Horse Riding And Training Online

Horseback Riding. Expertise Is In Muscles And Riding Posture

Ruth — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:45:09 +0000

Courtesy Article, Tips on Horse Riding

By Annette Willson

Well this is huge topic and I could go on forever, but in a nutshell a new rider should learn about the whole industry. I think learning about horses, feeding, transport, gear, gear fitting and total management is essential. Riding is not as easy as it looks if a person rides properly. Anybody can get on a horse a ride around and feel like they are doing nothing, until actually the next day. Most new riders will feel tightness in the thigh muscles and usually their butt. Once you get in the saddle safety is a prime issue as well. I have many tip for horse riding but my main expertise is in the muscles and riding posture. Teaching a rider about the riding posture I think is very important. Any knowledge is essential though.

So lets get started

My Tips for Riding a Horse

1. Learn from an expert
2. Ask around about instructors and choose a popular one
3. Watch as many riders as you have to opportunity to
4. Ride as often as you can
5. Read books on riding
6. Watch DVDs on riding.
7. Learn about the posture for riding.

Well no. 7 is my topic of expertise, My tips for riding a horse are backed up with my profession. I am a rider, I am an instructor and I am a Physiotherapist and Pilates Trainer. I teach horse riders to ride and train their muscles for riding. I also recommend if you are following an expert then look at they credentials. Not all experts are backed up with an education or even experience. Not all experts have a degree, but many have years of experience, these I believe are true experts as well.

I believe every rider must learn about their own body.

==>>Pilates Specific For Horse Riders

Many riders do not know about the postures and muscles to ride with. If you have knowledge in these areas then your riding skills will develop so much faster and easier.

Many sports are now training off the field and in the gym. Very many are also training in Pilates.

To learn Pilates Specific for Horse Riders is essential.

To learn strong core stability and practice movement patterns on a big physio gym ball will is the best tip for riding a horse I can give. Riding requires good core strength and equal movement from both left and right side of the body.

To learn more about this topic have a look at the Applied Posture Riding program both on DVD and in E-book form.

This is one of the most popular programs for horse riders.

If you are just starting as a horse rider or are having problems with your skills and balance then my best tip is to follow the Applied Posture Riding program.

Annette Willson Author of Applied Posture Riding

I have a Masters Degree in Physiotherapy and I am a Pilates teacher and I am a retired elite competitor. My Applied Posture Riding program is a teaching program specific for horse riders, now available on DVD. If you want to learn more about training your self to ride with skill and confidence then this is the program for you. A good strong core is essential for riding and must be trained out of the saddle. Go to my website and treat yourself as a rider.
Pilates Specific For Horse Riders

Horse riding is such a great sport to take up, for fitness, for your health

Ruth — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:52:53 +0000

With permission, courtesy By Annette Willson, How To Ride a Horse – Follow an Elite Rider

How to ride a horse is not an easy question to answer, but by following an expert rider who has made it to the top is a good start. Horse riding is such a great sport to take up, for fitness, for your health and posture and for your mindset. Horse riding is a total body workout and once you have established the basic skills it is such a fun sport be involved in. There are many aspect of horse riding that a new learner needs to address. The first one I always address is the posture of the rider and how to ride a horse with skill and confidence and strength.

How to Establish the Horse Riding Posture

The horse riding posture is unlike any other sport in that the rider must be symmetrical in the saddle, whether they be trotting, cantering, galloping or jumping. If you don’t sit square in the saddle the horse will feel this and respond. The horse will respond either as a resistance to the pressure being uneven or behave badly. The rider must learn to feel the symmetry of their weight in the saddle.

The use of both the left and right sides of the body must be equal

This is necessary to be able to apply aids and balance centrally. Horse riding is not one sided like tennis or basketball the horse rider must learn to use both arms equally and independently as well as use the lower legs in the same manner.

The use of the deep core muscles is an essential function for the horse rider to learn.

How to ride a horse involves the use, strength, coordination of this muscle. Without the deep muscles the horse rider will not have stability in the saddle to apply gentle aids, the horse rider will not feel the beat of the horse under them.

