I just taught a “beginner” lesson. 

And If you are instructor to, you will find this very helpful.

or

If you are also a rider and need help there will be some interesting tidbits in here for you to digest.

After working with people who are getting ready to show and preparing for jumping tests, teaching a basic rider position lesson made me realize how far my teaching and coaching has come. 

I can pick out the root issue and correct it quickly.  I’m pretty proud about that. To see “new” riders be safe and comfortable.

AND

Give that rider exercises they can do on (and off) the horse to improve.

Don’t get me wrong, this person had some experience riding and even had been out hunting so I was surprised to hear the answers to a couple of questions I asked them.

Question 1 – Why did you decide to take lessons?

Because I am afraid.

What are you afraid of?

Getting hurt. 

Question 2  Why are you riding if you are afraid?

Because it looks like fun and I want to be safe when I ride.

The discussion continued along these lines until I decided how to progress.

Without a reference where your student is coming from –

AND

Where they want to go –

 you really don’t know how to proceed.

To answer the question where do you start? – 

Well of course as Julie Andrews says, “to start at the very beginning a very good place to start”.

And

For me that means starting with the base of support for your position, the legs. Get more on how to establish your base of support check out this article here where I go over exercises you can do RIGHT NOW to help.

But this rider wanted more than just being better he wanted to be safe.

Which is really one in the same. So I framed everything about being safe and improving.

Tack Check

And it started with the stirrups.

They had some fancy “swivel” stirrups. They were beautiful and comfortable looking. The swivel at the top so the stirrup leather would remain flat and prevent sore ankles and knees. 

An added bonus.

However, when I checked, the width of the stirrups were a bit narrow for this person’s boots. So, when they tried to take their feet out of the stirrups, the widest part of their boots would get momentarily stuck in the rubber sides of the “irons”.

Not good.

Not safe.

Pro Tip – When picking out your stirrups, have around ¼ inch clearance on each side of your foot. Between your foot and the stirrup bar. This will prevent your foot from getting stuck in the irons if something untoward happens.

Riding in the winter? – riding in winter boots? Check your stirrup width with your winter boots.

Easy exercises – 

Exercise 1 – Take your feet out- put your feet – in the stirrups.

Remove your feet from your stirrups. 

This is a necessary first step for all new riders. Actually being able to find where

And

“How to” put your feet correctly in the stirrups.

And
The actual “how to” remove your feet from your stirrups.

Nothing puts fear in a rider, especially a novice rider, than losing a stirrup. 

Most riders need their pedals for security and because this particular rider had identified FEAR as their reason for taking a lesson, I addressed their concerns directly.

It is important:

1. If things go bad and you would like to (or have to) get off your horse in a hurry – think that your horse has slipped and fell –  you need to be able to get your feet out in a hurry.
2. If, for whatever reason, you lose your stirrup/s you will know where your stirrups are and will be able to find them pronto.
3. It’s a perfect exercise to teach riders how to move their legs without bothering the horse and without moving the entirety of their bodies.

We began at the halt – feet out – feet in.

Remember when I said, the stirrup should be about a ¼ inch wider than the riders boots? 

Well

This rider, in order to get their foot out, had to bend their knee so much and then shake their foot, vigorously, to get the stirrup free. 

– again – not safe.

Easy exercise 2 – drop reins pick up reins

Again – an easy and necessary exercise for novice riders.

Once again this rider had expressed FEAR as an overarching theme for their reasons for lessons. 

What better way to quell those fears than to reinforce the basics that so many instructors forget?

This exercise is of considerable value for new riders that are children. 

For children to pick up and drop and pick up the reins again is a motor skill that some young people just need to practice. Their tiny hands seem to fumble with the reins.

Now for adult, novice riders.

It may seem like a waste of time, but when you are riding and your reins slip through your hands … you … NEED… to … get … your … reins … back – 

PRONTO

And

You need to get them back without disturbing your riding position.

No creeping up the reins.

Take a firm hold and slide your hand up the reins.

No 

More

Creeping

Your

Hands

Up

The

Reins

.

If you are looking for more exercises take a look at these topics right here.

Other related topics – 

• Equitation is more than Heels Down
• How to Sit Straight in the Saddle

Get more U N I Q U E ideas like this that will help your riding and training

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