I felt great until about 1.5 months into my pregnancy. That’s when the all-day persistent nausea hit. It would start around noon, sometimes even earlier, and linger around all day long. I never threw up, so I knew I had it good compared to a lot of other mamas out there, but it was still terrible to have nagging nausea following me everywhere.

I was moody and miserable and the only relief I got was from eating crackers, pickles and TV dinners (I weirdly craved Amy’s enchiladas and mac and cheese for the first 2 months). Oh yeah, and riding horses.

Some days I thought I was too nauseous to get in the saddle, but I found that as soon as I started riding, I felt so much better. Most likely because it gave me a distraction and so I couldn’t even think about feeling sick – I was too focused on harnessing Stanley’s energy for good, collecting the trot, and keeping him on his hind-end throughout the canter.

Horseback Riding First Trimester: What’s it Like to Ride at 1 Month Pregnant?

There is really no difference at all, I felt completely normal at this stage in my pregnancy even though I was technically riding for two.

What’s it Like to Ride at 2 Months Pregnant?

By this time in my pregnancy I was feeling sick a lot, but as I mentioned before, that tended to blow away with the dust when I was riding – just like all of life’s problems, can I get an Amen?

My inner thighs became really sore at this stage in my pregnancy, even more sore than they are now (I’m currently four months pregnant). My doctor told me that it has to do with excess blood flow and all of the muscles and tissues expanding. At the beginning of every ride, I’d feel the tightness in my thighs, and it made me feel a little weird and wobbly up there. Thankfully, as my warmup progressed, the tightness tended to dissipate, and I started to feel more normal.

Other than that, I felt completely normal while riding at 2 months pregnant. I could even still fit into my regular riding pants!

What My Doctor Said About Riding Horses at 1-2 Months Pregnant

My doctor gave me the green light to ride and enjoy myself. To be fair, I didn’t really ask – I sort of said, “I plan to ride until I’m six months pregnant, how do you feel about that?”

Without hesitation he said he felt fine about it. He went on to reference a Canadian study in which there were two groups of women – one group was put on bed rest and the other group was instructed to continue all of their normal activities (including horseback riding). At the end of the study, researchers found no difference in miscarriage rates between the two groups.

Taking Precautions When Riding Horses In Your First Trimester

Even at one to months pregnant, I stopped jumping or going out on trail rides – not everyone would go to this extreme, completely understandable and you’re probably fine doing what you normally do, I just wanted to decrease my risks as much as possible.

I wouldn’t recommend riding any crazy horses or jumping on a horse you’ve never ridden before. I stuck to riding my trusted 15-year-old gelding who I have been riding for years. Sure, I’ve fallen off of him in the past, but I trust him a lot and overall, he’s a really well-behaved horse.

Will your baby get hurt if you fall off while riding your horse in the first trimester?

You could get hurt if you fall off while riding your horse and so, of course, you are putting your baby at some risk – especially by partaking in activities under saddle that increase your chances of falling off, like jumping or galloping down an unknown trail. That being said, you are also putting yourself and unborn child at risk when you get in your car, swim in the ocean, or do a host of other activities.

I’ve read a lot on the matter, and even talked to my doctor about it, and it would be very difficult to harm your baby in a fall unless the horse falls on you or you become badly injured. A lot of moms around the Internet have shared that they fell off in their first trimester. I read about one woman who took a direct hit to her stomach when she landed over a jump pole (she was one month pregnant). Her baby was completely unharmed, as was she. It is difficult to harm the baby at this stage because it is so tiny and deep in your womb that it is well cushioned and protected. That’s not to say it can’t happen, so always proceed with caution.

Do you plan to ride throughout your pregnancy?

Share your experiences in the comments below!

The post Horseback Riding In Your First Trimester: Riding Horses When You Are 1 to 2 Months Pregnant appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

If you are worried about being a bad rider, you are in fact, a good rider by nature. All it takes to be a good rider is the desire to constantly learn more and improve your systems for kind and consistent communication between you and your horse, or any horse you ride.

