Horse riding can be very enjoyable as you get to ride around and get some fresh air
. There are different kinds of horse riding and each one requires something different from you and your horse. When you first bring the horse home from the breeder you need to familiarise yourself with all their little habits as they are in a strange place to them and can react in different ways.
You should have the stable ready for when you bring the horse home, this means have fresh hay and plenty of space. It is important that you keep the stable nice and clean for the horse as it needs it in order to feel comfortable. Your horse will only obey to your commands if it refreshed, which is why before each ride you need the horse to be well rested.
Locating the right equipment is very important; with the various types of horse riding you need different types of equipment. However whether you are riding in competition, dressage or just during your free time, you need the basics such as a saddle, whip and helmets. During the winter you should also invest in some reflective clothing so that you are easily visible when daylight falls (which seems to be getting earlier each day!)
There is a range of reflective clothing around including Hi Vis elastic bands that fit around your arm and legs, Hi Vis gloves and jackets that are all available to purchase. You need to ensure that you have got a high quality helmet especially as when you first ride your horse you do not know how it is going to react and falls and tumbles are quite common. In all fairness, falls can happen to the best of riders (just look at the Grand National) so you need to be prepared as during competition you may miss time a jump and that can lead to a fall.
After every ride make sure you check the horse for any injuries it may have picked up along the way. Regular cleaning and grooming is all part of looking after a horse and this is extremely important. During the winter make sure your horse is warm enough and has plenty of food in order to keep it fit and healthy. Maintaining a healthy body temperature is vital so feeding your horse more fodder will help it stay warm during the winter.
