Horse Riding Lesson's! The Importance Of Formal Lessons Riding a horse looks so simple that you shouldn't need formal lessons, right? Actually, while it may be easy to fall off a horse, staying on is a bit trickier. Staying on and looking good is even harder. Few people can manage all of the intricacies of horseback riding without lessons. One of the worst things you can do is to try to teach yourself to ride. Without even realizing it, you may be sitting on your horse the wrong way, holding the reins wrong or using poor posture. By the time you decide to take formal lessons, these behaviors may be so ingrained that you won't be able to learn the correct way to ride a horse without taking many hours of remedial training. Even worse, you may have an experience that puts you off horseback riding forever, such as being knocked off a runaway horse by a low hanging tree branch or having a horse buck you off, just because you don't know what to do when different situations occur. When you take formal lessons, your instructor may spend what seems like forever on the most boring exercises, like learning to use the reins to turn your horse or posting without using stirrups, when all you want to learn is how to ride like the wind. However, all of these seemingly endless drills are the stepping stones that enable you to become a skilled and graceful rider. If you enjoy learning to perfect the way you ride your horse and you like competing in events, you may want to take even more lessons. Dressage is a complicated and intricate form of horseback riding that requires a great deal of professional training for both the horse and rider. Of course, there's nothing wrong with learning to ride so you can spend a long summer day riding through the woods, either. If you or your child is going to take horseback riding lessons, then they are going to need certain clothing and safety equipment. Whether you are participating in an English private horseback riding lesson, or a Western group horse riding lesson, safety equipment is of the utmost importance. The basic safety equipment needed includes boots, a helmet and riding pants. These can be purchased at a local tack store or online. Horse Riding Boot You should always wear a good protective horseback riding boot whenever you are around horses. It doesn't matter if you are planning to ride or simply plan on a grooming session. Boots are important while you are on the ground to protect you in case a horse accidently steps on your foot. They are also important while riding, because they have a heel that keeps your foot from slipping too far into the stirrup causing you to get stuck. Paddock boots are typically the type of boot used for English horseback riding lessons. A paddock boot is a leather ankle boot that can either lace up or zip closed. These can also be used for Western riding, or a cowboys boots can be used. In English riding, tall boots that go up to your knees are not required for lessons and usually children do not start wearing them until they are over the age of 12. Horse Riding Helmet A helmet is probably the most important part of the equestrian wardrobe, because it protects the skull and brain. While a helmet should always be worn while riding, it can also be worn while on the ground as an extra safety precaution while being around horses. Red Star Stables has many sizes of helmets to choose from and you are welcome to use these, or you may, of course, purchase your own helmet as well. Horse Riding Pant Long pants should be worn when riding horses. This is to protect the legs from rubbing against the saddle and horse. If you are taking English riding lessons, schooling tights or schooling breeches are usually worn. For Western riding, regular blue jeans are typically wor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RED STAR STABLES RIDING INSTRUCTORS Susan Telecky Experienced in horsemanship for over 25 years, mother of four grown children, grandmother (aka "Nanny!") of two and owner of Red Star Stables and care taker to all the RSS horses! Years of horses and children add up to be lots of knowledge and patience! Steve Schafetz, Instructor and Horse Trainer Originally from New York, Steve has been training horses for over 10 years. His horses Crystal and Drifter are well mannered and are trained in various disciplines such as English, Western, jumping and Dressage. He is well trusted and is regularly asked to work many of the horses at Red Star. Diane Withem Diane has been riding since she was two years old when her uncle first put her on her cousin's 16hh thoroughbred jumper and she's been hooked ever since! Her philosophy for teaching is one of "safety first" through an understanding of how a horse's mind works. Diane rode and showed hunter/jumpers and Arabians as a high school/college student, and more recently has ridden and shown her Arabian horses in local and regional shows. She worked as an instructor at a riding school in California during high school, co-taught a college riding class in Bellinghham ,WA while attending school there, and has been teaching friends and their children to ride for the past 15 years. CALL THE STABLES AT 332-0202 OR EMAIL INFO@REDSTARSTABLES.COM FOR ALL THE INFORMATION AND TO SCHEDULE AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP LESSON |
