Clear skies, open fields with mountain views and the smell of fresh air caressing your lungs; it is the perfect recipe for climbing onto a horse and taking a trot through the countryside. There is nothing more relaxing for the mind than getting out into the open with some good company and nothing to limit where you want to go.
If you have never ridden a horse before, then it's time to learn. There are plenty of places available for you and, as any horse owner will tell you, the minute you try it you will be hooked for life. There is just something about horses that calms people, they have beautiful natures, and riding one instantly causes a bond to form between rider and steed. The best place to start would be at a riding school. You can find plenty of them on the internet on websites like Hordetrader Online, and if you are close to the countryside, you should be able to find one within a stone's throw away. It is important to get a feel for a horse first, rather than just jumping on and taking a gallop through a field. That is probably a good way to get your collarbone broken or even something worse. Many of the horse riding trainers will tell you that you need to understand the animal more than anything else, and get an innate sense of connection with them. That way you can communicate with the horse without making it tense or uneasy. A few other important things that you will have to learn are things like general horse behavior, how to control it, all aspects of the riding kit, posture while you are riding and how your body and the horses body will have to work together while you are riding. You would need to know all of this because it can reduce the risk of serious injury, and it will prepare you for what is in store for you. Riding requires a specific kind of fitness and if you are not used to it, you could find yourself walking bowl-legged for about a week. However, the good thing is that your riding experience will surpass this and you will definitely be back for round two.
Now before you go and splash out on your new riding gear and look for the best places to ride; perhaps you should find yourself a stable that has everything there, ready and waiting to be used. A good trainer is also preferable as they are the people that will teach you the fundamentals of horse riding and if it is not done right, then you could land yourself in trouble. The idea of horse riding is to make it an enjoyable experience and make you want to come back for more. Perhaps it will draw you in further and you could take interest in jumping and dressage. You might even find yourself looking for stables so you can have a horse of your own.
So go on, get yourself acquainted with the magnificence of the equestrian lifestyle. You might as well like to visit a website like Horsetraderonline.co.uk where you can find hundreds of people selling horse-training equipment and other accessories required for horse riding. It is one of the UK's premier equestrian websites.
When you have had a bad fall, it can take a long time before you feel confident enough to get back on a horse. And so it should be, caution is the body's way of protecting itself. But what do you do if you love horse and you love horse riding and you are yearning to get back in the saddle but your riding confidence is a rock-bottom low?
1. Maintain physical fitness, strength and suppleness Start with what you have. Get fit. Lose any surplus weight that may have accumulated while you were laid up. Slowly build up your strength again and gradually regain your suppleness with stretches and yoga. If it was a severe injury, work with a professional, like a physiotherapist. You will automatically feel more confident when you are strong and fit
2. Eat a healthy diet. After an injury, you need to rebuild your physical strength. Eat enough, but not too much. Make sure you ingest all the vitamins you body needs while it is under all this physical and mental stress.
3. Limit alcohol, avoid drugs. Most horse riders know to avoid alcohol (and drugs, for the same reasons) if they plan to go anywhere near their horses. Be careful not to self-medicate with alcohol while you are feeling low and bored, it will not make you feel happier or better. You are only delaying the healing process; a very unwise approach indeed
4. Get enough sleep. When you sleep, your body takes time out to heal itself, physically and mentally. At no other time does your body need to recharge its batteries as desperately as after an injury. Invest in eight hours of deep, rejuvenating sleep a night, until you are fully restored.
5. Increase your body awareness. If you were injured physically, you probably have no difficulty paying attention to your body's messages - especially the parts that were injured. Even if you did not sustain a serious injury, pay attention to what is going on inside you and in the immediate area around you. Rediscover your sense of touch and physical orientation. Body awareness is an essential attribute of all good riders.
6. Review your commitment to observe standard safety procedures. Always wear appropriate riding apparel, always check your equipment, always wear a helmet
7. Learn how to fall. Martial arts students spend a lot of time learning how to fall without injuring themselves. If you haven't mastered this useful art yet, take some time to do so now. You will be investing in your future.
8. Get your timing right. Next time you ride, take all the variables into account. Don't go riding if you are rushed, or feel under the weather, or have too many other things on your mind. Give your horse not only your time, but also your full attention.
9. Take the environment into account (as well as your horse's reaction to the environment). Do not put either yourself or your horse at risk because you are desperate to go riding. Life's too short.
10. Buy insurance, personal, horse and third party. Make sure you are fully insured, and so is your horse. Last thing you need when you are recuperating from the physical and mental effects of a horse riding injury is to worry about doctor's and/or vet's bills.
So you see, there is a lot you can do to restore your confidence long before you gat back into the saddle. And doing something physical is good for your body and your mind. Once you are strong enough to start exercising again, remember exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, the body's natural analgesic. So get out there and start mucking out those stables. It will cheer you up no end and in no time. (Just joking!)
Both Gareth12 Taylor12 & Margarethe De Clermont are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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Margarethe De Clermont has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Hypnotherapy and Lose Weight. Dr Margarethe de Clermont is the author of the e-books "Ride with Supreme Self-Confidence", "Letters to Lady Belle, my Friesian Mare", "Tame Your Fear" and edits the I want a Horse Equestrian Magazine about earning a second income on the web. Did y. Margarethe De Clermont's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.