The use of Pilates and a Gym Ball when learning to ride a horse

How to ride a horse is the same posture required you asked how to sit on a moving ball. The central posture can be trained on the ball, the movement patterns used in horse riding can be trained on the ball. If a new rider followed this advice and was taught how to test, train and use all their horse riding muscles on a ball then they would pick up the riding patterns very easily and very quickly.

As a riding instructor this is the process I follow and teach my new rider when they want to learn how to ride a horse. For more information look at my Applied Posture Riding program.

Annette Willson Author of Applied Posture Riding

I have a Matsers Degree in Physiotherapy and I am a Pilates teacher and I am a retired elite competitor. My Applied Posture Riding program is a teaching program specific for horse riders, now available on DVD. If you want to learn more about training your self to ride with skill and confidence then go to my website Pilates Specific For Horse Riders

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5840554

To Bran Mash Or Not To Bran Mash

Ruth — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 01:04:17 +0000

Bran mashes have traditionally been touted as being good for older horses to help them keep their weight on – the result of worn and aging teeth. Now, it seems that feeding bran mash may dangerous for your horse’s hooves. The long and short of the information is, do not feed bran if your horse has any hoof problems.
Oats or other grain brans contain phytate, which is high in phosphorus and will block absorption of calcium in the small intestine, producing a systemic calcium deficiency. Calcium is necessary for the strong bonding of keratinized cells to produce a strong hoof.
But, what about the fact you were trying to regulate stool consistency? Try sugar beet pulp instead. If you are using bran to prevent sand colic, use psyllium. Really, to be blunt, you aren’t likely going to be feeding your horse so much bran mash that his hooves will be in trouble. Bran mashes are not usually the sole food given, they are used in combination with other forage and pellets.
So if you do have hoof problems, what about using Biotin – a popular hoof growth supplement? Well, this is interesting, it seems research shows that if your horse has a normally functioning GI tract, a biotin supplement isn’t needed. And feeding more than the physiological amount of biotin does not improve hoof growth and strength. Ok fine, so what it the point? Point is instead of biotin or mash, feed loose salt, vitamin C, copper and zinc.
Be sure your horse has access to loose salt and not just salt blocks. On the other hand, horses fed a premixed feed often get adequate amounts of salt, so you won’t need loose salt. Copper and vitamin C are catalysts for forming healthy, connective hoof tissue. Make sure copper and vitamins are provided in adequate amounts. DL-methionine, praline, glycine and glutamic acid are major building blocks for healthy connective tissues.
Zinc is required for a healthy hoof. Without it, the hoof suffers parakaratosis, a defect in the maturation of keratin, leaving the hoof soft and structurally weak. Zinc and copper need to be in balance by the way. Bottom line? Don’t feed supplements just for the heck of it. Figure out if you really need them in the first place by talking to your Vet. And if you do, only start with one at a time so you can see if it is actually effective.

Snug The Girth Up Tight – or Not?

Ruth — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:30:13 +0000

Reef really hard on the girth/cinch to tighten that saddle down right tight so it doesn’t slip? Not! How about doing one thing at a time first – like correctly positioning the saddle. Snug yes, tight no.
Horses girthed too tightly get cinchy and dislike being saddled. Really, it’s like wearing a girdle three sizes too small. How comfortable do you think you would be in that contraption? So if you do tighten it too much, chances are the horse will either reach around and bite you, blow or go down on their knees. So, a snug girth is the ticket, just about right in the horse’s book anyhow. Just remember to position the saddle properly and you shouldn’t have girth problems.
The saddle should rest solidly and be level on the horse’s back. Now, having said that, there are so many variations to horses backs, withers and rump and in saddles themselves, that this is sometimes a challenge. Anyhow, assuming you can level the saddle on the horse’s back, it should now be on/in the rider’s center of balance – just behind the horse’s natural balance point at a standstill. As the horse moves, engaging the hindquarters, his natural balance point (just behind and slightly above his elbow) moves back and under the rider as the horse rounds his back upward. Now horse, saddle and rider should be in balance.
Put your saddle pad or blanket over the withers and well forward. Now place the saddle over the withers and forward. Slide the saddle and pad backward until they settle into position, behind the withers and level on the back. This might seem like the saddle position is too far back. It is not.
The gullet of the saddle will be somewhat over the withers. The saddle will be level and the back of the saddle won’t be pressing into the loin area. The girth will not be immediately behind the elbow, but several inches behind the elbow instead. Hmmm, that sure sounds odd if you were taught otherwise doesn’t it?
If the saddle is too far forward, well over the withers, and the girth is directly behind the elbow, the movement of the horse’s shoulders is restricted. Stride and lateral action are adversely affected. Properly positioned, the saddle will not need to be tightly cinched, because it will stay in position naturally with only a snug cinching.
Once the saddle is on board, check the pad or saddle blanket and lift it up into the gullet so that at least two fingers slide easily between the withers and the saddle. If you’ve properly positioned the saddle, you won’t give your horse grief on his withers or loins.
You can spot problems from the ground if you just stand back and observe the tacked horse.

