I just had my first horse-back riding lesson and she had me try to do some posting without stirrups, wow is it ever hard! Any way, now im really sore and need some stretches to help…got any? Thanks! Any advice about first lessons are great!

Depends on which part of you is sore!

No stirrups work, I would guess inner thighs and hip flexors. Try a pigeon stretch: from a plank position, bring one knee up and angle the lower leg across your body. Like this: http://www.womansday.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/galleries-slideshows/yoga-for-everyone/yoga-for-your-hips-pigeon-pose-variation-i/47626-1-eng-US/Yoga-for-Your-Hips-Pigeon-Pose-Variation-I_slideshow_image.jpg
Lower your upper body down on your elbows and breath deeply into the stretch. Repeat with the other leg.

Also try standing, place one angle across the opposite knee. Bend the knee and lean forward to balance. See if you can get low enough to put your fingers on the ground.

The stair stretch is a good one for your heels/calfs, as others have mentioned.
For a stiff lower back, try laying on a tennis ball. It sounds stupid, but place the ball under the stiff parts of your back and lower your weight slowly, shifting the ball in circles with your weight. It feels like a deep tissue massage.

For shoulders (I hold mine tense when I work no stirrups and they tend to be stiff), sit on your knees, place your arms in front of you and bow backwards, pushing forward with your palms as your weight settles back.
Or, go on hands and toes (plank position. shift your weight to one arm and slide the other underneath it (palm up) until your shoulder is on the floor. With your legs still extended, drop your knees to the ground and reach your other arm straight up from the shoulder. This will loosen your shoulders and stretch your spine. Repeat on the other side.

The looser you are, the more easily you’ll find things like no stirrups work. In my experience, the absolute best substitute for riding is a really good yoga or pilates class so if you’re financially limited in lessons, a good yoga dvd can go a long way.

I just want to know, from your personal experience if there’s any good horse riding classes in manhattan? I’ve never took riding classes before and barely know how to ride a horse, and I’m only 14… if that helps.
thanks for answering


I,m not sure.

I really want to ride like most of you know (from my last questions)band i have heard that sometimes you can work for a stable but get payed with horse riding lessons. is this true? and can you give me some info about it e.g. How long the lesson is, how old you have to be to do this.and where you do it (if you do it) and anymore information thanks loads i look forward to your answers!!!

Yes! I started doing this when I was 9 years old. Every Saturday, I donned my overalls and muck boots and traveled to a farm half an hour away. My parents signed all the consent and risk waivers and since I wasn’t getting paid money and I had no set hours, there was no minimum age requirement. I mucked stalls, cleaned run ins and paddocks, groomed the arenas, swept the aisle, and fed, watered, hayed, turned out/brought in all of the horses. I also helped get horses ready for other lessons, exercised and groomed horses that needed it, learned how to run an AI business and held horses for the vet and farrier. It taught me so much, and never cost me a dime! It was fantastic. With my particular agreement (yours will be different and you are allowed to haggle with whomever you work for) I was allotted one half hour semi-private lesson per Saturday, as well as how ever many supervised exercise rides were needed. There were often other opportunities to ride, and I was always invited along to shows, clinics and seminars. I was also allowed discounted private lessons if I wanted to pay for them (and I did!). I spent my whole Saturday at the farm, doing chores and riding and it was great! I stayed at this farm until I was 14, and they were forced to close due to bankruptcy (unfortunately, it costs a lot to run an equine business and when you don’t charge for your services and you keep buying tack, horse trailers and horses, you run out of cash quickly!) From there, I moved to another farm and did essentially the same thing, however, this farm had no where near the horses, the experience or the trainers that the first had. I was very thankful to have learned under some very knowledgeable and smart equestrians first, so I would know if what I was being "taught" by other so-called-horse-experts was correct or not.

For you, you have to find a farm that is willing to agree to such a proposal. A lot of larger farms will have one or two kids "working" for lessons, as they always need more hands to get things done, and one more kid in the group lesson isn’t that much more work. It will help if you have some experience, but a lot of the time someone will be willing to teach you, as long as you are willing to learn and respectful of their wishes. I would avoid private farms, as, at least in my opinion, the quality of horsemanship and the drive to know more about horses seems to be considerably less at these farms, when compared to larger farms who employ the best and expect more from their staff. Good luck! Have fun and learn as much as you can!

I’ve been searching the web for a while but as you may know, horseback riding lessons are very expensive. The cheapest I’ve found so far is "Grace Vally Stables".
Can anyone give me the names and websites of some horse farms where the lessons are cheap?
Thanks.

anywhere in C.t? I take lessons when im down there at SilverHorseshoe stable. It’s good. and like 25-30 a group lesson for an hour. if you need more info let me know!

I’m just curious about Horse Country.
When I say "Lexington", I mean in and around. The general area.
I thought’d they might be pricey, since there are so many amazing horse people there. So what are the average and cheapest?

Here is pricing from the Bluegrass Riding Academy. It’s owned and operated by Dr. Sally Haydon is the chair of the equine studies program at Midway College.

There were several places offering camps and lessons at a recent expo for parents on summer programs. Dr. Haydon’s seemed the best of the bunch.

8 LESSONS (group) | $240.00
4 LESSONS (group) | $130.00
4 LESSONS (private) | $160.00
15 MINUTE LESSON (Riders 6 years and under) | $20.00
FOUR 15 MINUTE LESSONS (Riders 6 years and under) | $60.00
PRIVATE LESSONS | $45.00
STARTER PACKAGE-FIRST 2 LESSONS (Value $90.00) | $45.00
HORSES & HOMEWORK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $25.00/day or $100.00/week

I’m just curious about Horse Country.
When I say "Lexington", I mean in and around. The general area.
I thought’d they might be pricey, since there are so many amazing horse people there. So what are the average and cheapest?

Here is pricing from the Bluegrass Riding Academy. It’s owned and operated by Dr. Sally Haydon is the chair of the equine studies program at Midway College.

There were several places offering camps and lessons at a recent expo for parents on summer programs. Dr. Haydon’s seemed the best of the bunch.

8 LESSONS (group) | $240.00
4 LESSONS (group) | $130.00
4 LESSONS (private) | $160.00
15 MINUTE LESSON (Riders 6 years and under) | $20.00
FOUR 15 MINUTE LESSONS (Riders 6 years and under) | $60.00
PRIVATE LESSONS | $45.00
STARTER PACKAGE-FIRST 2 LESSONS (Value $90.00) | $45.00
HORSES & HOMEWORK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM | $25.00/day or $100.00/week

i want someplace to learn how to ride a horse, and no where tooo expensive. price i would have to pay for a month would be good. thanks.

http://www.helpwevegotkids.com/36/1/79/horseback_riding_lessons_trails.html

http://torontoseeker.com/horsebackridinglessonstoronto.htm

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-pets-other-Horse-Boarding-Stables-Horseback-Riding-Lessons-Training-Barrie-W0QQAdIdZ142297939

Here are some links to riding facilities in your area. They all have reasonable methods of payment though you will have to call for prices. Good luck

im looking for horse back riding lessons in kissimmee florida but they need to be around fifty bucks pls help me

Try the Horses section in Pets also google can help you find a place near you.. thats how I found my stable.

I am wanting to start having private horse riding lessons but dont want to be amongst bitchy women/teenagers, does anyone know of any ‘friendly’ riding schools in or around rotherham/sheffield please?

See attached. Hope it is of use to you.

I’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’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
I’m doing English Style Riding, not western.
All you people have great answers so far! Thanks for all the help you’ve given me! It will be hard to choose the best answer though.

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’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.