Equestrian Goods

The horse is fine, but a bit stubborn and I feel bad because I think it's my riding skills that are letting me down.

Horses are very intelligent, if the horse likes You it will not only listen to You, it will protect You, so bring Him or Her carrots, brush Him or Her out, they really like that, spend time with the horse other than just riding time, in other words, befriend the horse.

Yesterday I got new horse riding boots due to starting lessons(yay!)
and they are a little tight because they are new. Is the an easier way to break them in other than wearing them non stop?
*Looks down at feet*
My first lesson is on Saturday an I don't want to be uncomfortable.
Thanks for your help!
lol
HI IZZY!
Yeah, mine are Dublin… so comfy… but kinda tight… lol! When I showed my mum i told her I got some cleaner stuff or something and shes like "Is it called dubbin?" lol

I wouldn't oil them nor heat them (heat is going to shrink them and dry them out anyway. There are solutions (Boot Stretch) that you can use to spray your boots after you have them on. You can also use plain rubbing alcohol. The reason that you use these solutions is that they dry quicker, you could just use warm water, but it takes longer to dry. Spray and wear them until dry and the tight places will stretch out. Remember, the heels of new boots will slip up and down for a while, it's just part of the deal. Keep wearing your boots and remember, if you put anything on your boots like these solutions or Leather New or any cleaner or oil later on, put it on the whole boot, otherwise parts of your boots will not match the rest of the boot.

I have a fear of riding a horse, which does not appear totally uncommon. However, I am still willing to get on the horse - I just wanted to know if it will affect the way that the horse behaves when I am on him.

The horse is aware of your fear. However, if you tell the stables that you are afraid, they will put you on a horse who isn't bothered by your fear. My uncle has a hair that is as calm as calm can be. You could set fireworks off her back and she'd just calmly turn around and look at you like "Come on, was that really necessary?" Most stables won't put new (or scared) riders on a young horse. They'll probably put you on an older, slower, calmer horse who couldn't care less if you decide to tap dance in the saddle.

Don't worry. They're big, but gentle. Also, it's not that far to the ground. It seems like it is, but I've fallen off some pretty big horses and I was unharmed (except for my pride).

I need to get a birthday gift for my horse riding instructor (mostly dressage but also jumping) and the barn owner who is an alternative vet. They have everything!!! Their birthday's are on tuesday! HELP!! (we have a tackshop nearby)

Maybe a dry erase board…[they're not expensive, and they are pretty much weatherproof.]

A great place to leave messages for people or a place to write down things you don't want to forget…while you're at the barn. That way, you don't have to carry around a pen/pencil and paper…or just plain forget something.

Just a thought…

I need statistics on horse riding hats, how they are used, how they are manufactured and how well they sell!

Personally I'd say that 99% of riders use hard hats and anyone that doesn't is stupid and asking for trouble.

Horses are unpredictable animals and you can never be 100% sure that they won't do something that will cause you to fall off and injure yourself.

In GB it is against the law for a child under the age of 13 to ride a horse on the public highway without a hard hat.

In all horse related sports (racing, showjumping, eventing, etc) it is compulsory to wear a hard hat, although the standard of safety varies from country to country.

Try the following link, it will take you to Charles Owen's website. They are manufacturers of riding hats and may be able to provide you with facts and figures: http://www.charlesowen.co.uk/en/index.php?c=uni

I am thinking about picking up horse riding for the summer. I've never done any horse riding but really want to pick it up. Is it hard to learn horse riding without any prior experience? I don't to learn all the tricks, just want to able to ride the horse. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

It's not hard but it takes time to advance to higher levels…..
You should definatly give it a try….. you may hate it, but it may just be the best choice you ever made!

Here are a few of the basics:
Start Safe
Have someone hold the horse so that you can concentrate on getting the correct position once you have mounted and are sitting in the saddle.

Find Your Balance
Sit squarely, with your seat bones comfortably in the middle of the saddle seat and your legs hanging loose on each side. Make sure you are not slouched to one side and are feeling relaxed.

A Foot in Each Stirrup
Lift up your feet and slide them into the stirrups. You can do this one at a time or at the same time if you are feeling balanced and co-coordinated. Your feet should lightly rest in the stirrups with the widest part of your foot. Your heels should be angled, but not pressed down.