Riding Hats: Safety Guaranteed

Ruth — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:07:18 +0000

Equestrians also need their own set of gear for the competition. Each equestrian sport is unique which demand different skills from the rider. Their clothing is not just used for presentation but also to help them move freely during competitions. There are many types of clothing that equestrians need. There is corresponding clothing to protect the rider from head to foot.

The main clothing of an equestrian are composed of riding hats, jackets, boots, jodhpurs and breeches, body protector, chaps and gaiters. For a beginner it is essential to know each of this clothing. Each individual’s preference may be different but it important to know the basics before buying any clothing. Horse back riding can be expensive and its clothing is not exemption.

The most important clothing is the riding hat. Obviously it protects the riders from falls which can be experienced whether you are in or out of a competition. Although horses can be trained they can still be unpredictable.

The rider’s clothing

The riding hat

It is the most important piece of clothing which offers protection for your head. These hats are made of a hard shell which is lined with a material that absorbs shock. This is essential to provide protection for the rider in case he or she falls. It’s also important to wear them even though they are not riding because the horse may kick them instead. It’s advisable to wear them when handling horses on the ground.

If the rider suffers from a fall the hat should be replaced immediately. The fall can diminish the hat’s protection. The protection also decreases over time as the padding compresses from daily use. Riding has should be replaced ever three to four years.

Three basic hats are available for the riders:

The first one is the classic riding hat. It’s a traditional velvet hat available brown, black, or navy. It has a hard peak.

The second is the skull cap which is also referred to as the jockey cap. It has no peak and is usually worn by jockeys. It’s now popular with other riders for leisure and competition. Silks which are peak covers can be placed over the skull cap. This gives them the appearance of a riding hat. There are also novelty silks available for children such as eyes and ears sewn on them.

The third one is the skull protector. It’s a riding hat similar to a cycling helmet. It’s very lightweight and ventilated. The hat is usually worn during the warm weather or summer.

Riding hats have chin straps and should conform to the riding hat safety standards. The United Kingdom has 3 safety standards. Riding hats should follow one of these standards for optimum safety of the rider. The chin traps should be able to secure the hat safely and securely on the riders head.

Riders should always remember to secure their hats. Beginners should also buy which is comfortable for them. Riding hats is a piece of equestrian clothing that should be regarded with importance. Sever falls can be very fatal. Riding hats can decrease the severity of the injury of the rider.

Rides should not buy a second hand riding hat. Although the damages cannot be seen from the outside it is most likely that they have reduced protection. Buy new hats for guaranteed protection.

Sacking Out – Part Two

Ruth — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:47:24 +0000

When working with your horse make sure he has a halter and lead on, but keep him untied. Why? He needs to know that if things get too scary for him, he can leave. This reduces anxiety. If you tie a horse and introduce scary things, the only thing he learns is he can’t get away, not to not be afraid of the object. And chances are when first starting your sack out routine he will get panicky. So, tying up a horse and sacking out are counterproductive.
You can start your sack out with the saddle pad. Let your horse smell it first to see what it is before you start tossing it about. If most cases if they see the object first it helps them relax. With some horses, this upsets them. Gage what you need to do by the response of your horse.
Smelling all done, then start swinging the saddle pad all over the place and don’t worry if they side step at first. It’s natural. The pad should be moved around his body without touching the body at first – work where they can see the movement well. As they get more and more relaxed, move the pad in closer to the body until you can then rub the saddle pad all over them – necks, legs, belly, back end, chest, and head.
Even make sure you throw it on the ground so they get used to things being down there. This may take a few minutes or longer, depends on your horse. When you think he’s got this lesson aced, fling the saddle pad onto his back and see what happens. He may step a bit and then stand still. If so, great job! If he takes a fit, start from the beginning.
By the way, you need to work with the horse until he does quietly accept the saddle blanket on his back. Don’t quit at a point when they are jumpy or they will learn being jumpy gets them out of work and away from scary objects. So aim for the success of the saddle pad on their back and your horse standing quietly. Then you can call it a day as a reward.