Sure, your riding skills may need some work; maybe you’ve fallen off several times in the past few months, or maybe you just can’t get your horse to learn something you’ve been working on for a while. That doesn’t mean you’re a bad horseback rider! We all hit brick walls here and there. Even the best trainers fall and fail, but what sets the good riders apart from the bad is that the good never give up, or resort to violence against their horse.

Horseback riding is a constant learning process. I remember thinking I knew everything when I was 13 years old, and then I was introduced to a trainer who taught me much more in-depth things, like how to ride with your seat and how to hold your reigns tighter on the outside than on the inside to help balance and bend your horse. This rush of new information made me feel like I knew nothing before.  My mom used to always say – the more you know, the more you realize how much you have to learn.  That quote rang so true to me at that moment. I continue to learn so much about horses and riding all the time, and I’ve been riding for 25+ years.

We may all feel like a “bad horseback rider” every now and again, but just remember that as long as you’re trying to improve and always remain kind and respectful to your horse, you are, in fact, a good horseback rider.

How to Become a Better Horseback Rider

All of us want to get better at riding. No matter if you’re in a rut thinking you are a bad horseback rider, or just feeling like you have a lot to learn, here are some tips to help improve your horseback riding.

• Try out different trainers – a new trainer can shed a bright light on issues you are having. Attending local riding clinics can be a great way to work with highly accredited trainers.
• Have someone more experienced check out all of your tack to ensure it fits properly and is setting you and your horse up for success.
• Ride in front of mirrors or have someone film you riding – watching yourself ride can be very telling and help you to self-correct things you may be doing unintentionally or unknowingly.
• Ride with a friend and ask for their input and advice
• Read books and blogs, and watch videos created by professional trainers
• Mentally swap places with your horse and try and think about things from their perspective.
• Have a trainer or more experienced rider hop on your horse. Watch what they do and get advice from them.
• Keep practicing and never give up!

The post How to Know if You Are a Bad Horseback Rider appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

7 Things That’ll Help Convince Your Parents to Let You Ride Horses

1. Cite the facts… horseback riding improves confidence, communication skills, and gives a better sense of responsibility.

As a kid, I was shy and awkward and never wanted to leave my mother’s side. Horses changed all of that for me, they brought me out of my shell and gave me confidence. Turns out, I’m not alone. Horses have proven to help kids from all walks of life in numerous ways, from improving communication skills to instilling a sense of responsibility. In fact, equine therapy is a real thing.

You might want to print out and show your parents this study from 2013 that documented the benefits of enrolling children in a horse education program. The study found that children enrolled in horse programs made more positive gains than their peers who were not enrolled in a horse program. Children showed greater self-awareness, responsibility, self-management, goal directed behavior, decision making and relationship building skills.

2. Horseback riding reduces stress

While you’re at it, you can also print out this 2014 study that measured the stress hormone cortisol in teenagers who rode horses vs. teenagers who did not ride horses. There were over 100 teens enrolled in the study; 53 participated in 90-minutes of horse-related activities once a week, while 60 teens in the control group did not interact with horses at all. Saliva samples were taken from teens in the program and in the control group and then compared.

Turns out, the teens enrolled in the riding program had lower cortisol counts than their peers who did not interact with horses on a weekly basis. This is huge considering high stress cortisol levels put you at risk of more health problems. On the other hand, low levels of this stress hormone are associated with better overall health and wellbeing. The take away? Regular contact with horses can reduce stress and improve your quality of life.

3. Horseback riding makes children more socially competent.

Yet another pro-riding study you can share with your ‘rents is this one out of Washington State University.  In this study, a group of children were given a test to determine social competence. Then, part of the group was enrolled in an 11-week equine program, while the other half of the group (the control group) was not. After the 11-week period, all children in the study were re-tested to see if social competence had changed at all. The children enrolled in a horse program showed positive social developments, while the other group showed no change.

16 weeks later, children in the control group were enrolled in an equine program and then tested at a later date. They showed “significantly higher posttest levels of social competence after program completion” when compared to how they originally scored.

