like to think these scenarios are true, the reality is that a horse is a 1000 lb animal that can cause serious damage if he wants to and most of the time he has his own agenda.  Horses are different than dogs and should be taught to respect personal space and to move away from pressure. This helps to keep the person handling them in a safer place. Most people who have serious issues with horses have either bought a horse that was unsuitable for their skill level, or have let a quiet suitable horse get away with murder. Either one of these scenarios results in a pushy dangerous horse that is no fun to be around.

In the case of the unsuitable horse, your best option is to put the horse in training with a knowledgable trainer.  Even then, he may not be compatible with your riding or confidence level. Many of these horses perform great for experienced riders, but quickly take advantage of those timid less experienced riders. If you can’t overcome the issues while working with a trainer, the best thing would be to sell him and ask the trainer to find you a more appropriate mount.

If you bought a horse that was deemed good for beginners and now suddenly he’s acting up and you are afraid to ride him, you might want to look at what you’re telling the horse with your body language and actions. Horses learn very quickly who’s in charge and what they can get away with. Newbies who are intimidated and allow the horse to pull them around very quickly teach the horse that he’s the one in charge.  Don’t be afraid to give the horse a verbal reprimand or a tap with a crop if necessary. Horses will pick up on your lack of confidence immediately and use it to their advantage. If you find that the horse loses their pleasant attitude and you are unable to maintain control, then you might consider that this horse is not suitable after all.  Finding a suitable horse is not so much about training as it is about attitude and compatibility with the rider.  There are many horses that will safely pack a kid around but really turn it on for more experienced riders. As a general rule, horses that are less sensitive are more suitable for beginner riders. In some cases, a horse that you don’t get along with could be the best horse possible for someone else.

Not matter what type of horse you have, coddling them and letting them walk all over you is both dangerous and unfair to the horse. Horses, like children, need boundaries and are happiest when the rules are clear.  When your horse knows what’s expected of him he can react accordingly which leads to a happier relationship with your horse.

You Know Nothing About Horses

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. There is not one person on this planet who knows everything there is to know about horses. Just because they did it a certain way when you were born, doesn’t mean things haven’t been improved upon since then. The problem that a lot of newbies run into is, they will undoubtedly do a lot of research and reading to gain knowledge about the horse world. This new knowledge is often met with resistance on the part of the trainer, barn owner or fellow horse owner who has been “doing it for years”. I’m not saying that all information read or received is well-founded or smart, but most common sense people can figure out BS when they read it. Yes, some of the big name clinicians are idiots and promote activities with horses that are not always deemed smart by the horse community in general. Pat Parelli jumping a picnic table just because he can is nothing more than showing off and doesn’t give true beginners any real information. However, many of them do have solid and practical advice that is outlined step by step for those who would like to know the basics. The bottom line is, as with anything, is to use common sense. Use what makes sense and discount the rest. What works for one horse may not work for another. My quarter horse is a dead head and he sometimes gets tapped with a crop to get his attention. My Paso Fino, on the other hand, only requires a verbal reprimand. If I were to tap him with a crop he would blow up and then we would be in a fight.

The key to training any horse or any animal for that matter is knowing their personality and what motivates them. This will go a long way in determining what method is best for that particular horse. Horses like people are unique and are going to react differently to different stimuli. If you are new to horses and have done your homework, you should have a calm been there done that kind of horse that’s a little older and has been around the block a few times. Looks should have nothing to do with which horse you buy. My general advice when new to horses is to keep an open mind and do listen to those who have been working with horses for many years. However, don’t elevate them to godlike status and follow blindly. If you have an honest concern, voice it. Many so called trainers or horse experienced people will use your being intimidated as a way to control you and your horse. I always go with the general consensus unless my horse tells me differently. I’ve seen many cases of abuse where the new horse owner gave in to a trainer’s or barn owner’s demands only to see their horse be abused. A happy horse is a good indication that you’re on the right track. If you notice that your horse’s behavior begins to change after a so called trainer starts working with it, it’s time to re-assess. Your horse is relying on you to provide the best possible care for him and you are his voice in situations where mistreatment or lack of care might be at issue. Although there is a lot of useful sage advice provided by experienced horse people, always follow your instinct and you’ll find that your intuition is right the majority of the time.