Equestrian Supplies: The Horse Grooming Kit

Ruth — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:16:45 +0000

Apart from the horses clothing equestrians should also take care of their horses. After all, the performance of the horse has a major impact on the scores. No matter what sports the horse is going to participate he must be well prepared before the event. This entails not just proper but also grooming. Riders are not the only ones who should look their best but also the horse. There are many supplies out there for the horse. Riders have a wide array of choices for their horses.

One of the most important of these supplies is the grooming kit. This is an essential kit when grooming and preparing the horse. With it riders will be able to maintain their horse’s coat in good condition. This will also be a good time for them to check for any injuries, scratches and bruises on the horse. Grooming will also massage the horse and promote circulation.

Horse care

The grooming kit is made up of different combs and brushes to keep the horse clean. Each of these combs and brushes has a different purpose when cleaning the horse.

These are some of the basic brushes and combs in a grooming kit:

Dandy brush
These brushes are used to remove dirt on the surface of your horse’s coat. They are used in the less sensitive parts of the horse. This brush has long bristles.

Body Brush
These brushes can be either hard or soft depending on your need. They have leather back. It is used to remove grease and dusts from you’re horse’ coat. They can be used in the sensitive areas of your horse’s body.

Metal curry comb
This is not used on the horse but is rather used to clean the body brush when grooming. It removes dust and dirt from the brush so that you can use it again on the horse.

Rubber Curry Comb
They remove mud and loose hair from the mane and tail of your horse.

Water Brush
You are going to use water when washing or dampening your horse’s coat. This brush is used when applying water on your horse.

Mane comb
As the name suggests these are combs used on the main and tail of your horse. They come in plastic and metal. There are variations of these combs for different purposes. Short metal combs are used for pulling manes. Other special combs are used to cut the mane thinner.

Hoof pick
They are used for removing dirt and stones that are packed into your horse’s hooves. Dirt and stones usually collect on the underside of your horse’s hooves when you go riding or when he’s out there in the field. The hoof pick can be easily lost under your grooming kit so it’s advisable to type in a baline twine.

Cotton Sponge
Used for cleaning the eyes, nose and wounds of your horse.

Sweat scraper
Wipe away sweat from the horse or excessive water when washing.

Stale rubber
Used for doing the finishing touches on the horse. They are used for polishing the coat of the horse. Stake rubber or linen cloth can be used.

Grooming kit box
Last but not the least, is the kit box. It can be any container or bag with ample storage for the brushes. You can also use a canvas bag with a drawstring.

Equestrian Singles ? Where to Meet Them

Ruth — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:35:31 +0000

A horse lover, or any animal lover, would want to find someone who likes horses like themselves. While it may seem petty for some people, an equestrian who ends up with someone who dislikes horses or does not understand their partner’s passion for horses is doomed to have a lot of potential relationship problems in the future. Weird but I’ve heard of some people feeling jealous of the partner’s love and attention towards their horse. That is why horse lovers would want to find someone who shares the same love for the animal. But where do equestrian singles meet and mingle?

A primary venue where equestrians may find other equestrians is in a horse show or competition. There are also local horse-riding groups in the community which conduct meetings with members. Through regular meetings and competitions, you get the chance to see other horse-loving people in your area.

Unfortunately, few people find love in these places. Because horse riding is a competitive sport, it is hard to develop any romantic feelings for anyone in such arena.

That is why there are websites where horse-loving single men and women can meet. Through online dating websites, many couples have met and found “true love.” The site works by asking any single adult horse lover to register and upload details for his profile. Or he can be asked to make a personal ad through video. The information is added to the database which members browse through. If they are attracted to anyone of the other members of the website, he may send messages to the person, and later on, meet her.

