Training · #riding

Training guides tagged “riding” from the Apex Equine resource center.

• What really happens in your first riding lesson — Spoiler: you probably won't canter off into a sunset. Here's the honest play-by-play of a first lesson, from the moment you park your car to the moment you peel off your boots.
• How to mount a horse without pulling the saddle (or your trainer's hair out) — Hauling yourself up by the cantle twists the saddle, sours the horse's back, and looks rough. A mounting block and five clean steps fix all of it.
• Seat, leg, hand: the position fundamentals nobody outgrows — The Olympic dressage rider and the nervous beginner are working on the exact same thing: an independent seat, a steady leg, and quiet hands. Here's why position is the whole game.
• Finding your first balanced canter — The first canter feels fast and unbalanced because your seat hasn't learned the motion yet. Here's how to set it up so the gait helps you instead of throwing you around.
• The trail rider's skill set: more than just sitting there — People assume trail riding is the easy, lazy end of the sport. The riders who never have a wreck know it's the opposite: an arena with no walls and no warning.
• Getting back on: riding after a bad fall — The old advice to just get back on can do real harm. Fear after a fall is your brain doing its job. Here's how to rebuild trust in yourself and your horse, at your own pace.