Common Beginner Horse Riding Mistakes

The Fix: Sit up straight, but relaxed. Avoid going ramrod straight as that too can be a problem. Keep your chin up and look where you are going. Squeezing your shoulder blades back can make you feel tense, so instead, think of opening up your chest and letting your breastbone float upwards. You want to stay supple and tension free.

Drawing up Your Knees

Many new riders look as if they're sitting in a chair when they first get in the saddle. Their knees are drawn up and their heels may be up, or they may be forced down, with their feet pushed forward. Some riders look like they are trying to imitate jockeys.

The Fix: This is similar to clenching with the leg. Work on letting your leg hang downwards from the hip, and keeping the proper leg alignment. Don't pinch with your knees.

Letting the Reins Slide

Horses move their heads when they move, and if a rider does not accommodate this movement, they will have the reins pulled through their hands. This leaves the rider with little contact on the bit, or ability to cue the horse with the reins properly. The rider then compensates by either lifting their hands high up or attempting to pull the reins with their hands almost behind them.

The Fix: Riding is a constant process of re-balancing and readjusting. Cagey school horses are adept at rooting, so learning to stop this behavior can help. However, even at a walk, a horse's head bobs up and down, so the rider needs to move their arms and hands so the reins don't become too long. Let your arms hang down your sides, allowing them to swing subtly as if your shoulders were hinges. If the horse pulls forward, such as when it trips, sneezes or steps over something, learn to use your arms to give the horse more rein, and not let the reins slide through your fingers. Learn how to shorten your reins as you go.