Madison Leigh Gerhard of Colts Neck, New Jersey, worked as a horseback riding instructor and equine care specialist at Due Process Stables in Colts Neck before pursuing higher education, giving her firsthand insight into the fundamentals new riders must master. She studied psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee after a dual-enrollment program at Brookdale Community College while attending Colts Neck High School, where coursework aligned with pre-med requisites for a future physician assistant program. Gerhard also spent more than two years as a sales associate and fashion consultant at The Bee Boutique in Sea Girt, New Jersey, building customer relationships and managing inventory and merchandising. An honor roll student and varsity soccer player at The Peddie School in Hightstown, she brings the same discipline to her equestrian background that informs the guidance below on avoiding common beginner riding mistakes.
Horseback riding offers people the opportunity to spend time in nature while developing a unique bond with an animal. There are many advantages and benefits to riding horses, including improved cardiovascular health, core strength, and reduced blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. As is the case with any new hobby, individuals must learn how to avoid common mistakes that may impact their enjoyment or lead to an injury.
Overreliance on the reins is arguably the most common mistake made by first-time riders. When a person feels nervous or off balance, it makes perfect sense to hold onto something already in their hands. The reins provide a sense of balance, and when used correctly, offer important control over the horse’s movements.
But that is precisely the issue: horses feel and respond to every movement a rider makes using the reins. By tightening their grip or pulling back on the reins, riders increase the tension horses feel in their mouths. Riders must understand that the reins are not comparable to handlebars on a bike. Instead, they act as a direct line of communication between humans and animals.
It is important to remain cognizant of this fact at all times, as riders often pull on the reins subconsciously. Losing sight of this can result in discomfort and confusion for the horse.
An effective strategy for proper rein control involves riding from the legs and the core, as this supports improved balance. Riders should allow their weight to sink through their heels and keep their legs calmly wrapped around the sides of the horse to form a proper base. Using the legs as anchor points reduces a rider’s need to pull on the reins for balance.
Similarly, new riders must learn to ride without tension. Individuals may notice symptoms of tension after a riding lesson, such as sore arms and shoulders. This is a sign that a person is carrying tension in the reins and holding their body up with their hands and arms, which puts the body out of alignment. Instead, riders want to engage their cores, and they will begin to notice their arms feeling loose and elastic while riding.
New riders often struggle with the trot. Trotting represents an accelerated speed, falling between a walk and a canter. Riders learn the basics of horses while walking, but at a trot, they suddenly find themselves bouncing up and down, leaning forward, and slipping out of their stirrups.
Riders need to remain calm. Over time, they will develop the necessary coordination between their hips, core, and lower legs and pick up on the horse’s rhythm. Eventually, riders will be able to perfectly maintain their position at a trot, and even at a canter.
Finally, a common mistake new riders make involves looking down while riding, rather than ahead. While riding a horse, it is not uncommon for a rider’s head to be more than eight feet above the ground. At this height, many people will naturally look to the ground, especially if they are at all nervous about riding. In addition to the height and nerves, a person may want to check their hands or look at the horse to ensure everything is going well.
However, when a rider looks down, their entire body follows: shoulders move forward, body weight shifts out of the saddle, and balance changes. The horse feels and reacts to all of these movements. New riders need to get in the habit of looking in the direction they are going, allowing for better posture and positioning in the saddle.
About Madison Leigh Gerhard
Madison Leigh Gerhard is a Colts Neck, New Jersey native who studied psychology at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Before college, she worked as a horseback riding instructor and equine care specialist at Due Process Stables in Colts Neck and spent more than two years as a sales associate and fashion consultant at The Bee Boutique in Sea Girt. An honor roll student and varsity soccer player at The Peddie School, she pursued coursework aligned with pre-med requisites.
