Horse riding is for everyone

Horse riding has been a popular sport and recreational activity for decades and can be enjoyed by all individuals, including those with disabilities. Unlike other sports and activities, horse riding is not something that many people would associate as suitable for people with disabilities but there are many organisations and stables that are trained to help riders experience all of the benefits.

Individuals who take up horse riding, can expect to experience a number of benefits; enjoyment, achievement and even therapy depending on the riders requirements. It can be of particular benefit to those with disabilities and those who require help gaining confidence and building strong relationships. The warmth of the horse combined with its 3D movements, helps the rider relax and improve their posture, balance and coordination. The rider’s core stability would also be strengthened over time. Another benefit of horse riding is that it offers an element of risk; which is often denied to people who have been affected by a serious illness or accident. It also offers those with progressive diseases and congenital illnesses the opportunity to keep active and mobile and experience a sense of freedom.

Therefore, whether you’re an individual who is recovering from an accident or illness or you have a disability, horse riding is for you too. Before you start, you will need to look for a local riding school that has trained instructors and then head down to your local sports retailer and invest in a horse riding helmet, riding boots, jodhpurs and a body protector; then you’re ready to go. 

RIDERS SAFETY GUIDE WHEN WITH THEIR HORSE

Though you believe and know your horses are well behaved, there will be a time of misbehaving as they are animals even humans misbehave. As horses are prey animals, they have the ability to react quickly and out-run a predator. This is one of many keys to their survival in the wild. This instinct remains strong in domestic horses. The calmest horse or smallest pony has the potential to hurt someone if it is startled or scared. Below are lists of some precautions for riders and owners.

Precaution for riders:

ü  Be calm and quiet when approaching a horse as sudden move can make it kick.

ü  When leading a horse with a rope, fold the end of the lead rope rather than looping it around your hand or wrist. You will avoid being dragged if the horse pulls away.

ü  Never approach any horse from behind no matter how familiar to you. Always approach towards the left shoulder.

ü  Wear appropriate clothing that can protect you from falling and being trodden on. Clothing such as:

·         Jodhpurs/breeches which provide comfort and help avoid rubs or sores.

·         Body protectors that fit comfortably and conform to the safety standard - level 3 protectors provide adequate protection.

·         Helmets that have harnesses and conform to the latest safety standards – BS EN 1384, PAS 015 etc.

·         Leather riding boots with small heel to prevent foot from slipping through the stirrup. Avoid wearing steel toed boots; they can cause injuries to your foot if stepped on by a horse.

·         High visibility clothing during dusk hours to reflect your presence to other road uses.

ü  Make sure you have the appropriate tack for the horse. Check that your saddle is in the right place before riding.

ü  Always be on the alert at all times.

Precaution for owners:

ü  Spend time learning about your horse and their communication methods.

ü  Speak and behave calmly in their presence. Shouting and yelling can aggravate your horse.

ü  Never stand behind your horse as this is their blind spot and they can kick you down.

ü  When grooming its tail, pull the tail gently over to one side.

ü  Do not squat or kneel under the horse to clean horse hooves. Always bend over so you can get out of the way quickly when the horse moves.

HORSE AND RIDER RELATIONSHIP

Horses live in the wild like most animals and travel around in herds to protect each other from predators. When a horse is domesticated, it is hard for it to adjust quickly because of its wild nature. Some of them might even think of us humans as predators, which could be true. They are hunted for parts and horses have no problem remembering all the horrible experiences, such as being hunted, because they can store information for 10years or more. So bearing this in mind, new horse owners and trainers should expect them to act stubborn and seem brainless.

Horses can be tamed when they are understood and believe they can trust the trainer. How do you gain their trust? A trainer will need to build a strong relationship with the horse by being very patient, understanding and spend quality time together. You will find out at this time that our horse can be as loyal as other domestic animals.

When humans have that good bond with horses, it’s like an extension of their behaviour in the wild. Since they value their own horse relatives, they are open to new, non-threatening friends. Their excellent memory capacity which they use for problem solving strategies allows them to remember their human friends even after long separation.

