Tag Archives: beginner horse

How to Tell a Beginner Horse

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For the novice rider or someone that is new to horses, it’s important to know what sort of behavior you should see out of a horse that is suitable for beginners.   A quiet horse that is suitable for beginners is usually a gelding (a neutered male horse). Although you can find mares (female horses) that are good beginner horses, mares typically are a little less agreeable and have a mind of their own. Stallions are out of the question for the beginner as they require a great deal of skill and knowledge to handle safely.

Another key aspect to a good beginner horse is age. For the rank beginner, it’s always a good idea to get on an older horse. Many people have the perception that they will “grow” with the horse.  Younger horses tend to be sensitive and being a prey animal with strong survival instincts, they are often quite reactive and the beginner might inadvertently give them the wrong cues, creating a reaction that is both frightening and dangerous. When we talk about age, the general rule of thumb is anything that is over 10 years of age.  There are those that would argue that their 4 year old is dead quiet, but he just simply doesn’t have the exposure and experience of a 10 year old. Ten years old is, in my opinion, the minimum age of a horse that is probably going to be safe for a beginner to get on. However, in most cases the older the better. Older horses are often discounted but they are worth their weight in gold in terms of giving the new rider confidence and creating a pleasurable experience.

The next thing you want to look for is the behavior of the horse itself. Is he holding his head high? Is he snorting and looking around in a nervous fashion? Is he antsy while being tacked up? A good beginner horse is going to stand quietly and keep his head level with or below his shoulders. His demeanor should be one of being overall calm and complacent. Nervous and high strung horses will be more concerned with the environment around them. They will have often have a wide eyed expression and hold their head high.

Most lesson barns have horses that are suitable for beginners to learn to ride on. If you are new to horses and riding it’s important to take lessons with a qualified instructor before considering buying your own. Once you have some lessons under your belt and you want to own your own horse, work with your instructor to help you select an appropriate horse for your level of riding skill. Approaching horse ownership in this way will insure a successful relationship between you and your horse.

Beginner Horse Riding – First Horse

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The first horse you ride will have a lasting impression on you. You will either feel on top of the world or be completely terrified and never want to ride again. If you’ve suffered the later, this is a difficult thing to overcome, so I wanted to take an opportunity to talk about the beginner horse temperament. In other words, what should a horse suitable for beginners be like?

I know we have all had the perfect picture in our mind of what the perfect horse would be like. We’ve all seen “The Black Stallion” and “Black Beauty”. The truth of the matter is, color should have very little to do with what type of horse you ride. The type of horse that is suitable for beginners is a “been there done that” type of horse. Horses are prey animals, and by their very nature their sole goal in life is to not end up on someone else’s dinner plate. They are social herd animals who use the multiple eyes and ears of the herd to help them keep an eye out for danger. Have you ever you seen those wildlife shows on TV? Where there is a herd of zebras, one sees the lion and starts running and then the rest take off without stopping to ask questions? This aids in survival and the horse is no different. Horses are sometimes afraid of the silliest things which make no sense to us but makes perfect sense to them.

A horse that is suitable for beginners has seen all the scary things and they don’t bother him. These horses are usually older and have been around the block a few times. So when you are confronted by a purple trashcan, beach ball, car going by etc., this is a normal day at the office for one of these guys. In equine circles these horses are known as “Schoolmasters” or “schoolies”. They are very forgiving of your leg hitting them in the wrong spot, you bouncing up and down etc. Younger, or “hot” (nervous, athletic) horses are usually ridden by experienced riders who can sit out that buck or spook. Any poke, bump or unfamiliar thing they come across can cause them to get upset. It’s kind of like comparing an old solid chevy to a mazzerati. You have to really mash the gas on the chevy to get a response, the mazzerati if you barely touch the petal, you’re taking off.

When you’re first starting out, riding a “mazzerati” can really take the fun out of riding and undermine your confidence. Make sure you’re up on a good old chevy so riding can be fun like it’s supposed to be.

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