I have this question pretty frequently, about what my riders will learn in their first few lessons. While all programs are slightly different, most will probably be about the same in the way the first lesson or two will look. The following is what you can expect when you come to learn from me at Neighborly Equine.
I expect my students to not only learn about riding, but to also learn about the prep and clean up involved in horseback riding. Horses are living beings and they deserve to be treated as such. So at the first lesson, and every lesson thereafter, my students are required to help in the grooming and tacking up of the horse. They learn how to use the various grooming tools, and they also learn about the equipment we use and why we use it, as well as how to put it on the horse. If the student is an older child or an adult I expect them to be more hands on with this process, but for younger students who are shorter and can't reach the horses back or lift equipment I just explain what to do and do it for them. As they get older, then they are able to help more and more.
Every student is required to wear a helmet. This is something I do not waiver on, nor do I allow a student to bring their own helmet unless it is a helmet specifically designed for horseback riding. Bike helmets are the most common helmets that people ask about. While I understand the convenience of using a helmet that you know fits your head comfortably, bike helmets just don't offer the kind of protection that horseback riding helmets are rated for. This is why I provide a helmet for my students who don't have one, but don't want to invest in a helmet before they know if they will be making a long term commitment to learning.
When the horse is ready to ride, I then will teach my student how to lead the horse to the arena and we will head over to ride. It may take a few minutes to actually get into motion when we get to the arena. Once we are there and the gate is shut, the student will then need to learn how to correctly mount. Believe it or not, this can be much more difficult than you think! Once my student is in the saddle, we look at the stirrups and adjust them if needed. Then before we start up we will talk about position and posture. Some students find that the motion of the horse is fairly easy to follow without losing their balance but some will have trouble with the concept of isolating their hips from their upper body. We then talk about basic commands. If my student is a child I will usually start them out with the horse on a lead rope so that I am able to help out while they accustom themselves the movement, but for children with former riding experience I will often start them out with me just walking next to the horse but not on a line. Once the student grasps the basic concept of stop and go and basic position, I thin teach about steering. The first lesson will likely only consist of walking. This is because it takes time to learn the basics that will keep you safe when you speed up to a trot and eventually a canter. Advanced students can expect to do more depending on their skill level as I determine how much they know. When you move faster you have less time to think about what you need to do next so it is important to know what you are doing at a walk before you advance to a trot. To help learn basic riding skills, I use games and patterns to help master steering, stopping, and going.
At the very end of the lesson, if the student is feeling fairly comfortable I will usually offer to let them do a little trot on a lunge line where they can just hold on and I have control of the horse. When we stop then the student is taught the correct and safe way to dismount and I offer them the opportunity to lead their horse back to the barn themselves. They help to take off tack and get the horse put away, which sometimes involves blankets, brushing, or other small things to help make sure the horse is comfortable and won't become sore.
It will usually seem like a kind of slow start to yours or your child's riding, but the first lesson or few lessons are super important to learn all the necessary skills to then be able to progress. Once students master the basics, they can expect to improve quickly!
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