How to Properly Mount Your Horse

Mounting a horse sounds basic at first, but is far more complex than it appears. Whether you have a young horse which you have never mounted, or an adult horse which you've rode many times, mounting is an important issue that all horse owners should understand. If you are thinking of riding your horse for the first time you may feel apprehensive, and this is normal.

Being a little apprehensive is good, and will make your prone to doing things in safe way. However, being too tense can lead to movements which are jerky, and can lead to a bad reaction from the horse. If you have an adult horse which is developing bad habits you will want to treat it like a young horse. Most problems with horses are not the result of the horse acting poorly when the owner attempts to mount it. Most horses simply act in the way that they were handled previously.

Problems with horses are usually a result of mistakes made by the owner. Failing to follow basic training methods can lead to the horse behaving in a negative way. It is important for all owners and trainers to understand basic ground techniques. The most important goal of mounting a horse is to get their trust. If a horse doesn't trust you, it will be hard for you to mount of ride him. The horse has to get over its fear of having a person on their back. To get a horse to trust you it is important to avoid doing things that may scare them.

The first thing you want to do before attempting to mount your horse is to put on a helmet. Though this has not always been a standard practice amoung horse owners, it is has become more important. If the horse should rear, you don't want to hit your head without protection. Gloves and boots are also important to wear. You don't want to just walk up to your horse and attempt to mount it. You should first start by ponying or longeing the horse. This will get the horse prepared.

How you handle your body is very important. After you have finished preparing the horse you will want to square them so that they will have an easier time holding their balance while you mount. The horse will have to get used to having your legs at their sides and your weight on their back. You may want to start by getting them used to your weight before attempting to actually ride them.