Open Letter To Barn Owners or Barn Managers

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I’m in a bit of a dilemma with my current boarding situation. Although my horse receives the best possible care, the owner of the barn is an impossible bitch to deal with. She uses the boarders equipment and supplies at will and encourages her riding students to do so.  However, when my daughter not thinking went to grab the barn owner’s hoof treatment, she was screamed at in a vicious and hateful way. You can’t do anything on your own or make your own decisions about the care of your horse without being chastised and talked down to about it.  This attitude is not limited to horses or the barn.  It doesn’t matter which subject you’re talking about, she knows more about it than you and will argue vehemently when she has no personal experience or point of reference to the subject being discussed.  This has made me all but avoid the barn like the plague. I have asked my daughter how she feels about this and because she wants to ride with the kids she has made friends with, she wants to stay at the current barn. Because she is the only one currently showing, I have given in and left the horse there for now. However, I’ve got one foot out the door and I really don’t see myself boarding there much longer.  Before I speak directly to barn owners or barn managers, I do want to acknowledge the following points:

1. Rules – I understand that rules are needed to maintain safety for both the people and the horses at the barn.

2. I get that you don’t want to stay up late and babysit a horse that is suffering from colic.

3. I understand there are some crazy people in the horse world with outlandish ideas.

Now that being said, your role as a barn owner or barn manager is to take care of my horse, period. It’s what you’re getting PAID for. Don’t bitch to me about the cost of things and how doing xyz for my horse costs money. If you’re not able to care for the horse properly at the current cost of board, than raise the board. Stop hanging the amount of the board over my head.  I love my horse and am willing to pay for him to receive optimum care.

I don’t feed my horse weird shit, or perform weird voodoo magic on him. Don’t tell me I can’t give my horse an occasional treat.  Horses don’t mug for treats if you teach them not too. It’s called training. He doesn’t get the treat if he mugs for it. It’s called operant behavioral conditioning and applies to all animals. Simply put, any behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated and any behavior that delivers an unpleasant response is likely to be avoided. If you don’t give him the treat if he bites or mugs, he’s going to learn that it doesn’t pay off.

There are as many theories about training horses as there are horses themselves. Just because it’s not the way you do it, doesn’t mean it’s not right. I don’t want your opinion on something unless I ask for it.  Yes you have many more years horse experience than I do, but you never stop learning and I can read and research just as well as you can. I’m an adult and can make up my own mind. I’ve never participated in any activity with my horse that is any more dangerous than riding.  I do understand in some cases if you see a train wreck ready to happen, that you would need to intervene, but that has never been the case with my horse. Your petty nagging is annoying and I think after owning my horse for seven years I know how to pull his mane and apply hoof treatment without your assistance or opinion. This applies to bathing him as well. Also, if I want to follow the Parellis, Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox or any other big name clinician, that is my prerogative and I would appreciate it if you would keep your comments to yourself.  Whether I use a carrot stick, handi stick or fuck me stick to work with my horse is none of your business.  You can think it’s silly or even that I’m nuts, I’m ok with that but shut the hell up.

When it comes to my life and how I raise my daughter, mind your own business. You are not nor have ever been a parent. You teaching a few lessons to kids each week no more qualifies you to be a parent than me riding on weekends qualifies me to compete in the Olympics. When those around you are talking about things that have nothing to do with the barn or horses, again, mind your own business.  You don’t get to dictate what others say and the conversations they have. It’s a bit presumptuous of you to insist that certain terms not be used around the barn. You are not the last authority on every possible subject, and because someone chooses to do something a different way than you doesn’t make it wrong, It works for them and brow beating them and arguing with them just to get them to say you’re right is rude and obnoxious. Simply put, shut up.

The tack room is not an open tack store for you. For someone who is always complaining about money, you seem to think that your boarders have an endless supply. Encouraging your boarders and students to help themselves to what’s in the tack room is unprofessional and is outright theft. And if you insist on having this open door policy to the tack room don’t flip out when someone goes to use your stuff.

Your barn is a BUSINESS with paying clients. If you don’t enjoy working with people and their quirks, then you should have chosen a different career path. These people pay you a shitload of money each month and are at the very least entitled to be treated with respect and not sprayed with venom any time you’re in a bad mood. Provided the boarders are paying on time and abiding by the barn rules, shut up and leave them alone and stay out of their stuff.

Don’t take your personal shit out on your boarders and students. If you chose to go back to the idiot loser that screwed you over five times, I don’t want to hear about how you’re now stalking him in an effort to “get your key back”.  This lame excuse is both childish and reminiscent of high school girl drama where the world was coming to an end when your boyfriend dumped you. Grow up and go to ace hardware and buy a new lock and for god sakes don’t take him back. Do not contact him and do not respond to any contact he attempts to make with you. And please, whatever you do, when I confront you about your behavior don’t use this as an excuse for the shitty way you treat everyone.  When you revert back to your nasty behavior you won’t be able to use this excuse next month.

And lastly, I don’t want to hear what other boarders are doing or not doing with their horses. I could care less. They probably aren’t showing up much because like me, they’re sick of your shit. Trust me, as long as my horse is fed and watered he could care less whether I show up or not. He’s just has happy hanging out in the field with his horsey friends and will not implode if I don’t come out every day. Perhaps if you were more pleasant to be around my horse would receive the benefit of my presence more often.

If you recognize yourself as a barn owner in any of this, you need to make a self-assessment and determine if your attitude and actions are hurting the business. Don’t pull rules out of your ass with lame justifications for them. Post a list in the barn so that there is no confusion as to what is acceptable and what is not. This way, boarders can decide if these are rules they can live with or not and move their horse accordingly.