What to expect for first-time horse riding lessons?

I%26#039;m starting riding lessons shortly after the October long weekend from a well-known friend of mine. He is a professional horse trainer and I%26#039;ve arranged some well-priced private lessons with him.





My question is, what should I expect for my first time on a horse, and what should I be aware of. Also, which clothes do I need to wear? I know a helmet, boots, and gloves are essentials. Do I absoloutly have to wear breeches?





Please no silly or serious answers. 10 points for most thoughough and informativive answer. Oh, and if you actually ride horses, that would be great!





Thanks


Ellie

What to expect for first-time horse riding lessons?
Ive been riding horses for 7 years now. My first lesson was actually a horse camp. I wore a regular shirt and a pair of jeans, boots with a heal, and a helmet(only when riding lol). Make sure youre jeans arent loose, the tighter the jeans the better it will be. If you are going to be it for the long haul, buying a nice pair of riding breeches is a good idea, also a nice pair of sturdy boots, Arait is a great brand, although they are pricey they are worth it, they are cushioned and last me at least 2 years of HARD wear and tear. Also your own helmet is great.





Now onto the actual lesson part, if you never riden AT ALL before, expect to be on a longe line youll be doing mainly walk with a little bit of trot. You will be taught the correct way to ride, heals down, shoulders back, hands out in front together and steady (not bouncing around). If youve riden before, He will just lightly touch on those things and move on to trot and keeping your position the same during the trot, then he%26#039;ll move onto your diagonals.





You will be sore the more you do each lesson. But once you get into the rythum of riding you wont be as sore. Youll want to build up your calf muscles for you will use them ALOT, the best way to start building them up before you start your lessons is to stand on the edge of a step and slowly lower your heels till you start feeling the muscle stretch, repeat that for about 3-5 minutes a day. It will help you greatly.





If you would like anymore information on lessons or if you have any ?s on just horses in general feel free to email me. Hope Ive helped you out.
Reply:I have been riding horses and ponies for all of my life and I own three horses! You don%26#039;t need to wear breeches unless you are in a western horse show. Just wear either jeans or jodphurs, (riding pants) a shirt, boots, (ariat, wrangler, or something else that is certified) and a helmet that also needs to be certified. You should expect to learn how to control the horse, how to sit on it properly, and how to walk. You commonly don%26#039;t learn how to trot until you have a good 3 to 4 lessons at least!


Have fun riding!
Reply:I%26#039;m guessing you are going to be riding English since you mentioned breeches. No, you do not have to have breeches. Jeans are fine. Gloves are not really essentials but if you have some, that%26#039;s fine because sometimes if you%26#039;re not used to riding, the reins can give you blisters. If you don%26#039;t have any riding gloves, I wouldn%26#039;t go out and buy any. Do not wear a bike helmet. I see so many people do that and it%26#039;s just not safe. If you are sure you want to ride, you might look into buying a cheaper horse helmet. Make sure it%26#039;s ASTM/SEI Certified. Troxels are my favorite brand. I have the troxel Spirit and I absolutley love it. You could also get the Troxel Sport. They usually run from $25 to $30. If you don%26#039;t have one and you don%26#039;t want to buy one, your friend might have some to borrow. As far as boots go, you don%26#039;t have to get any fancy tall boots or anything like that. You could borrow some. Or, any shoe or boot with a wide heel more than a 1/2 inch tall will work (like penny loafers or something). I don%26#039;t know where you live so who knows what the tempature will be. My suggestion is: if it%26#039;s not really hot or really cold, dress in layers. I often find myself taking off my jacket before I mount because it%26#039;s not as cold as I thought it was.





You mentioned it was your first time on a horse. You will most likely be working on learning how to groom, tack up, bridle, lead, mount etc. As far as when you%26#039;re on the horse (depending on how long the lesson is) you should only trot at the most. You will probably be working at the walk on keeping your heels down, using the reins, telling the horse what to do with your legs, using your voice, riding posture, etc. If it is a long lesson and you are looking really good, he might let you trot a little. You probably won%26#039;t be doing any cantering or jumping or anything the first lesson. You will just be getting used to having a 1,000 pound animal under you.





