Category Archives: Horseback Riding Lessons

January 25, 2015
6

What to expect at a first horseback riding lesson

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Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons

Horse Stables in NJ  If you’re thinking of signing up for horseback riding lessons rest assured that you are taking the first step towards a very fun and rewarding activity!  Horseback riding involves a partnership with a living, breathing animal. However, it is a sport and to do it well you need to learn the basics before you can move on.  At Someday Stables, in northern NJ,  riders can expect to develop a strong understanding of the fundamentals.  This includes an understanding of the animals, the sport, and how to interact with horses safely and confidently.


Getting Started

What can you expect at a first horseback riding lesson? At Someday Stables, your first lesson begins with greeting and getting to know your horse.  Of course, the horse is a very important part of the equation and our school horses are the best!  Not only are they safe, but they are also perfectly suited to teach our riders.  Your first lesson will include:

  • Leading: Learn the proper and safe way to lead and handle your mount.
  • Mounting: In order to ride, you need to know how to get on! Learn the correct way to mount your horse.
  • Balance and Position:  Once you’re on the horse, you’ll develop a sense of balance and how to position your body.  One of the biggest parts of learning to ride is achieving a secure seat.
  • Stopping, Starting, and Steering:  Your instructor will teach you the aids for the basics of controlling your mount.

 

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Clothing and Equipment

You will need the following:

  • Long pants that are comfortable
  • Hard sole, closed-toe shoe with a heel (no sneakers)
  • Hair tied back and away from face

You will also be required to wear an approved helmet, although Someday Stables can provide you with one for your first few lessons.

          Tack and Equipment for the HorseHorseback-Riding-Lessons-in-NJ

The gear that the horse “wears” is called tack.  Your horse will be outfitted with the following:

  • Bridle:  The piece that goes on the horse’s head
  • Saddle:  What you will sit upon
  • Saddle Pad:  Protects the horse’s back and the saddle

 

 

 

Riding Lessons for Children

What age is appropriate to begin taking lessons? All children are different and learn at their own pace.  We find that six year olds have the attention span and body awareness to begin learning to ride.  How much your child will take away from the lesson will depend on their maturity level. Some very young children are able to focus and grasp the basics quickly while others are just enjoying a pony ride. Either is fine as long as everyone is safe and happy!

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January 24, 2015
4

Horseback riding in NJ: Lessons are better than a trail ride.

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Horseback riding in New Jersey: Lessons are better than a trail ride.

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“Why can’t I just come ride a horse without taking a lesson?”

This is one of the most common questions we are asked. Many people who are interested in horseback riding in New Jersey are not interested in taking a lesson, even if they have very little riding experience. Oftentimes, they are disappointed when we tell them we do not offer trail rides or riding of any kind on our horses unless it is in a riding lesson. Here some reasons why you can’t just come ride a horse at Someday Stables.

Safety

There are many reasons why we only offer lessons but safety is the primary one. Horseback riding is an inherently dangerous activity but we do our best to make to it as safe as possible. We do this by providing one on one instruction to all of our riders, allowing us to ensure riding is being done correctly and no unnecessary risks are being taken. We also know our school horses inside and out. If they look too energetic, we can lunge them or structure the lesson according to how the horse is feeling that day.

Our Great Horses

We care about our lesson horses. They are the backbone of our program and we strive to provide the best quality lesson horses and ponies in northern New Jersey. Great lesson horses stay great through constant training and correct, kind riding. Every ride on every school horse in our stable is carefully supervised in our lesson program. In this program we are confident that our lesson horses stay responsive, safe, and happy to do their jobs.

Liability

There is an inherent risk in riding horses. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for everyone at our stable. When a rider is riding in an unsafe manner it not only puts that rider at risk, it puts all riders at our stable in harms way. For this reason, our insurance provider does not allow Someday Stables to permit beginner riders to ride our stable owned horses if they are not in a supervised lesson.

If you are interested in horseback riding in Northern New Jersey, consider taking a lesson. Instruction helps you get the most out of your time in the saddle. Our highly qualified instructors make sure you have a great ride that is beneficial to both you and the horse.