4. Make some deals and be willing to work hard to earn riding lessons.

Sometimes, you have to prove to your parents how much you want something by offering hard work in return. Volunteer to take on extra chores, help with mom’s paperwork, or whatever else you think your parents will appreciate you doing. Maybe that’s getting a job, and hey, that works too. After all, if you decide you really like horses, you’re going to need a job anyways!

Write out a deal that includes the type of work you plan to do in exchange for 1 riding lesson a week. Don’t forget to call ahead to see how much riding lessons cost so you can include this in your plan. Bonus points if you call multiple riding stables and get quotes, that way you can show your parents that you’ve found a reasonable deal. Present your plan like a formal presentation to really knock their socks off!

P.S.: Don’t forget to include the research-based facts (provided above) in your presentation.

5. Find a barn that’ll let you work for lessons

Money is a common concern when it comes to horses. After all, the average cost of an hour-long riding lesson is around $45 to $80. So, if your parents’ number one excuse is that they can’t afford it, don’t give up hope, you still have options!

First, do a Google search to find local riding schools in your area. Then, start calling them up. Let them know you are passionate about horses and would love to take lessons in exchange for work around their barn. People are going to say no, but don’t give up because a lot of barns are willing to exchange lessons for mucking stalls, cleaning tack, grooming horses, and other chores.

The best part? Working around the barn will give you even more time with the horses. Plus, it’ll help show your parents how committed you are to the sport and might soften up their stance on letting you ride.

6. Stress the importance of safety

If safety is a main concern when it comes to your parents letting you ride horses, fill them in on all the ways you can protect yourself at the barn. From helmets to safety vests, and steel-toed boots, the right gear can help keep you safe.

Plus, a quality riding school is going to stress safety above all else. For one, the horses used in lesson programs should be calm and “bomb proof,” a term used in the equine world to signify a horse that doesn’t spook, buck or bolt over anything. Plus, your trainer isn’t going to throw you on a horse and expect you to canter on day one. Instead, it’s a slow process where you get to learn about horses and how to interact with them in a safe manner. Encourage your parents to talk to a local trainer who can explain more about the process and things he or she does to help keep students safe.

7. Encourage your parents to ride with you

Sometimes, your parents need some encouragement in the form of hands-on experience. Ask them to go riding with you. Considering purchasing a trail riding deal on GroupOn so the whole family can partake in the fun together.

What if My Parent’s Won’t Let Me Ride No Matter What?

Don’t give up hope! Just because you can’t talk your parents into letting you ride horses as a kid or teen doesn’t mean you can’t ride forever. As soon as you turn 18, the choice to ride is all yours. Getting a later start on riding isn’t a bad thing at all. There are plenty of incredible equestrians who started riding later in life. In the meantime, keep reading about horses, watching videos about how to care for and train horses, and learning everything you can about these magical creatures. Then, when you are old enough to enroll yourself in riding lessons, there will be no stopping how great you become.

The post How to Talk Your Parents into Letting You Ride Horses appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

How do you bounce back after a bad fall? I’ve seen countless equestrians fearlessly hop back on after a death defying fall, leaving me to feel like a wimp at best as I stare up at my stirrups in defeat. I don’t want a broken back, a dislocated hip, or another year of tailbone pain (which just recently dissipated after my last fall).

The body uses fear as a protective measure against danger, so some level of fear is healthy when you’re hanging around animals that weigh over 1,000 pounds. But constant fear is only going to get you in trouble. Horses can sense fear with the same clarity you’d would see a horrifying clown covered in blood, carrying an axe and running straight for you. So, when you’re afraid, your horse is even more afraid.

I consider myself a pretty brave equestrian in the sense I feel safest surrounded by horses, but that doesn’t mean I don’t experience periods of fear or trepidation—of course I do! We’ve all been in the same pair of shaky boots before, so what’s the difference between used-to-be equestrians and us lifelong horse people? We love it too much to let anything, including fear, get in the way.