Just be confident and try your hardest and you will do great!!! Good Luck!
Reply:jeans should be acceptable also, but if riding english, i am pretty sure you should wear breeches. you will walk, and maybe trot, and possibly lope/ canter. my friend just had her first lesson last week, and she loped like 1/2 the class, only because she has riding experience and the trainer knows that, the trainer also has seen her ride several times before. if you are a first- time rider, then only walking, and practice proper posture and stuff like that.
Reply:you are going to be so soar you do not have to wear the breeches only if you want to they are very expensive . i have rode for almost 10 years and still riding you need to wear some commfy strechy pants ,comfy boots and of coarse a horsebackriding helemet . any more ?%26#039;s email me
Reply:The reason for breeches is the lack of seams on the inside that can chafe. There are lots of style of breeches but for starter jeans should be OK make sure you use sunscreen if you are going to be outdoors. Expect to spend time learning about the horse and cleaning hooves. It is important to always check a horses feet before getting on. They could have a stone that with no rider causes no problems but when you get on could cause issues!





Depending on things a good sports bra would also be a good idea. I have owned horses for ove 20 yrs and have helped show horses in English Western, Stock Horse and Dressage





Get comfortable with the horse on the ground and things will go better when you are on top. Bring some treats for the horse, most like carrots but some have other favorites. Mines used to love peppermints as well as red and black locorice
Reply:Wear comfortable clothes, jeans and a tee shirt is fine, but riding boots are necessary.


Borrow some from the friend, or get some second hand, they%26#039;re kind of expensive, and if you decide you don%26#039;t like it, it would be a shame to have spent all that money.





The friend will probably have a helmet for you to borrow. Again, like the boots, wait until you know this is something you want to invest in before you get your own.





Get some pain reliever. You%26#039;re gonna be sore no matter what shape you%26#039;re in.





Call up this friend. This is something you should be asking them.
Reply:No you don%26#039;t have to wear breeches. It%26#039;s that or jeans. There are some riding places that don%26#039;t teach you about the grooming, tack, or how to tack up your horse. If this happens you need to ask to be taught this. This is an essential part to working with a horse!!! Riding is just an extra privelage!


Besides if you ever wanted to own your own horse yet didn%26#039;t know how to take care of them what would you do?


So make sure they teach you all of that!!


You may not get onto the horse for a few lessons, (depending on the teachers) and when you do expect to be taught how to sit, how the power steering works, and how you should use your body in harmony with the horse you are using.


Also know that some places put green people on not bomb proof horses. (horses that are completely laid back and easy going) This is the kind of horse that you do want! If you are having issues with the horse that they put you on and he is not totally easy going and if he doesn%26#039;t know more than you do...ask for a differant horse!!!


Good luck and have fun!
Reply:no silly or serious answers? then what kind do you want?





anyways. you%26#039;ll prolly learn about tack, grooming, and start on a basic walk n trot.





if youre riding english, youll want breeches. if youre ridin western, you want jeans prolly. loose ones.
Reply:i started riding when i was 4 so i got some insight!


just wear jeans, DO NOT wear any form of jogging/exercise pants..very slippery (obviously lol) and like u said helmet and boots, don%26#039;t necessarily need gloves, i never used them except when i showed for %26quot;show%26quot;.





you might be a little nervous at first, but try not to, a horse can sense that and may be skittish, it does take some time to get used to a horse though and flow smoothly, so don%26#039;t expect an error free day, you both have to feel each other out (you and the horse) ask the trainer or whoever owns the horse about it first, they%26#039;ll prob put you on a very tame bomb proof horse at first. the person or trainer should tell you the correct reining the horse prefers whether two hands or one...and ask if the horse spooks for anything so you can be prepared.


