My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

The tack room

Adult riding

7 replies

moose234 · 26/07/2018 16:18

Hi,

I have just booked my first horse riding lesson, never ridden before, it's half in hour and the plan is to do a few lessons at half in hour and then add stable management to it as well! What to expect? And what to wear? Thank you

OP posts:
Report
iveburntthetoast · 26/07/2018 16:28

Leggings (definitelty not jeans as they rub) will be OK. A boot with a low/flat heal is best. Do they have hats to borrow? It's best to have your own, but you might want to wait until you've had a few lessons and know you want to carry on as they're in the £50+ range.

In the longer term, you should look at getting jodhpurs, riding/jodhpur boots, a hat & maybe a body protector. While you shouldn't scrimp on safety gear, you can get boots and clothing quite cheaply .

Report
moose234 · 27/07/2018 08:36

Anyone else got any suggestions? What should I wear on top?

OP posts:
Report
cherrytree63 · 27/07/2018 08:40

A polo top or t shirt with short sleeves.

Report
AlbertaSimmons · 27/07/2018 08:42

A good sports bra, and gloves - an ordinary pair of cheap leather ones will be fine if you have them lying around, if not get some of the cheap pimple ones online.

Report
cherrytree63 · 27/07/2018 08:45

Once you've decided if you're going to keep on riding, you can kit yourself out very cheaply at Decathlon online or in-store.
I would recommend going to one of the larger retailers to make sure you get your hat professionally fitted.
Heads come in different shapes as well as sizes so best to have a large variety to try on.

Report
Squirrel26 · 27/07/2018 09:16

Sports Direct are good for cheap riding kit too. The website has a better selection than the shops. If you are small-ish children’s stuff is cheaper (I am a not-especially-small 165cm and I have £13 age 13-14 jodhpurs!)

Report
maxelly · 27/07/2018 12:19

What others have said about clothes is right, comfy trousers without prominent inner seams, shoulders covered, good bra (and I would add comfy pants, a riding wedgie is not a good look!), sensible shoes, no trainers or wellies (your riding stable may be able to lend you riding boots if you don't have anything suitable). Make sure to tie up long hair and remove any jewellery especially dangly earrings!

In terms of what to expect, your instructor should come and meet you when you check in, fit you with a riding hat and check you are safely clothed. They should also ask about your previous riding experience (none is fine!) and aspirations - e.g. are you ultimately aiming for your own horse, do you want to hack out. They may ask (if this wasn't asked at booking stage) for your height and weight - don't be offended, this is to match you with a suitably sized horse.

They should then take you to meet your horse who will normally be the quietest/safest the stable has to offer, and may seem very sleepy/lazy and reluctant to move, esp in this weather! This is fine and what you want in a beginners horse. As you get more experienced you can ride some more lively types.

You will be taken down to the enclosed area (called a school or menage) where you will ride. Some teachers like to do a short safety briefing and explanation of the basics (how to stop, go, steer etc) on the ground first, others will get you straight up and explain from there, either is fine.

For your first lesson someone else should be in control of the horse so you can focus on the basics. This will be either a 'helper' (who may be a teenager volunteering!) leading the horse on a lead rope walking beside you, or the instructor may use a 'lunge line' (a long line attached to the horses bridle, they stand in the middle and the horse walks in a circle around them).

In your first lesson I would expect you to get comfortable at walk, work on getting your legs, hands and seat into the right position, learn and practice the aids to stop, start and turn. Then try a trot and learn the art of 'rising' to the trot. This will be difficult and uncomfortable at first, don't worry, everyone finds it hard but everyone gets it within a few lessons at most, some much quicker than that!

Your instructor should take things slowly and at your pace and you shouldn't feel nervous or unsafe at any point. Horsey types can however be a bit 'gung-ho' in personality so if at any point you feel uncomfortable, want to stop or simply need something re-explained to you, be sure to say. They won't mind!

You will probably feel fine immediately afterwards but have muscle aches in the evening/next day, even if you are generally fit and strong. Again normal and it passes, riding uses quite a different set of muscles to other kinds of exercise. A hot bath will help!

Enjoy and report back!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.