Horse riding for beginners: your first lesson, what to wear and choosing a riding school
TUREFF• •0
Learning to ride is one of those things many people put off for years, assuming they are too old, too unfit or too nervous. Riding schools teach adult beginners all the time. Here is what your first lessons will be like and how to find a good place to learn.
Finding a riding school
The single most important choice is where you learn. A well-run school with suitable horses and qualified instructors makes riding safer and far more enjoyable.
What to look for:
- Approval or licensing: in the UK, the British Horse Society (BHS) has a directory of BHS-approved riding centres, which are inspected for standards of horse care, instruction and safety. Riding establishments in Britain generally need a licence from the local authority as well. Elsewhere, look for the national equestrian federation's approved centres.
- Qualified instructors: ask what qualifications the instructors hold.
- Suitable horses: beginners need calm, experienced schoolmasters, not young or excitable horses.
- Safe facilities: an enclosed arena for early lessons, tidy yards and horses that look well cared for.
- Insurance: the school should have appropriate insurance; ask if you are unsure.
Visit before you book. Watch a lesson, look at the horses and see how staff treat both riders and animals.
What your first lesson involves
Most schools start beginners with a private or semi-private lesson of around half an hour to an hour. You can expect:
- being asked your height, weight and any experience or health issues, so they can match you with a suitable horse
- being fitted with a riding hat if you do not have your own
- learning to mount, usually from a mounting block
- walking on a lead rein or the lunge, where the instructor controls the horse while you learn balance
- how to hold the reins, stop, start and steer
- perhaps a first try at trotting
Many schools have a maximum rider weight for their horses. This is about the horse's welfare, and an honest answer helps them find a horse that can carry you comfortably.
What to wear
- Riding hat: essential. Schools lend them, but it must fit properly and meet a current safety standard. Never ride without one.
- Footwear: boots with a smooth sole and a small heel, so your foot cannot slide through the stirrup. Trainers and walking boots with chunky treads are unsafe.
- Trousers: comfortable, stretchy trousers without thick inside seams. Jeans can rub. Jodhpurs or riding tights are made for it.
- Top layers: fitted clothing that will not flap and startle the horse, and layers you can remove.
- Gloves: help grip the reins and protect your hands.
- Avoid: dangling jewellery, scarves and loose hair.
Some schools also lend body protectors and may require them for certain activities.
How to progress
- Book regular lessons. Weekly lessons build balance much faster than occasional ones.
- Try a lunge lesson. Riding without reins on the lunge is one of the best ways to develop a secure seat.
- Learn on the ground too. Many schools offer stable management sessions, and in the UK the BHS has a series of progressive stages for riding and horse care.
- Do not rush to hack out or jump. Hacking (riding out on paths and bridleways) is wonderful, but wait until you can control the horse at walk and trot.
Coping with nerves
Feeling nervous is normal. Tell your instructor; a good one will adjust the lesson. Breathing out slowly and relaxing your shoulders makes a surprising difference, because horses respond to tension in the rider.
Are you thinking of booking a first lesson, or did you start riding as an adult? Share your questions and stories in the comments.