Virtually Horses

Articles

• Horses are generally tall creatures, and it is a long way down!

• Introduce yourself to the horse and learn their peculiarities.  Some horses have sensitive skin and don't like being patted a lot.  Remember this, otherwise they will remind you!

• If you don't hang onto the reins tightly enough while mounting, horses tend to wander off, leaving you in mid air for a split second until you plummet to the earth.

• Falling onto the ground hurts, especially on gravel or hard surfaces.

• Expect bruises, lots!  Some appear in very strange places and last for months.  Arnica becomes your new scent.

• When trotting without stirrups for the first time, hold onto the saddle.  If you don't, you tend to bounce off the horse sideways landing rather rapidly on the ground.  The horse tends to roll his/her eyes when they see you coming after this.

• Do not lean into corners when turning your horse or you will find yourself clutching onto their neck and looking at them eyeball to eyeball.  They don't like this.

• You may start talking to yourself on the horse.  This, I think, is normal.  You have a lot to remember and all at once.  Talking to yourself is just a way of reminding yourself to "shorten the rein, lean forward, get on the right diagonal, heels down, head up, hands down, leg on, leg off.."

• When going into a trot or canter, try to remain calm.  Panic does not help.  Waving your arms about in the air like a mad woman will not help either, in fact it hinders you stopping the horse and seems to encourage them to go a lot faster than they have ever gone before.  This is not good if you plan on staying in the saddle.

• Riding is very enjoyable when you start to bring all of the above together and feel you are actually going for a ride, instead of being taken for one!

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submitted by Heather Dostine (NZ)

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