When learning how to ride a horse it is important the animal remains attentive, be it your own horse of one you are simply borrowing from a riding school. If you fail to keep the horses attention during horseback riding lessons, you will find little benefit from one lesson to the next.

Horses used in riding schools often doze during lessons, as the routine is frequently unvarying because repetition is the way to learn. It’s especially hard for beginner riders to change the sequence of movements while they’re still concentrating on how to give the aids correctly and steering the horse.

However, a major component of learning to ride is to gain the ability to change the routine sufficiently to prevent the horse from dozing off during the session. Luckily, several techniques exists which will help maintain the horse’s attention and focus.

Choose the exercises within the scope of your abilities and use them to make riding more interesting for both of you.

If you’re taking horseback riding lessons ask your instructor if you can use these warm-up exercises appropriate to your level before the lesson starts. You might even have her use these for the whole class!

1. Walk

Take your horse and walk it with a light contact around the arena on both reins. After this take it on a 20 meter circle with a strong contact, begin with the easiest side. Get the horse to walk in long strides followed by short strides, then long strides to finish.

Ease the pace prior to beginning the path in the opposite direction. Prior to turning the horse around, take him for a straight line walk for a full horse length. Request the horse to again switch between long and short strides.

When doing this you should notice that the horse is more alert, because it is being forced to pay attention to keep up with your movements.

Now ride figures of eight, keeping a steady rhythm and concentrating on smooth transitions between left and right bend. Remember to walk one horse’s length before changing direction, and prepare your horse properly for the new bend.

2. Trot Exercises

The above exercises can also be performed in trot, and are an excellent way to prevent your horse from getting ’stuck’ in one direction and leaning on one rein.

Transition between walk and trot continually. The change between walk to trot should be very smooth, work on getting it as smooth as possible as this means the horse is really paying attention to you.

Riders of a more advanced level may perform trotting serpentines in the arena in three equal loops. Riding from one longer side to the other one, request that the horse complete a couple of walking strides prior to ramping back up to a trot. The horse will begin to anticipate your aids, which is a positive thing, though you should make use of your legs to assure that you are always moving forward. It is important that the horse not become anxious as he begins to expect a shift downward. Therefore, you do not want to consistently request walking at the same spot.

3. Canter Exercises

Lengthen through the long sides and collect the horse when coming to the short side. Transition between canter and trot, then back to canter, doing this keeps the attention of the horse, so will going in 20 meter circles at different stride lengths.

All the above exercises help your horse become attentive because you’re varying the routine and suppling his body, making it easier for him to do as you ask. If you make your horse’s task more pleasant for him, he’ll make your horseback riding lessons more pleasant for you.

On his how to horse ride website, Milton provides simple and comprehensive lessons including video instructions. Learn how to ride a horse the safe and the confident way.

Tags: Horses