I have met lots of riders who have come back to riding after many years, are complete adult beginners or practically taught themselves to ride and are on a quest to learn some schooling techniques. Regardless of how you've ended up riding (again) you can benefit with some tips on how to get started.
First and foremost I wouldn't recommend going out and splurging cash on shiny and expensive equestrain wear. You need to try before you buy. You need to start off by finding the right stables for you.
Finding the right Riding Stables
- Ask around for recommendations and don't feel like you have to stick with the first one you find. I find that price reflects quality and if a yard offers what appears to be cheap lessons they may come at a cost for example less experienced staff or no schooling facilities.
- Think about what you want to get out of your riding. Do you really want to learn to ride in a thorough and meticulous method or do you just want to get out in the countryside for a hack. Or more likely something inbetween. Some yards are in the most fantastic locations for hacking and leisure riding but do not have lessons on offer. These tend to be more tourist friendly type stables.
- Try out a hack first. If it's a decent yard they will probably assess you first. Don't fret about this, they'll just pop you on a horse and ask you to walk around the school. If you're a complete beginner you won't be able to do this and that's what they are checking.
- Start off by riding in comfortable clothing such as jogging bottoms (or at least trousers with no inside seam to avoid rubbing), a top with sleeves and some sort of sturdy boot with a slight heel (the walking type not the stilletto type).
Becoming a regular
- Once you've found a yard you like see if you can book in for a group lesson and pre-book in bulk for a discount. Both are cheaper options and it's great meeting other beginners.
- Make it a regular thing, once a week is a good place to start so your mind and your body don't forget what you've learnt. Ideally aim to book in on a day in the week where you are less busy so that you can reserve energy and put your all into your lesson. Be prepared to be flexible and book in plenty of time as lesson slots get filled up quickly at a good yard. Saturdays and Sundays are always very busy so if you can book in on a week day or evening to avoid the crowds of kids.
- Stretch. Before and after. Like any new sport you're going to discover muscles you don't usually use. Lunges are key here. My top tip is to have a hot bath as soon as you get home and keep moving. Don't worry as soon as you become a regular rider that saddle sore does leave you.
Visualise your progress
- Ask your instructor or a friend to film you on one of your first lessons and once a month from then on. I wished I'd started doing this sooner. You then see for yourself what your instructor means when they point out corrections to you. It can be difficult to visualise what your body is doing and filming can help you see problem areas and highlights your progress from month to month.
- Give yourself one thing per lesson that you want to work on and tell your instructor at the beginning of the lesson. If you review your own progress you will become a rider who is more aware of what they are trying to achieve.
Horses for courses
- Local argricultural college's and BHS approved stables/centres will offer loads of part time and short courses. Not only the BHS Stage exams but everything from Equine massage to Stable Management.
Don't just sit on the horse
- You'll soon discover that there is more to riding then sitting on a horse you really need to ride the horse and be a leader to this amazing animal but there is also more to horses than riding! If you can spend time at your yard and learn how to groom, tack up (put on saddle/bridle), muck out etc etc. Many yards offer trainning in learning the basics. This will help you understand horses and there is a great joy to be had in preparing your horse for your lesson.
Have fun!
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