Aside from the regular online dating services, some sites have special match-making services. Using the information that you provided, the host website runs a program which can then check which couples have more potential of becoming lovers than others. Once they’ve found your “match,” they would then set you up on a date.

Some websites are not mere dating sites but online equestrian communities where people with the same passion and love for horses meet and exchange ideas. Upcoming events in the community are posted in the website, so people will know if there will be a show, rodeo or competition anytime soon. They also have chat rooms and forums, perfect venues for equine lovers to interact and talk more.

Here’s a word of caution, though. Never give personal details of yourself like your name, work or home address, and others, unless you’ve developed a deeper trust with the other person. The thing is, you are the only person to judge if the other person is trustworthy or not. You need to trust your instincts and be mindful of all details that you may gather. If your gut tells you that he is lying, then it is better to stop communicating with him during such early stages. Learn to be more attentive, and at times, investigate on the background of the other person.

Like horses, relationships have needs, too. As horses need to be fed and cared for, relationships need to be nurtured and loved. Meeting equestrian singles, in any possible way, is just the first step. If you want to develop a deeper, more meaningful relationship with someone, you have to work on it. Soon enough, you will find your special someone to share love with.

Sacking Out – Part Three

Ruth — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:21:20 +0000

So, you’ve done the sacking out with the saddle pad, and your horse is doing well. Next move on to a rope. Like the maxim that all horses should be sacked out, all horses need to be sacked out with a rope. Do not even think about getting on a horse without sacking them out with a rope all over their bodies. And all over in this case, means some places you’d likely not even think about. Such as the head, ears, rump, under the tail (yes, under the tail), around the legs, on the belly, the chest and the withers. As an extension to this lesson, you can also teach them to stand still when you have a rope tied to their feet so if they ever get caught in wire or something else, they will know to stand still.
Back to the sacking out with a rope. You do this because most of what you use to ride a horse has something on it that will bump, slap, slide down or get tangled in the legs and feet (long reins, cinches, etc). They need to learn a rope will not harm them to start with, and that anything else under their belly, tangled in their feet (like a saddle that has slipped under them) – is not a cause for a rodeo. Teach this lesson well, it may save your life and that of your horse.
Use a long soft cotton lead rope if you have one – if not – use something else. You just want to make sure not to hit the horse. When you first start using this rope, the horse may think you are asking him to move off. Just stop them and quietly start over. Start swinging it all over the place just like you did with the saddle pad. Work away from the body for him to get used to the movement. When he is ok with that, then start to throw it on the ground, over his body, under his legs, between his legs. Go slowly when doing this as some horses just flip out when they feel a rope under their belly or around their legs.
You might be at this awhile, but the patience will pay off in the long run. Once again, do not quit this lesson until the horse quietly stands while the rope is all over him. Then call it a successful day with praise and a rest.

Sacking Out – Part One

Ruth — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:16 +0000

The best thing you can possibly do for your horse, no matter what their age, is sack them out. This is a little harder with older horses as they have already developed a set response to things that “spook” them – however, it can be done.
Sacking out simply means slowly and calmly introducing the horse to things they regard as scary – and – some things you wouldn’t think would be scary, but are. The problem with the previous sentence is this: YOU wouldn’t think would be scary. We don’t think like horses for the most part, and there are times when they just go right off the rails over something they’ve seen hundreds of times before, didn’t blink an eye at and then one day, the “object ” didn’t look the same and they pitched a hissy. So what do you do? You do your best to try and sack them out as well and as thoroughly as you possibly can.
Is sacking out a lot of hard work? It can be, but the rewards are well worth putting in the time. The main premise behind sacking out is, once the horse realizes the object that scares them is harmless, they will overcome their fear. And again, this is a good theory and for the most part does work. There are always exceptions to the rule, particularly if you are in a really tense situation. It’s always best to realize that and then you won’t get a nasty surprise.
Every horse should be sacked out. Period. The thing to remember when doing this is that every horse learns things at a different pace. Some may take several sessions to accept a blanket on their back, and some might wear it on their heads in no time flat. Pace your sacking out to their learning curve.
You might to start your sessions by giving your horse some exercise in the round pen, just to capture his attention, or in the alternative, lounge/lunge them. This will also calm them down so you can work with them.