You Can Overcome Your Fear of Riding Horses!

If you want to be around horses and overcome your fear of riding, the following tips can help.

Tip #1 to overcome fear of riding horses: Get Right Back On

I still remember one of my first trainers yelling at us, “Get back on your horse!” It didn’t matter if we were bruised up, bleeding or crying, she was going to make us get back on and do it again. To this day, I always get back on after I fall off. 

Unless you are injured or it is too dangerous, get back on your horse right after you fall off. Waiting to get back on another day lets your mind think too much and could give you more anxiety about doing so.

Tip #2 to overcome fear of riding horses: Watch a Friend Ride Your Horse

Watching someone else enjoy riding your horse, or a horse you plan to ride, can help ease your mind. From one horse-lover to another, how can you resist the urge to ride after watching someone else ride? As you start wanting to ride, the fear of ‘what-ifs’ begins to fade away. Additionally, having someone else ride a horse first may help calm him down so he’s more relaxed and lazy when you get on.

Have that same friend stick around while you get back in the saddle. Their support and guidance can make a big difference, especially if they know a lot about horses and are a confident rider.

Tip #3 to overcome fear of riding horses: Invest in a Jumping Vest

If you ride horses, you are going to fall. Instead of worrying about it, plan for it! Your helmet is there to protect your noggin, and a jump vest can protect your vital organs and some of your bones—including your spine. It may take some getting used-to but it’s worth it if you fall off, as well as for peace of mind. I recommend trying on different types of vests to find one you feel most comfortable in.

Tip #4 to overcome fear of riding horses: Ride a Pushbutton Horse to Regain Confidence

Riding a different horse that is very well mannered and easy to ride can help build confidence and remind your fear-ridden brain that you do, in fact, know how to ride a horse. If you don’t have any pushbutton horses available to you, enlist in riding lessons at a local stable to regain your confidence on one of their lesson horses. When you set up your lesson, explain your purpose in going there so the trainer can match you with a good horse.

Tip #5 to overcome fear of riding horses:  Write Out Your Fears

Maybe you fell off jumping, or your horse tends to buck and catapulted you outta your saddle, no matter what you are nervous about your horse doing, take the time to write it down. Write out the whole incident in detail to help you uncover triggers for the action, and things you could do to prevent it from happening in the future. Reassure yourself that you know how to handle it by writing down how you’ll react the next time it happens.

If you don’t know how to react if your horse does it again, see #6…

Tip #6 to overcome fear of riding horses: Get Help from a Trusted Trainer

If you are not currently working with a trainer, find a trusted trainer with good reviews to help assist you getting back in the saddle. One-on-one assistance from a professional can offer invaluable advice that’ll keep you safe and teach you how to prevent, respond to and correct your horse’s bad behavior. Horses often act up because of rider error. A trainer can help pinpoint and correct things you might unknowingly be doing that negatively interfere with your horse and result in bad behavior.

Next Up: Falling Off a Horse: What Does it Feel Like? 

The post 6 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Riding Horses appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

I’ve been riding horses since I was 7-years-old, and have since fallen off more times than I can count. My most recent fall was just last week, 2 days before my 27th birthday. Some falls are slow, graceful, hardly hurt at all. Others are harsh, abrasive and leave you in pain for days, sometimes even weeks. My most recent fall lands in the later category, 4-days out and my tailbone still hurts and my butt remains covered in harsh bruises.

Us horseback riders are basically asking for it. After all, you are 20 times more likely to be injured riding a horse than riding a motorcycle. According to a study out of Cambridge University, the average rider falls off a horse once every 100 hours in the saddle. If you are jumping this number dramatically increases to once every 5 hours!

Even the best of the best fall off. Japan’s Yoshiaki Oiwa fell off his horse at the 2012 London Olympics. Photo Cred: Pinterest

Say you don’t jump all that much and you ride around 4 hours a week. That means you can expect to fall off or incur some sort of riding-related injury once every 20 weeks, or every 5 months. My last fall was three years ago, so I already knew I was long overdue for a tumble.

