How to Ride a Difficult Horse: The Basics for Beginners

You are perfecting the tools you already have and learning new tools to add to your toolbox when it comes to riding. Though it can be hard at first, I think this phase in the learning process can be the most rewarding because it is when you finally learn why we do things, and you begin to be able to problem-solve on your own with your new skills. Nothing feels better than getting off a horse feeling like you made it better than when you got on.

Step 3: Refine Your Skills

Next, you will continue to refine your skills. All your riding experience on different horses will help you to add to your bag of tricks and make you a more effective rider.

By now, you may have decided that you want to specialize in a certain discipline. So now you will begin to ride horses that are trained that way, maybe learning to ride dressage or eventing horses.

You will have developed your skills enough to ride horses that know more than you do, and they are able to teach you new horsemanship lessons, how to ride a horse on the bit, or maybe do lateral work—jumping outside the ring. The possibilities are endless.

Step 4: Don’t Skip Rungs as You Climb the Ladder

You can't skip any rungs on the ladder. Each one serves its special purpose in teaching you the skills you need to become a great rider. On your climb up the ladder, you will have good rides and bad rides.

It is your instructor's job to make sure that you understand why you are doing what you are doing. That way, you can see the process and where you are on your way through it.

Step 5: Never Stop Learning!