How should I build confidence in horse riding?
While I generally agree with the answer that said "Find a qualified riding instructor. Learn the basics first, the rest will come naturally", I think it is hard to answer this question without knowing more about the questioner, Is he/her just starting out with horses, How old is he/she, Does he/she have issues relating to confidence generally?, etc. I recognize that my suggestions below are a bit of a ramble, and not my most brilliant Quora answer, but here goes.Good, competent instruction is key, and it is a two-way street, meaning that you need to be a good, focused student to get the most out of your lesson program. My daughter events at the Prelim level, and one day she mentioned to me that she didn't really think she ever wanted to move up to Intermediate, because "Dad, It's getting scary.", so I'm not sure that confidence issues can't surface at most any stage. That got me thinking, and what I came up with was two-fold: You need to develop confidence in yourself, and you need to develop confidence in your horse. Riding is a partnership between rider and horse, and a rider and his/her horse must develop confidence in each other. That comes from time in the saddle practicing things that relate to your riding goals, whatever those are. Developing confidence in yourself is also in part a function of practicing and building up riding skills, but it also may relate to much more general factors regarding how confident a person is generally. The latter is not something I'm particularly competent to talk about.Just as people are different, so are horses. My best advice, I think, is to try to get out of your own head and focus on getting to know your horse. What does your horse like to do, what does it feel comfortable doing? Exploring that, I think, will enable you to build confidence in your riding, in part by letting you take some of the pressure off of yourself as you work with your horse, and in part by giving you the time in the saddle that, with the benefit of a good instructor, leads more or less naturally to better riding. Subject to encountering new challenges, riding better, and learning to trust your horse, should lead to more confident riding.
Is it bad to hold the saddle horn while in a trot or canter or even a full out run while on your horse?
If you really want to learn to ride a horse then you would need to not hold onto the saddle horn. You'll never develop the seat you need if you keep holding it. I have grabbed it at times when the horse was spooked by something, especially far from the barn where I sure wouldn't want to walk back. But most of my riding is bareback which helps tremendously in developing balance. One thing too about holding onto the horn is that you tend to lean or pull yourself forward when you do and therefore you are not even sitting on your seat bones in the first place.
How can i stay on my horse bareback? how can i gain trust again? 10 points best answer?
it could be that your horse knows that your nervous when you get back on her after that scary encounter before. I would suggest getting on her bareback and having someone walk you around, it sounds lame, but trust me you will not have the fear of falling if someone has your horse by a leadline. Once you overcome this, work your way up to having someone lung your horse (you choose the speed) while you are on her bareback. This will give you and your horse confidence. Once you have mastered that, ride in a indoor arena bareback, with supervision, until you feel confortable enough to ride by yourself. Eventually the horse will have your trust and you will have the same for the horse. This process may take awhile, but trust me it will pay off in the end. Oh and if you decide to move outdoors repeat the same process as you did indoors.
How to ride the canter on a horse with quick, choppy gait?
the school horse i ride every other week is an ex-racehorse thoroughbred mare. she's 12, and she's new to the barn, so my sister and i are helping my instructor kind of develop her into a suitable school horse. (my sister and i take turns riding her each week, while the other actually rides a school horse.) the last time i rode her, we decided to try her at a canter. she naturally wants to go really fast, so i have to work at slowing her down, and she is a bit out of control at the canter. i lose my stirrups a lot and i can feel my seat leaving the saddle more than in another horse's canter. i'm not an extremely experienced rider, so i don't expect to be perfect and ride every horse really well, but do you have any tips for being able to keep my seat stable when this horse canters? thanks so much!! NO RUDE ANSWERS, please!
How do you gain a horse's trust? What is the right way to approach a horse?
Contrary to what many people believe, a horse who senses you are fearful is not trying to take advantage of that. Their survival through the ages has depended on that sense, and fleeing, ASAP.Also, very few riders are really ever "thrown". They get off balance, fall off, and to save face make that claim. Most horses are very upset when they lose their rider.The neutral point for approaching a horse is the shoulder. Straight on, whether from head or rear, will seem like predation. An approach from the left (near) side is what they are most used to.I wouldn't worry about the horse taking you over a cliff. He has a fine sense of self-preservation.Any horse you rent from a reputable guide knows his job and will be gentle.Request a bomb-proof horse. Guides are actually grateful to have someone say truthfully that they are a beginner.The problems are with people who claim to know more than they really do.Finally remember this: They. Don't. Eat. Meat.
I am a medium experience rider riding my first young (7year) rented of the track thoroughbred - What is your advice on dealing with a skittish horse?
Skittish is a very broad term. If your horse is straight off the track he may still be super fit and have a lot of energy. Probably he was never taught more than the rudimentary skills necessary for racing. Or maybe he is frightened of things he's never encountered on the track. The problem with many fresh off the track horses is multi-faceted: they need some time to mentally and physically decompress, and they need to be properly trained as riding horses. If you haven't already done so have a thorough vet exam to see if there are any lameness or muscle soreness issues. A couple of months of turnout is never a bad idea. Then start him as you would any green baby, step by step. His previous training may allow faster progress in some areas, but will require some reconditioning in others. Don't skip steps because “he already knows this”. He knows it in the context of a racehorse, not a riding horse. If you build your training foundation properly you can end up with a willing partner that is a true pleasure to ride. Good luck and enjoy the process.