Check Your Position
Looking down and check that you cannot see your toe or your heel. Your feet in the stirrups should be pointing in the same direction as your knee that is lying, but not excessively gripping, the knee roll of the saddle. Don’t let your ankles cave in, or swivel so your toes are pointing in

Holding the Reins
Pick up the reins, one in each hand, or if Western riding, with both reins in one hand while the other rests along your thigh. The rein end that is attached to the horse’s bit should be coming out under your little finger, with the buckle or loose end coming out past your thumb and forefinger.

Fingertip Control
Hold your hands at about a 30 degree angle to the ground with your fingers closed around the rein in a relaxed fist. Holding your hand upright or too flat decreases your flexibility and strength. Some people hold the reins between the baby and ring fingers—either way is okay.

Perfect Posture
Sit tall and relaxed with your shoulders back. Don’t stiffen your back and try not to slouch—bad posture is as much a problem when riding as when walking or running.

Tall in the Saddle
Look up and past your horse’s ears. Looking down stiffens the spine and causes your horse to feel like he is carrying a heavier load.

Practice Makes Perfect
Smile, breathe and be patient as your body uses new muscles and develop awareness. Practice does make perfect, so expect to correct yourself frequently as you ride until your 'perfect seat' becomes perfectly natural.

Tips:
Don’t jam your feet too far into the stirrup. You should be able to take your feet out without too much struggle.

Ideally the angle made by your shin and thigh bone should be no more than 100 degrees and no less than 90 degrees.

If you are nervous or tense don’t forget to breathe. Your horse will pick up any tension and be less likely to want to stand while you practice getting your position.

As you hold the reins your arms will be hanging relaxed at your sides, your elbows close to but not touching your body, and your hands slightly below your navel. Ideally your thumbs will be about six or seven inches apart.

How can I convince someone that horse riding is a good thing for me?
Convincing Parent
Convincing Parent
age 12

The best way to convince your parents is to show them your maturity by NOT asking them again for at least ONE WEEK. At the end of one week (7 days), ask them again & when they say NO, do not beg, cry, or keep asking WHY. Accept their answer & respect their decisions & it is very possible that your parents will REWARD you with an unexpected gift. Whatever it is, be greatful & happy, as this is how you show maturity to your parents. You need self control BEFORE you get onto a horse.

Please help! I have joined teh horse riding club of my school, and i need to know what sort of clothes are best for horse riding. The most comfortable! Horse rding is horrid for itchy legs!

Get a proper pair of jodhpurs, because riding in jeans is horrible. You get bruises and rashes from the rubbing and any metal clips etc. Or, wear soft trousers. Also, hard hats should be supplied but if they're not- get one! Its the single most important piece of equipment, and trust me, they work. Horka hats are good. Flat shoes and a loose t shirt are fine, unless you decide you want to take riding seriously, in which case you can buy boots and stuff at a later stage. Enjoy your riding….

I started horse riding at when I was 18 and have been doing it for about a year now.I really wish I had started when I was younger.Does starting later disadvantage you in anyway?

No it doesn't. I coach people of all ages ( from 6 - 60) and can say that it makes a difference. I have had both younger and older riders that show a lot of talent and some of them are even competing in showjumping and dressage. All you need is hard work, a good coach, a good horse of course and a goal to strive to. My freind started riding when he was 30 and today he rides for his country competing on an international level in showjumping. My advice is to read up on horses as much as possible, attend any seminars that you can. A lot can be learned by observing so watch when somebody is training so try to pull out as much useful info as you can. Do not think that starting at an early age is such an advantage, a child doesn't absorb so much technical knowledge as an older rider, you can already understand the importance of a lot of terms used by your coach, while a child still has to learn those things. So there you go, aim high and good luck!

P.S. Try to organise a small group of people with the same level of riding and get in contact with your national equestrian federation to see if there are possibilities to have a pro coach hold a 3-4 day coaching session, with classroom lessons and riding lessons. We do it very often, we all split the costs of organizing such a thing and our federation is happy to help. This is a very good way to improve your riding and you will see different mehods of training. Who knows? Maybe they chose you to help them on further courses.

My horse-riding instructor always says I need to relax my legs so they don't tense up but I try to relax but nothing seems to happen, so how can I relax especially when I go into a canter because my legs rise up and fall out of the stirrups?
I love horses but I am not always that confident around them.

How long have you been riding?

Basically the only way you get better is practice, practice, practice.

Having your instructor tell you to relax your legs is a great way to learn too. You have to recondition your body so it knows the proper way to ride and thats what you are seeing.

If I were giving you lessons, I might take your feet out of the stirrups at a walk and trot too, to help you learn more balance.

Just give yourself time, it never happens overnight. You will get there.