Here are some basic horse riding tips to help you prepare for your next adventure.

The Meet & Greet

Approach your horse in a calm, confident manner and make sure he sees you coming. Horses are very adept creatures; they will sense if you’re nervous or scared, and your mood can greatly affect your horse’s attitude.

Always remember to relax. A well-trained horse will not try to hurt you on purpose. More often than not, he is just a little scared. It’s your job as the rider to assure him that everything is OK and that you mean him no harm. If you’re feeling comfortable, stroke him gently on the withers, the high point of the shoulder where the neck meets the back, to show him you’re friendly.

Getting on Top

Once you’ve introduced yourself to your horse, it’s time to mount him. Before hoisting yourself up, have your riding instructor check the stirrups to make sure they are the right length for you. This is essential for a comfortable ride.

To mount your horse, stand on his left side, grab hold of the reins with your left hand, and put your left foot in the stirrup. Now grab the back of the saddle with your right hand, and bounce of the ground with your left foot while simultaneously pulling yourself up. When you feel balanced, swing your right leg over the saddle, put your right foot into the stirrup, and gently lower yourself into the saddle. Congratulations! You’ve mounted your first horse.

Going for a Walk

Many horses are trained to respond to the pressure applied by your legs. To get your horse to walk, squeeze both legs against the sides of the horse. This should signal to the horse that you want him to start walking forward. If he doesn’t respond, you can give him a little incentive by gently kicking his sides and making a clucking sound with your tongue.

Now you’re on the move. Wait! What’s that ahead? It’s a low-hanging branch, and it’s about to sweep you right off your horse’s back. You need to learn to stop. But don’t worry—it’s easy.

Putting on the Breaks

When you want your horse to stop moving and stand still, pull back on the reins firmly and say “Whoa” like the cowboys do in movies. Once your horse has stopped, ease off on the tension; otherwise, he’ll start walking backwards!

Leading the Way

Steering your horse is like steering a car. When you want to go to the right, pull the reins to the right. When you want to go to the left, pull the reins to the left. Your horse will feel the rein’s pressure on his neck and will move accordingly.

Depending on the horse’s training, you may need to apply pressure on his sides in addition to pulling the reins. This technique is a little more confusing, but it only takes a couple of tries to learn. If you want your horse to go right, pull the reins to the right and apply pressure to his left side. Think about it this way: When you pull the rein to the right to signal a right turn, you’re actually applying pressure to the left side of the horse’s neck—it’s kind of like you’re pushing your horse in the direction you want to go.

Hit the Trails with Confidence

So there you have it—the basics of riding a horse. Of course, this is only the beginning. There’s a lot more to horseback riding that a trainer would be happy to teach you.

If you’d like to take horseback riding lessons from an experienced rider and instructor, come on out to BlissWood at Lehmann Legacy Ranch. We offer horseback riding lessons for kids and adults. It’s a ton of fun, and there’s plenty to see on our 650-acre working ranch when you’re sitting high.

Here is what Pris had to say about their stay:  “My husband and I just returned from a romantic Valentine’s weekend at Blisswood Bed and Breakfast, Cat Spring, Texas. Blisswood had so much to offer to help us relax and reconnect. I loved not having a TV and no other distractions because we were fully able to enjoy each other’s company. I highly recommend purchasing the picnic lunch at the Enchanted Lake! It was a most peaceful, relaxing, and delicious lunch, and it included a bottle of wine we thoroughly enjoyed. We brought our bikes with us and enjoyed riding all around the ranch, where I got some great photos! We also purchased a couples massage where they came to our cabin, it was amazing! Carol prides herself in giving her guests a great experience and her manager Debbie is so accommodating. Carol also has several exotic animals that you can help feed which was really cool! I even got to pet her kangaroo! We are planning to go back with our kids in the spring when the bluebonnets are in bloom. If you want to take a step back in time where you can enjoy nature, I highly recommend Blisswood Texas guest ranch. Oh, for some great food don’t forget to head to Carol’s at Cat Spring; you won’t be disappointed!”

Thanks Pris and Jesse! We look forward to meeting your kids.

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Ride at our Guest Ranch Near Houston

Why not gather a group of horseback riding girlfriends together for Cowgirl Camp at our Guest Ranch near Houston. Contact us to schedule one specially for your group of gals, or to learn about our next scheduled Cowgirl Camp. From the wine and cheese reception, to a workshop with Horse Whisperer Janice Terra, to a post trail ride Houston massage, this weekend is guaranteed to be refreshing and fun.

Our Guest Ranch near Houston is also a perfect place for children 13 or older to ride, as our horses are gentle and the area is quiet. Blisswood is an ideal location for a family ranch vacation for folks who live in and around Houston. Younger children will be delighted by the various animals we have on the ranch, from our young kangaroo to our new baby calf.

Hope to see you soon with a horse at Blisswood.