Learning Riding is not the most simple task a person will take on, but it is rewarding and fun, don't be put off by others negative attitude. Go for it, follow these tips and you will succeed.
As a Physiotherapist and elite rider I understand the task involved in learning riding.
Horses are a personality of their own and this is a feature of riding many don’t respect.
Learning riding at any age is a huge task, but learning riding as an adult is even more difficult. Adult riders are more set in their ways; their body is most likely stiff and has some posture issues.
Learning riding in the later years can be a great experience, riding is a great way to get fit, improve your posture and achieve a goal.
Horse riding is sport unlike many others. Horses have a mind of their own; therefore a rider needs to learn a number of things to be successful.
Arider must learn
- about the temperament of their horse
- about their own body and how it works
- about the movement of the horses paces
- about the fitting of the gear
- about the posture required to ride
- about the muscle function of their body as well the horse
- about the symmetry required in the rider and the horse
Many non riders look at a good rider and say it is so easy. We who have ridden know better. It is not easy. To learn riding from the beginning has its advantages and disadvantages. Fear and risk of injury is a disadvantage. Achieving fitness, strength and that wow look at me feeling is the outcome. This is certainly an advantage.
To learn to ride a horse I believe a person needs to be instructed from the ground by a qualified instructor but also to read and watch the experts.
Experts are knowledgeable people with experience in all of the above.
An instructor is a great way to start, but has limited knowledge and expertise in the how the body and the muscles work. Riding instructors are able to identify horse rider’s problems but are unable to offer advice on how to fix it.
This is where an exercise program specific to the horse rider is the key to better learning and understanding the above. Pilates for horse riders is an excellent program.
Humans are one sided, to ride efficiently we need to be symmetrical in our strength and flexibility. This will only be achieved if riders learn from the start how to train their riding muscles for riding.
Applied Posture Riding (Pilates for Horse riders) is the program becoming very popular amongst all riders to learn to ride properly. Any rider at any level needs to stretch and strengthen their muscles and understand how they work.
Riders learning to ride from the beginning have the advantage if they learn what muscles and how to train them from the start. Combining this with a great riding instructor is the best way to learn to ride horses.