at first you will be familiarized with the horse how to put the bit on saddle..etc, clean the hooves...and if you%26#039;re comfortable with the horse you%26#039;ll mount up right away and just walk..the trainer may put u on a lead so he%26#039;s in control while you get comfortable. depending on how comfortable you feel you will prob start trotting and backing up..not sure if you would canter or not.


k well have fun!
Reply:I give riding lessons and have since I gave my first one to the neighbor kids in 1968. The one you should be asking these questions of is your instructor. He or she is the only one that knows what he%26#039;ll want you to wear.


The first lesson I give depends on the experience of the client as well as what they want to learn. Sometimes we never even get on the horse in the first lesson. Sometimes we get on right away. Sometimes the first lesson is bareback, sometimes it%26#039;s on the lunge, sometimes it%26#039;s in the round pen, sometimes is mostly ground work with a little riding or vice versa. It is so individual that I%26#039;m not always sure what I%26#039;ll do with that first lesson. Talk to your instructor.
Reply:Congrats on starting lessons! You must be really excited. As far as what to wear, Your first lesson you just need to have on long pants (jeans or breeches, is up to you), a helmet and boots with a flat 1 inch heel. Gloves are optional. I am a trainer in South Africa and this is how my first lessons work with beginner riders. They are 1 hour long, the first half hour is spent discussing safety and tacking up the horse. The second half hour is mounted. By the end of a first lesson, the client should be able to ask a horse to walk, stop and steer right or left. You should expect alot of talk about safety, alot of talk about tack (not much of this will make sense at first but you%26#039;ll get the hang of it in a few lessons) and alot of fun! Your first time on a horse might be a little scary or you might feel very comfortable. This really depends on you, I can%26#039;t really tell you how you%26#039;ll feel. The horse%26#039;s gait will feel strange to you because they rock you side to side slightly as well as back and forth (this is at the walk). You may be on the lunge line for your first lesson which will mean the instructor will be helping you control the horse, this may make you feel more relaxed. Remember you will be learning on a very quiet lesson horse who you can trust. If you do feel nervous, remember that. The horse isn%26#039;t going to take off with you or do anything naughty. He%26#039;s the beginner horse for a reason. So relax and have fun! Hope you enjoy it, welcome to the sport!
Reply:wear long pants so that the saddle does not nip you and any footwear with a bit of a heel as most places wont teach you unless you have this foot wear if you do fall of then your foot is more Likley to come out of the strup . A person is more than likely to lead you around for the first few lessons, first time will be maily walking and then trotting with the teacher talking to you about gait , position etc , then you will Start to ride on your own when your teacher thinks you are ready , expect to be sore at first but you will be fine. good luck Hannah x
Reply:Lots of great answers, I agree with everyone who suggested jeans. Until you know if this is something you want to keep going with, don%26#039;t invest in anything new and/or expensive!





Don%26#039;t wear new jeans to the first lesson. Wear a pair of comfy, well-fitting (not too lose or tight) jeans that you don%26#039;t mind getting sweaty, dirty or wet.





Wear a well fitting shirt also, tucked in. A loose floppy shirt could distract you or the horse. I agree that gloves will probably not be necessary right at first. I also agree with the poster who said, call and ask ahead of time.





If your hair is long, tie it back (at your neck so the helmet will fit.)





If you%26#039;ll be outdoors, you might want to ride in sunglasses; but if you choose to, make sure that they fit snugly on your face so they don%26#039;t fall off during the ride.





Be on time, but don%26#039;t necessarily expect everything else to run on time. Even the well-known pros sometimes run a bit late! The horse you%26#039;re to ride may or may not be groomed and saddled already. The grooming may be part of your lesson, or it may be done for you when you arrive.





Ask all the questions you want, don%26#039;t hesitate. That%26#039;s what you%26#039;re there for and that%26#039;s what you%26#039;re paying for.