Falls can end in debilitating, even life threatening injuries. Thankfully, the majority of horseback riding falls just end in bruises and broken bones.

Every time you fall is a little different, but always pretty much the same. There’s that moment when you know what’s about to come. I’m falling, you think, oh sh*t, here it goes.

I see the shoulder of the horse from this one angle where I am looking up at the mane and that’s when I know there’s no way of catching my balance; it’s all over for me. As I’m freefalling I tend to close my eyes, reopening them once I slam into the sand. I usually land in some weird seated position, with my butt taking the brunt of the fall… good thing I don’t have a boney booty! Although, the time before last I fell right on my head… thankfully I always wear a helmet. Right now, as my tailbone throbs, I’m just wishing they sold helmets for butts, ‘buttmets’ they could be called.

Photo Cred: Reddit

If you fall in a sandy arena you are going to be covered in layers of dirt, especially if you were sweating prior to your fall. Dirt gets trapped between the corners of your lips, up your shirt and down your pants, and you can feel little specks of sand crunch between your teeth.

There is that moment right after I land that I always think, oh gosh, I hope I can get up. And when I do find my feet and stand I think, thank everything good I am still mobile.

After falling off a horse, you’ll likely find your horse standing somewhere nearby looking confused/guilty with the reins lopsided hanging down from their neck. They may also run off, which is far less ideal.

I’ll admit, falling off my horse last weekend was completely my fault. Stanely over-jumped a fence that I didn’t guide him towards too well to begin with and I simply lost my balance. I can’t believe how easily I lost my balance, but I can’t beat myself up about it… after all, it already looks like I got beat up with a wooden paddle.

The day after the fall my tailbone hurt, my neck felt like it had whiplash, and my left calf was mysteriously sore. Ironically, I nearly posted a photo to Instagram mere minutes before the fall with the caption: ‘Starting off my birthday weekend right!’ I got lazy and never did it, but either way I ended up starting my birthday weekend right… in the dirt.

Today marks four days after the fall and my tailbone still aches and my bruises remain frighteningly  prominent. I can deal with the un-comfortableness, what I’m currently struggling to deal with is my inability to ride. My tailbone is too sore to get in the saddle just yet… but I don’t know how much longer I can wait!

My horse Stanley is ready to get back to work too… he’s been quite a show off in the turnout this week.

I am scared of most things in life, but no matter how many times I fall off a horse I am not afraid of getting back on. That doesn’t mean I’m dumb or want to have a messed up spine and endless back pain when I’m only 40-years-old. I know good and well that if you fall off too many times that’s exactly what happens.

If you want to ride until your old and grey the key is to keep your body healthy and fit. So to all my fellow horseback riders out there, play it safe, think through every decision you make on the back of a horse, and never, NEVER forget to wear your helmet. And if you’re jumping, a riding vest is a great investment to protect your back. Oh, and no matter what… “Keep calm and get back on!”

Photo Cred: Pinterest

Share your worst horseback riding accident and how you bounced back in the comments below!

Haven’t bounced back yet? Read: How to Overcome Fear of Riding Horses 

The post Falling Off A Horse: What Does It Feel Like? appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

It’s an age-old question all horseback riders have wondered a time or two: do horses like to be ridden?

Good equestrians don’t just enjoy riding horses, they also truly love and care about the wellbeing of the animal. Therefore, we can only hope that horses don’t hate being ridden. I sure hope my horse doesn’t see me coming with the saddle and think, “Oh no, oh no, oh no!” But I have met a number of horses who have this hoof-jerk reaction to the very sight of riding tack.

Then, there are other horses that can be ridden bareback, with no bridle over large fences with ease and grace. Instantly the incredibly talented and gentle rider Alycia Burton comes to mind. It’s clear watching the body language of her horse that he is enjoying himself and at ease.

Alycia Burton jumping her horse bareback and without a bridle. Photo Credit: freeridingnz

So, what makes a horse content under saddle?

