Sunday, April 29, 2012

How to Prepare for Your Horse Riding Lessons

By Heather Toms


The very last thing you should be is stuck on where to start if you have made up your mind that you wish to take up horse riding classes. There's really no end to the resources you can take advantage of.

You need to begin by getting yourself an expert riding instructor. You'll find one by checking local directory listings and yellow pages. You can look up a good instructor on the net. You can consult friends who are riders. You can attend a horse show, contact equine clubs and associations. You can drop in on the nearest stable and speak to the in house instructor or if they don't have one, get some references.

You should not be shy about posing questions in your quest for a good instructor. You have got the right to expect maximum price for your money. You ask potential instructor's for their certifications, accreditations and references. You need to get some details on their horse-related history, like how long have they been riding, how long have they been training and such like. You also ask about their specialities, since you want to make sure that if you have got an interest in a specific discipline, you get an instructor with suitable experience. You ask about how many students they have handled so far and how many they have on hand now. Do they take private tuition?

Once you have shortlisted one or two finalists, you find out about the stables they're linked with. It is important to understand the quality of enterprise their names are linked with.

Give the stables a thorough inspection. Check for cleanness and other signs of caring upkeep. Take a look at the health of the horses there, and if you run into any other regular clients, get some feedback from them. Other specific items to check off are absence of clutter and are the students correctly clad (including safety helmets and appropriate boots). See whether the student groups seem to be too large to be easily handled by one trainer, and if the students all appear to be at the same ability level or different levels.

On the whole, it is also simple to sense whether the stable, its personnel, horses and students are all having a very good time or not just by keeping your eyes and ears wide open.

Once you have done with your instructor and stable, you progress on to the next step: proper equipment. Often , your instructor will be well placed to give you everything you need, making it needless for you to go and get your own stuff. However , as you progress with your lessons, it's a smart move that you get your own gear and attire. You'll find hardware of fantastic quality by asking around. Ask your instructor, fellow students, the stable operators about any sales they're mindful of. Consult your local papers and visit some tack shops. You want to ensure you get tack that is in unspoilt condition, with leather items properly oiled and conditioned. All tack items must be eminently usable right away on purchase.




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