Controlling the Horse

There is more to riding a horse than just trusting him/her. Although trusting the horse is a major component of riding, there's more to it than that. You have to control them. There are three buttons on a horse; behind the cinch* (moves the horse's shoulders and front end), where your legs fall naturally (moves the horse's ribs), and last but not least, where the cinch lays (moves the hind end). You need to tell the horse what to do by your words and body. Us humans use bridles* and saddles* to control the horse. Reins* are attached to the bridle, which we pull on with either hands to turn. Two stirrups* are attached to the saddle (on both sides) which we use to kick, squeeze, or put on our feet to the horse's side. Kicking makes the horse go faster. (it doesn't hurt them if you kick without spurs*) Squeezing makes human movement-sensitive horses go faster. Kicking the speedy horses will make them bolt! Putting feet on the horse helps them turn smoother. Horses move away from pressure, so if you are turning left, put your right foot on their side, and vise versa. You can also use your saddle to control the horse you are on! Leaning forward tells the horse to go faster. Some horses respond differently. Leaning back slightly in the saddle also helps the horse turn smoother.

Thank you for checking in this week! Make sure to take a look at next week's post.

************************************Definitions Below*****************************************

1. Cinch = A girth to a Western saddle

2. Bridle = Head gear to control a horse; reins attached to it.

3. Saddle = A seat fastened to the back of a horse.

4. Reins = Two long, narrow, straps attached to each side of the bit.

5. Stirrups = Each of a pair of devices attached to each side of a horse's saddle, in the form of a loop with a flat base to support the rider's foot.

6. Spurs = A device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward.