Horseback riding is not just preserved for professional jockeys or wealthy horse owners with a large expanse of ranch land. Anyone can experience the joy of horseback riding, and it can indeed be a fun activity for both adults and children. It can be a great activity for weekends and holidays.
Whether you want to learn the more formal English saddle horse riding, or American style cowboy riding, there are many riding instructors to set you off on enjoying horseback riding as a pastime. With the right gear, a great instructor and enough hours of practice, you could enjoy speeding off into the sunset on horseback.
Horseback riding is a different experience every time you jump on. “Just as with a musical instrument,” says Jim Bolduc NH, “every time you play you discover new notes and can create a different tune every time”.
The same is true for horseback riding. Just as you have different moods from one day to another, each time you jump on that saddle, the horse will behave differently. As you become a better rider, you may also want to experiment with new things. “That is the beauty of horse riding” says Jim Bolduc Stratham NH, “being open to new experiences each time you saddle up. There is always a surprising new experience; even the smallest one does not go unnoticed.”
In the beginning you may fall off several times, but there’s truth to the old saying “when you fall off your horse, get back on and try again”. This too is part of the fun. Each time you fall off, you learn something new about riding as well as how to conquer your fear. Professional riders have fallen off hundreds of times, its part and parcel of the experience.
Horses are marvellous animals and you do not need to be a horse whisperer to appreciate these beautiful animals. Your instructor will probably ask you to do other things like grooming and feeding apart from just riding, so that you can appreciate horses more. It may seem like unnecessary hard work that you did not sign up for, but the rewards of spending time with horses off the saddle are far more than you can imagine. “The bond you create with the horse makes riding so much more fun!” says Jim.
A useful tip to remember if you want your ride to be enjoyable is to not be nervous or anxious. Horses can sense this fear and instead of you being in control of your riding experience, the horse will think it is the boss. When you relax, your horse will relax too and you can be sure to have an enjoyable riding experience. “There’s nothing more gratifying than being on horseback and being in control of this magnificent beast” says Jim
So instead of leaving your kids to sit in front of the TV screen or playing computer games, let them enjoy and appreciate the outdoors, nature and animals. Join in and you will have a fun activity for the whole family on weekends or holidays.
jimbolduc 