However, when the horse-human bond is established, there is one thing a trainer or owner needs to consider when trying to make the relationship stable; dominance. To dominate, you need to act like the alpha horse. The alpha horse makes decisions, it decides when to eat, walk, play and rest. Also the foundation of you being the alpha is important as it is something they will use to recognise you. Therefore it would be good to be in your full riding gear; horse riding boots, clothing and riding helmet when you approach them in the barn. The trainer should then communicate with the horse verbally and non-verbally from the moment he or she walks the horse out of the stalls. Dominance can be maintained if you display gestures which the horse can relate to, such as the movement of different body parts from time to time. When you are assured the horse recognises your leadership, you can then start to spend time with it in the field. The more time you spend around the pasture with the horse, the quicker the horse will view you as a friend and in turn will make it easier for you to train it.

In summary, if you feel that you are struggling to connect with your horse, these are the questions that you should ask yourself:

·         Do you observe your horse?

·         Do you honestly understand what they do naturally?

·         Do you practice acting like your horse to break down the language barrier?

·         Do you stay patient and positive when things don’t go as planned?

·         Do you spend time with your horse?

·         Do you practice being gentle and reinforce good behaviour with your horse?

When all the above questions are answered with a ‘yes’, the bond between you and your horse will not only help the horse but it will also aid you when training and riding the horse through the development of trust and confidence with the horse.

Be careful and enjoy the ride

Always ensure you personally go for your horse riding helmets in order to find the perfect fit. When I said 'Perfect fit' I meant perfect fit because loose helmet = no protection and too tight equals discomfort, an extra danger to the head during impact.



Horse intelligence

Horses are not just  built to display their accumulated  horsepower on the racetrack. They can do more than we thought. People believe that horses have a brain like the size of a walnut. The  size gave us the idea that they do not think, are not conditioned-response animals, have no sense of concept. Guess what? They have brains and are also sensitive just like  us.

They are known to be  independent animals  that like to be free and not smothered in small places. If you compare horses that are left in open field to those that are always in the stalls, they will possess different  behaviours. The stall-bound horses behaviour manifest in form of pacing around the stall, chewing on the walls, kicking  and biting in other to cope with stress. However, the horses on the open field will not show that kind of behaviour as they are not acting against their will. A proof that horses think.

Horses have different ways of showing that they can make use of their brains, for example, dressage. Dressage means training. It is one of the equestrian sports where the physical,  mental and athletic ability of the horses are tested. They are expected to perform at there own will, with minimal instructions  from the rider.

 According to researches done on horse intelligence, horses learn from :

·         Habituation:  This is where, after repeated exposure to a stimulus, the horse becomes used to it and its reaction disappears. While this may involve human interaction, it equally applies to anything in its paddock, such as wind, snow, or hail. Everything is important for their learning as it allow a horse to filter out non-vital information, enabling it to focus on more important things.

·         Desensitisation:  Hypersensitive animals can be desensitised by getting them used to the stimuli in increments. A trainer, for example, will introduce a bridle gradually to a horse, backing off if the horse shows an unfavourable response. If its done properly, a horse will learn to willingly accept gentle bridling. It is through both these forms of learning that a horse can be made familiar with major stress factors, such as gunfire.

·         Pavlovian conditioning: This is where a horse becomes conditioned to give a particular response. If  a trainer consistently use the word trot with the flick of a whip to get a horse to move to a trot, the horse will eventually respond to the verbal cue without the need for the whip.

·         Operant conditioning:  Horses are effective at this form of learning, and it is a standard part of training techniques. When a horse begins to learn the meaning of a new stimulus, its response is initially random. Through trial and error, it will offer the desired response.

So, if riders take time in training their horses to trot, piaffe, passage, flying changes, gaits and pirouette, then, they will find out that horse are elegant and can do more than just running. They can be calm, loose, attentive and flexible. At this stage, a dressage rider will feel save on the horse. They dress formally in white breeches and shirts, tie, black dressage coats, tall horse riding boots, bun and show bow.

Point to remember, everything with brain can think to certain level and can be trained for a purpose.

Types of horse riding boots

There are choices when it comes to finding the right and perfect riding boot. They come in different shapes, sizes, materials and style.

Rubber riding boots

Looking for riding boots on a budget? Then this is an option for you. Rubber riding boots are known to be waterproof which shouldn't be a surprise because it’s made with rubber. The rubber elements made it waterproof, durable, elastic, flexible and strong. All of these features prevent the boot from cracking, leaking and rooting.