It%26#039;s hard to know what you%26#039;ll do for the first lesson, but it will probably not progress past a trot if you even get that far. If you%26#039;re riding English, you might still ride your first few lessons in a Western saddle, or you might start right out in an English saddle. The Western saddle has a horn you can hold on. The English saddle does not, but if you feel you need to grab something to stabilize yourself you can grab the horse%26#039;s mane just above the front of the saddle.





If you feel yourself getting nervous, breathe deeply. Most of us hold our breath when nervous, or even just when concentrating intently. Breathing deeply can really help you relax any body tension you may have during the lesson.





Don%26#039;t expect to be able to feed your horse treats or carrots. Take the first lesson just to find out what the %26quot;etiquette%26quot; rules of this barn are. If you have extra time and are walking around admiring the other horses , don%26#039;t pet or feed them. Just look.





Above all, have fun and appreciate how wonderful it is to be able to enjoy a horse and have the benefit of your friend%26#039;s expertise!
Reply:How green are you to horses would be my first question?





I have 2 60 yr old twins I am giving lessons to, incredibly green and the first 2 lessons were mainly on tacking up and safety issues.





They finally have moved into walk/trot/whoa, leg pressure, rein pressure, posture, weight in the stirrups, one reining, etc





I take it your riding english?? You don%26#039;t have to wear breeches, but it might be more comfortable. There really isn%26#039;t anything else other than what you mentioned that you need.





It just depends on your level of skills where he is going to take off from. Its so hard to tell with what you have stated, can you put more info down about your skills?
Reply:hi! ive been riding for 3 years. but ive been around horses for my whole life, because my mom works with horses.





here%26#039;s what you should wear:





1) jeans or breeches; i find jeans more comfortable and easier to wear. breeches, you only really need for shows.


2) paddock boots; pretty much just boots [boots that come up just above your ankle]


3) helmet; you should have an SEI approved helmet [not a bike helmet! lol]





here%26#039;s what you%26#039;ll work on first:





1) walking; you have to learn the basics! :D


2) posting; standing up in your sturrips and sitting down each time the horses should moves forward and back


3) two-pointing; standing up in your stirrups while bending over and holding onto your horses mane


4) poles; wooden poles on the ground that your horse will walk over, and your trainer will probably have you two-point over them [you might not work on them, but its a possibility]





Good Luck! :D





I had a great first lesson! [even though I fell off 3 times! i was trying out a new pony, he was wayyyyyyyyy to crazy! but i now own him, and have been riding him for two years!]





So i wish you luck on having a great first lesson! :D
Reply:I%26#039;d ask your friend if hes going to show you how to groom, saddle, bridle and some of the other basic horse tasks, like picking hooves, or if you%26#039;ll just show up to a horse already saddled and ready. This should be a good start as to what to expect.


As far as breeches go, i%26#039;d ask your friend if he%26#039;d recommend you wear them, or if a good, LONG pair of jeans work well.





Good luck and have fun!
Reply:I competitvly ride both english and western. Ok lets get real not everyone wears breeches when we ride. I%26#039;ve been known to ride in shorts (don%26#039;t do that in the beginning) For a typical lesson I wear loose old pants that i don%26#039;t give a care about getting dirty. I get lessons at least 3 times a week. I don%26#039;t have time to change into breeches from marching band to lessons, I%26#039;ve been known to wear my school clothes but don%26#039;t do that. Horse stains take FOREVER to come out. Wear an old shirt, honestly I don%26#039;t think your instructor will care if you ride in bummy clothes, it doesn%26#039;t matter about what you wear, its skill that matters.


Ellie get a helmet that is the most important. It has saved my life at least a dozen times. Also even though your riding english you don%26#039;t need to wear the tall english boots. When I ride english, I use my everyday pratice boots. I don%26#039;t need to stress how important boots are incase anything happens you can slip your feet out of the irons and jump off. But since you%26#039;ll most likely be riding a school horse that more than likely won%26#039;t happen.


