Top 10 Common Mistakes Beginner Riders Make: There are several common mistakes beginners make when riding. Below we list 10 of the most common ones and give tips on how to fix them.
There are several common mistakes beginners make when riding. Below we list the Top 10 Common Mistakes Beginner Riders Make give tips on how to fix them. If you want to know the different types of names of horses then you can get them from the horse name generator.
The Top 10 Common Mistakes Beginner Riders Make Are:
- Hands in the air
- Legs tightly wrap the horse’s body
- The rider stands on tiptoe
- Legs slide in stirrups
- The rider slouches
- The rider tightens the knees.
- The rider allows the reins to slide freely in their hands.
- The rider held his breath.
- The rider clings to the reins with a stranglehold.
- The rider watches the horse all the time.
1. Hands in the air.
At the level of instinct, a person uses his hands to maintain balance. Novice riders often wave their arms in the air, sometimes even at shoulder level. In this case, the reins are released too far and the rider cannot control the horse’s behaviour.
Tip: Try to follow your horse’s movements. The reins should be slightly taut throughout the ride. Keep your hands at hip level and your elbows at your sides. If the horse has loosened the reins, tighten them. Imagine a straight line that goes through your elbows, forearms, wrists, hands, reins, and a horse’s mouth.
2. Legs tightly wrap the horse’s body.
Maintaining balance is more important for the rider than holding tight. It is necessary to use the muscles, while not straining them. You don’t want the horse to perceive you as a clothespin. If you squeeze your thighs, knees or legs together, the trip will be extremely exhausting for you. The body will be tense all the time. And the horse will perceive this as a constant signal to move forward.
Tip: When sitting in the saddle, your leg should be hanging off your hip. If you move your feet, chances are you are also squeezing the sides of the horse with your knees or with your entire leg. Imagine a straight line going from your ear over your shoulder and thigh to the heel: try to keep the heel from moving off this line and not swinging back and forth.
3. The rider stands on tiptoe.
This often happens when riders are just learning to trot. Attempting to stand up from the saddle (usually by raising your shoulders and as if jumping out) and stretching your foot as if you are on tiptoe will only lead to the fact that you will not be able to keep the rhythm and will fall into the saddle. Also, the hands will involuntarily rise. As a result, both the horse and the rider will be unhappy.
Tip: control the position of your legs. Your calves should be still, your feet straight below you as if you were standing on the ground with slightly bent knees. Use your abdominal muscles rather than your feet to follow the horse’s rhythm when trotting.
4. Legs slide in stirrups.
If your feet slip in the stirrups, you will feel uncomfortable riding. It can also be dangerous if you are not using safety stirrups or wearing special riding boots.
Tip: Make sure the stirrups are at the correct height. If the legs are hanging at the sides, then the stirrups should touch the ankle. Place your foot on the stirrup so that the widest part of your foot rests freely on the stirrup.
5. The rider slouches.
When a rider is shy about his height, afraid to ride, or trying to imitate Western cowboys, he starts to slouch. Some overly nervous riders try to curl up into a ball. However, in this position, it is very difficult to control the horse, and in addition, balance is disturbed. Anything that disturbs the balance prevents the horse from doing his job well.
Tip: Sit up straight but relaxed. If the rider is tense and sits straight like a stick, this will also cause trouble. Keep your chin straight and look forward. Spread out your chest. In this position, you can maintain flexibility and not strain.
6. The rider tightens the knees.
Many novice riders look like they are sitting in a chair. Knees are tucked up, heels are raised or flattened.
Tip: The recipe is the same as squeezing a horse with your knees. Try to keep your leg hanging from your hip.
7. The rider allows the reins to slide freely in their hands.
When horses move, their head also moves. If the horse personality generator does not adapt to this rhythm, the reins slide freely in his hands. In this case, the rider will not be able to control the horse or pull on the reins. He tries to compensate for this by raising his arms or trying to pull the reins tightly.
Tip: Horseback riding is a process of constant balance and adaptation. Even when riding at a pace, the horse’s head moves up and down, so the rider must constantly change the position of the arms so that the reins do not get too long. Let your arms hang freely at your sides, swaying in time with the horse’s movements.
If the horse suddenly jerks his head forward (this happens if he stumbles, sneezes or steps over something), learn to use your hands to give the horse a little more freedom, rather than so that the reins slide through your fingers. Learn to shorten the reins while riding. As the speed increases, the reins should get shorter and shorter because the horse raises its head slightly during trot and gallop.
8. The rider held his breath.
Even experienced riders do it when they learn new things. However, beginners, of course, are tenser and try to concentrate by holding their breath.
Tip: Smile, laugh, hum a song, or just breathe in the same rhythm as the horse.
9. The rider clings to the reins with a stranglehold.
If the rider has a firm grip on the reins, the horse becomes confused: in the end, his position and legs give the signal to get underway, and the hands tell him to stop. If this continues for some time, the horse may start to ignore the reins as his mouth loses feeling. Alternatively, she may start twitching her head to avoid discomfort.
Tip: Learn to feel your animals without pulling on the reins. Train to synchronize their length with the movements of the horse. Hold the reins firmly, but do not grab onto them. Imagine you have a tiny chicken in each hand. Don’t squeeze them too hard!
10. The rider watches the horse all the time.
Novice riders often want to keep an eye on the horse at all times. This means that they cannot see the road, their head is down and their back is tense. Any tension in your body makes it difficult for the horse.
Tip: You may have heard the recommendation to look between the horse’s ears. This is only partly true: in fact, you need to watch where you are going. When you need to turn, first look at the road, and only then give the horse the sign to turn. This will keep your balance. Remember: keep your chin straight and look forward.
