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Being a riding instructor can sometimes be a frustrating occupation. Some students take forever to master what you may think of as a basic skill, but then we all started knowing absolutely nothing. It is always easier to teach children to ride than adults because they are more willing to take the risk of falling off and hurting themselves than adults are. They also tend to think it’s funny when they do exercises that make them face backwards, whereas adults tend not to see the humor. So if you are stuck for new ways to teach adults and kids the basics of horsemanship then read on.
Exercises on horseback are a vital ingredient to learning to ride. Get the pupil to do them at the halt, then the walk. This will teach them balance, as well as confidence both of which are of extreme importance. Some of these exercises can include Round The World. In this the pupil turns around on the horse, so that he is facing sideways then backwards then to the other side ending up facing the right way again, effectively traveling three hundred and sixty degrees on horseback. You will find that many children will fall off when doing this at the walk but they won’t hurt themselves and will probably find it very amusing. Another common exercise is doing ‘Scissors’. The person leans forward over the pommel of the saddle, swings his legs forwards, backwards and up towards the tail and in mid air crosses them to end up facing backwards. They can then do it again to face forwards though it is harder this way as there is no pommel to hold onto and the cantle of the saddle may hurt their stomachs. Again this is much harder at the walk. Windmaling the arms, and dropping one hand off the reins will all help to teach the pupil about control without them realizing what they are learning.
An exercise that will teach the pupil to use his legs, instead of his reins to control direction and speed of his mount, is to ride without reins. This is an invaluable skill than can and should be used throughout the riding career. Simply knot the reins on the horses’ neck and get the pupil to stop using his seat and legs, as well as do circles and jumping exercises. When jumping either get the pupil to extend his arms by his side (airplane style), and keep his head up. Should he look down the chances he will fall off will be that much greater, and looking down, or to the side (ducking) is a bad habit many top riders fall into.
Another great way to learn balance and control is to ride without stirrups. Trotting is always the hardest gait to get used to without stirrups with cantering being extremely easy. Encourage the pupils to do a rising trot using their thighs and seat instead of their lower legs. Remember though, it is extremely tiring and so should not go on for too long. Jumping without stirrups is something all show jumpers will have to learn to do at some stage. How many times do we lose stirrups while in the ring, and have to complete the course with only one stirrup? Being proficient at riding with no stirrups is vital to all disciplines from dressage to cross-country. Do exercises, which include lines, bounce jumps, and dropping reins over jumps as well. Balance and a quiet seat will all be a learnt during this exercise. In fact a sitting trot with or without stirrups is always a good way to teach them to control their seats and stay quiet in the saddle.
Should any of your pupils have a problem with sitting up straight then try this handy tip. Put a crop behind their back and through their arms at the elbow. This will encourage them to keep their hands quiet, release a tight hold on the horse’s mouth, and make them sit up straight.
When a rider is only learning the tricks to controlling his horse or pony, then doing circles, figure eights and serpentines are all vital to his education. But vary them a little. Get them to begin with the standard three loop serpentine, for example, then get them to do a six loop and then a ten loop and so on. Split the lesson into two groups and make one begin their figure eight in the top of the school, and the other in the bottom half, then get them to pass each other. These will assist them in learning to control the horse using their hands, legs and seats. Many beginners are too reliant on their hands and doing some of the above exercises can help reduce this dependence.
Allow them to do some basic dressage tests as a motivator to learn new things and don’t be afraid to put them on the lunge, and do lunge work with them. This will include exercises at the walk, trot and canter, as well as removal of reins and stirrups. Trotting poles, and bounce jumps as well as basic jumping (over a small upright, then stop in a straight line, turn round and back over the upright), will all help to teach a novice to jump. As will trotting and cantering in a jumping position. (Slightly elevated from the saddle, leaning forward with the hands halfway up the neck). Again this can be murder on the legs so try and only use it when they aren’t listening to you.
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