You don%26#039;t need to ride in gloves, now if you live i a cold weather area it comes in handy, or if you have tender hands. Its nice to ride in gloves.


What to expect from your first riding lesson? Expect it to go slow, remember its not about going fast you need to learn the basics. Once you master the basics then you can speed up. you%26#039;ll learn how to steer, go and stop, and possibly how to post. It all depends on your instructor. I%26#039;d advise going to lessons 10 mins. early so you can see other students ride, and help get united with the horse and learn to tack it up. Since I%26#039;m the top lesson student, i have the first lesson, its a private and younger students come and watch. It shows you can do with hard work in time ;)


Have a good atitude about it, if something doesn%26#039;t go the way you expect, its ok, the worlds not going to end I promise. We all have the lessons where its great and the other lessons where it sucks. After the lesson it would be nice if you help your instructor untack the horse. If you want to bring carrots the horses enjoy it but only if the instructor says its ok.


My final bit of advise the next day you may be sore but in time it%26#039;ll go away. belive me
Reply:the first time can be pretty low key. no you don%26#039;t absolutely have to wear breeches. I didnt even own breeches for the first 2 and a half years of my riding career. it never really bothered me at all to ride in jeans but wen u start jumping and even cantering in jeans can get uncomfortable but since its ur first lesson it relle dusnt matter. just the most important thing is to relax and have fun. i teach beginners alot and what they tend to not understand is that YOU have to be the BOSS, not the other way around. you hav to tell the horse what to do and if they defy you you need to %26quot;fight for it%26quot; not like cruelly, but it just means u cant give up (like if u want to turn or sumthing and the horse dusnt turn that way dont give up cuz then they thnk they won and ther now the boss...) neways have fun! riding is the most fun i have ever had in my LIFE!
Reply:i%26#039;ve been riding for 3 years, you can wear jeans, but breeches are more comfortable. you should expect to get introduced to the horse and learn how to saddle him/her. and probably just walk for a while then you will learn to trot, jog, and canter.
Reply:You sound like you are on the right track- boots gloves and a helmet are a must for safety. Don%26#039;t go to a huge expense. breeches are not necessary, but you will be more comfortable. Check out ebay and save some money if you want them . Good luck and have fun !!
Reply:ok so as far as riding attire for lessons goes, unless this trainer is a stick in the mud and wnats you dressed for the ring each an everytime, it%26#039;s is YOUR choice. jean or breeches but definately boots and a helmet. But honestly If I was you I would clal my friend and ask him. That is his ultimate decision, not the people here on yahoo answers. We can give you a slim guideline but that is about it. Each trainer is going to be different in their approach and that even means their view on riding attire sooo call him:) io took lessons for English 4 years and rode in jeans and boots most of the time and only got %26quot;englished%26quot; up for shows:) I almost went to a stable for lessons where they required the full english riding appareal just for lessons.... breeches ,feild boots , ratcatcher and coat.... kind of pointless to ride for a lesson in all that if you ask me so I wound up choosing a different place to learn at. Like everyone else has said expect the basics like grooming, tacking up walking the horse on a lead...etc. If possible before your lessons actualyl start see if you can arrange to sit in and view a lesosn given by him. This will give you an idea of how he wnats things done:)
Reply:Personally, I would just call and ask if he has a helmet or if you will even be getting on a horse for the first lesson. Your trainer might begin with theory, tacking up, how to tie a horse, safety precautions, arena rules, (at the barn and at the shows) who knows...it depends on how green you are, so just ask prior if there are any specific requirements other than boots, jeans, helmet (if the trainer doesn%26#039;t have one that you can borrow, ask the best place to get one and what kind that he recommomends. I wouldn%26#039;t try to anticipate what your trainer or you will be doing, just call and find out what you need to know...



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