However, there are negative aspects to its affordability. Firstly, it lacks the ability to breathe compared to other riding boots made with leather and synthetic materials. Incorporating the means of ventilation will affect its waterproof ability. They can also make the wearer uncomfortable when worn in hot weather resulting in blistered and sore feet. Finally, rubber riding boots are not as attractive as leather boots and they can easily scuff or fade overtime.  

Leather riding boots

Leather has been the traditional material for riding boots for years because it is known to be a prestigious material. Its natural qualities allow it to conform to the feet’s position in the boot and the style of riding after a long period of time.  Leather horse riding boots are naturally hardwearing and waterproof but unlike rubber boots, leather boots need to be cared for with treatments such as leather balsam. A well-treated pair of leather boots can last for many years. In addition, keeping the appearance of leather boots to a high standard requires regular polishing with a good-quality boot polish, which will prevent scuffing and keep the boots shiny and attractive.

Jodhpur boots

Jodhpur riding boots are short and ankle length, also known as paddock boots because they are suitable for day to day use in the yard and for riding. Taking into account the regular use of Jodhpur riding boots, they are manufactured with innovative cushioning technology in their sole and footbed for optimum comfort. Jodhpur riding boots are also made to accommodate gaiters or chaps turning it to a perfect material for hacking and schooling. They are not as expensive as leather riding boots.

Hunting boots

Hunting boot is a particular design of field boots which are traditional in fox hunting. The boot is made primarily with black leather. Its defining feature is the cuff at the top which is usually tan/brown. They are suitable for riders with ankle problems or those that suffer from swollen legs after riding because of the full zip to the rear.

                                                            Field boots

Field riding boots are commonly used at jumping events such as show jumping and cross country. They are high boots like the hunt boots but laced up to ankle level for preferred adjustment by the wearer. The ankle is highly flexed to allow riders to work with shorter stirrup.

Dress boots

Dress boots do not have lacing like the other field and hunt long riding boots. They are mostly used by dressage riders. The main feature of dress boot is the high styling on the outside which help keep the leg in place as well as giving it an artistic look.

These riding boots have their own advantages and disadvantages, whether long or short, rubber or leather. Choosing the best riding boot depends on individual’s needs, wants and desires.

Equestrian Sports without Breaking the Bank

Horse racing has been a popular sport. The recent summer games made more people develop an interest in the sport due to the performance of the teams. It wasn’t just the team that made an impact but how well groomed the horses and jockeys were.

On the other hand, there has been a misconception that it is an expensive sport. Do you think the same? You couldn’t be more wrong! As we all know, owning a horse is expensive but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any alternatives to ride one; which could be paying for lessons. There are also places where you can buy your clothing and equipment on a low a budget as well.

It’s not just specialist equestrian stores that can cater to your needs; the most affordable place to get kitted out is at the leading sports retailer SportsDirect.com where all the products are of high quality.                                                    

Such as:

Jodhpurs: they have a traditional, horse riding style cushioned seat, reinforced knee area and designed with contoured seams. It’s designed to keep a rider comfortable, not only when they seat on the saddle but whilst jumping and cantering. They are made as lightweight and heavyweight, zipped fly/buttoned waist with belt hoops.

Avanti horse riding boots: an ankle height leather boots with elasticated side inserts to make putting on and taking off easier. Its fitted with rubber moulded outsole, a treated leather at the upper layer of the boot providing quality to riding while your feet is kept warm and dry.    

Snowbee horse riding helmets : The Snowbee Classic Equestrian Riding Helmet has a classic look, with a small peak to the front. It also has a smooth matt finish to the hard, protective outer shell and textured panels to either side to finish off the look. This equestrian helmet benefits from an expanded polystyrene liner teamed with removable padding for comfort and protection as well as padded chin straps and a twist-adjuster strap to the rear to ensure a secure fit.

Snowbee whips and dressage, Questor horse clippers, fleece rug, saddle pads and many more. You will be amazed to hear that they are all at affordable prices.

It is time for you to get stuck in to that sport you have being longing for; now that you know where to go for your kit. Don’t forget you need a horse first; you can always pay for affordable training sessions.