> Learn to Ride

Exercise for Horseback Riding
Exercise for Horseback Riding has suggestions for getting and staying fit for horseback riding. Learn why fitness is important and find exercises to benefit your horseback riding.

Learn How to Ride Bareback
Riding a horse bareback is a great way to develop muscle and balance. Learn the proper seat and techniques for riding your horse bareback at all gaits. Find bareback equitation tips for greater safety and security. Learn to ride your horse without a saddle.

Keeping Your Heels Down
Here is why you should keep your heels down, how to keep your heels down and what to do if you are having difficulties. Heels down is one of the first things you'll hear from your coach or instructor. Here's how to keep your heels down correctly.

Learn to Ride E-course List
This page lists all of the articles included in the Learn Basic Horseback Riding Skills E-course. Learn how to lead, tie, bridle, saddle, do up a Western cinch, walk, halt, turn, trot or jog, canter or lope, and ride safely in an arena or on the trail.

Tips for Riding at Night
Safety tips for riding at night. Here's a few suggestions that may increase your safety when riding in the dark.

Tips for Riding Along Roadsides
Tips for keeping you safe when you horseback ride along roadsides. Safety recommendations for riding your horse or pony along roads or highways.

Get Ready To Ride Email Course
If you want to learn to horseback ride here is an eight week course designed to introduce you to basic riding skills. Of course you won't learn to ride in eight weeks, and a competent coach is the best way to learn. But this introduction will help you understand what you'll need to know. Sign up is free and you'll receive a lesson in your inbox once a week for eight weeks.

Dismount
Learn how to safely dismount a horse after riding. This how-to describes how to get off of a horse from an English or Western saddle.

How to Mount a Horse
Learn how to mount a horse safely. Step-by-step instructions with photos help you learn how to safely get on a horse with either a Western or English saddle.

Small and Standard Dressage Arena Letters and Dimensions
Learn how to mark small and standard dressage arenas with measurements and placement of letters. Learn the dimensions of a dressage ring and how to place the letters around the outside.

How to Fall Off Your Horse
Learn how to fall of a horse or pony with greater safety. Avoid falls, and prevent injury if they do occur with these tips.

Learn How to Do an Emergency Dismount
Learn how to do an emergency dismount to avoid a fall or being taken into a dangerous situation by your horse. Learn the steps to getting off quickly while your horse is walking, trotting or cantering.

How To Do An Emergency Stop
Learn to do an emergency stop if your horse bolts or runs away. Here’s how to stop when you feel your horse getting out of control.

How to Neck Rein Your Horse
Learn to cue your horse to turn left or right with neck reining. How to neck rein.

How to Turn Your Horse Left or Right with Direct Reining
How to cue your horse or pony to turn using direct or plough reining. Learn to steer your horse holding a rein in each hand.

How to Canter or Lope
Learn how to cue your horse or pony to canter or lope, and how to ride a canter or lope. Learn how to use your legs, hands and body while cuing and riding the lope or canter.

How to Cue Your Horse to Back Up
Learn how to cue your horse to back up or do a rein back.

Tips For Travellers Who Horseback Ride on Vacation
Tips for vacationers whose plans include horseback riding. Learn how to stay comfortable and safer when trail riding or touring on horseback. Learn how to do an emergency stop, what to wear, and basic riding skills.

Learn to Sit the Trot
Learn to sit the trot with these helpful tips from About Horses and Ponies forum members. Riders and instructors help you smooth out your sitting trot while horseback riding.

Horse Riding Arena Etiquette and Safety
Learn how to maximize your safety and enjoyment when riding your horse or pony in an arena or ring. Learn the rules of arena riding.

How to Walk and Halt While Horseback Riding
Learn how to cue your horse to walk and stop and how to ride at the walk.

How to Lead Your Horse or Pony
How to lead your horse or pony. Learn how to cue your horse or pony to walk quietly beside you.

Horse Safety Quiz
Do you know how to stay safe while grooming, riding and driving? Test your horse and pony safety knowledge with this quiz.

Taking Up Riding as an Adult
A review of the book Taking Up Riding as an Adult by Diana Delmar. Horses Wise Guides. Advice for the older rider.

About Horses and Ponies--Why Learn to Ride?
Why would anyone want to learn to ride a horse? Get answers about the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of horseback riding and horse or pony ownership.

100 Ways to Improve Your Riding--Book Review
A review of the book "100 Ways to Improve Your Riding" by Susan McBane. Learn how to overcome horseback riding problems.

Diagonals Demystified FAQ
Learn why diagonals are important while horseback riding at a posting trot, how to recognize the correct diagonal and how to easily correct wrong diagonals.

How To Post the Trot
Step by step instructions help you learn how to post while trotting on a horse. Posting the trot while horseback riding is made easy to understand with these directions and photos.

Sitting Correctly in the Saddle
Learn how to find the proper position to ride horseback. Basic instructions describe the correct seat for riding in an English or Western saddle

Before Your First Riding Lesson
Learn how to find a horseback riding instuctor, what you should look for so you can learn in safety, and what you should prepare for your first horse or pony riding lesson.

Let’s Ride, But Let’s Get On and Off Safely!
Learn how to position your horse and yourself so that you can mount (get into the saddle) and dismount safely with these step by step instructions and safety tips.

Horseback Riding Injuries and Safety Tips
Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation briefly outlines some of the most common injuries that occur when working with and riding or driving horses and offers safety tips to avoid injury.

Lonesome Acres Lesson Handbook
Pat Gottlieb of Lonesome Acres offers a great example of a well planned lesson program. This is a good guide to follow when comparing what different riding lesson instructors are offering.