Controling Your Horse
Those that love to horseback ride are truly in to nature and animals. There is a special feeling you get when riding a horse through trail rides just as they did in the old days. Learning to control your horse with ease and comfort is very important. Everyone agrees that galloping or loping your horse is the most fun of all as over time, the rider and the horse become one.Your body and your horses body changes when you are galloping. The mechanics for both of you change completely. In this position, it is most difficult to handle your balance and your horse at the same time. The horse's back drops down and he lifts all four feet off the ground at once. The rider comes up in the saddle a little and pushes down in to his stirrups for balance. For those times that your horse may get spooked and take off running with you, you need to know how to get your control back.
If your horse starts to take off with you, don't panic. Go with the gallop but instead of just letting the horse head straight on till he gets tired, pull him on one rein and put him in a slow circle and lead him back around to where he started. If you continues to run, then continue to make him circle, making it tighter each time. He will soon learn that he is not getting his way and is returning to the place where he was fleeing anyway and he will stop. This will tell the horse, that you are still in control and he is not getting what he wants, while at the same time you are not making a huge ordeal and punishing him in a way he won't understand.
Since it is always easier to learn anything new at a slower pace, practice the correct form in a canter verses a gallop. Put yourself in the two-point position. Concentrate on keeping the reins secure in your hands. Some actually place their hands on the mane of the horse and grab hold of some hair. When your horse starts to move forward, push down in your stirrups and lean forward while lifting your bottom up off of the saddle seat.
First learn the mechanics of a proper gallop. You and your horse will learn together so that whether or not any mishaps occur, you can remained calm and balanced in the saddle enough to teach your horse a lesson.
The most important thing is to relax and enjoy. Your horse will read your feelings of fear if you are not relaxed and happy. In other words, go with it and have fun!
posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 2:48 PM
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