• A gentle rider with soft aids
• Clear communication between horse and rider
• Comfortable tack that is properly fit and doesn’t pinch, pull, or restrict movement in any way
• Working to the horse’s skill level and not pushing them too far
• Good fit between horse and rider; rider is appropriately sized for the horse

What makes a horse unhappy under saddle?

• A rough or aggressive rider
• Riders who don’t understand the right aids to use will only confuse their horse and then if the rider starts punishing the horse for not responding correctly, well the horse is confused and clearly not having fun
• The rider is too big for the horse
• Not respecting or praising the horse enough
• Riding a horse that is hurt, injured or in pain

Sure, most horses would rather be out playing in a pasture or munching on some hay than working hard in the arena. At the same time, I’d rather be snuggled up on my couch with a cup of hot cocoa watching Netflix, but I still have to go to work every day. The time we spend working hard makes relaxing that much more enjoyable. I like to think of it as sort of like that for horses too. Of course, if my work life entailed being beat with a whip, excessively yelled at with no praise at all, I’d probably want to quit my job – or buck off my boss.

What I’m trying to say is, horses don’t have to hate being ridden. They can find some level of enjoyment in the sport, but that all depends on the skill and patience of the rider, as well as the respect they have for the horse. When the right partnership forms, horses and humans can make great friends who have worlds of fun together. This friendship is further expanded when sharing the magic of galloping together as one.

Does it Hurt Horses to Ride Them?

Horses are big and strong and perfectly capable of carrying us humans around. It should not hurt a horse to ride them, as long as you follow these rules:

• The rider should not be too big for the horse, a heavy rider on a small horse can put too much pressure on the horse’s back, leading to discomfort and even health issues.
• Horse is sound and does not have any existing injuries, this includes a clean saddle area with no sores. If there are sores underneath a horse’s tack it can be rather painful and lead to infection.
• Respect the horse’s physical condition and do not push him or her past what they are comfortably capable of.
• Do not pull on their mouth, use a gentle bit or a bitless bridle (hackamore bridle)
• Don’t wear spurs unless you have excellent control of your leg. Refrain from kicking hard with spurs or constantly digging into their sides with spurs. This can be nearly impossible to accomplish if you are not a strong and skilled rider with good leg control.
• Be kind with whips and other riding tools, refrain from using as much as possible.
• Don’t bounce around too much, try and uphold your weight so that you sit evenly in the saddle and land gently on your horse’s back when posting.

How to Know if Your Horse Likes to Be Ridden

Chances are, you know if your horse likes to be ridden or not. That doesn’t mean your horse won’t try to escape the arena in hopes of going back to their stall for some hay. It does mean your horse will have a calm and relaxed demeanor when you tack up and get on. They will be willing to listen to your aids without much backlash.

Watch their ears, they should fluctuate between perched forward looking ahead and around at their surroundings, to slightly flexed back listening to your aids. If a horse’s ears are completely pinned back, the horse is angry and not having a good time. Perhaps the saddle is pinching, or maybe they’ve had a lot of heavy handed riders and are fearful you’ll do more of the same.

How to Know if Your Horse Hates Being Ridden

When horses hate being ridden, they typically find ways to show us. They’ll pin their ears, buck, resist the bit, rear, or bolt in protest. Many would argue that horses can be “beat into submission” by heavy-handed riders. It’s sad to say that many so-called trainers use very aggressive tactics to make horses behave. I’ve seen a horse bleeding from the mouth because his rider was using such a strong bit and pulling so hard on his mouth. I’ve seen bloody sides from spurs digging into tummy flesh. These acts of aggression may make a horse compliant out of fear, but it doesn’t mean they’ll enjoy themselves, and this is the worst way to build a good relationship with your horse.

Eventually, a horse who does not like to be ridden due to a series of bad experiences will develop some or all of the following habits:

• Kicking, biting, lunging, or pinning their ears when they are getting tacked up
• Lack of response to aids, a great example is a hard mouth from too much pulling
• Bucking, rearing, bolting, or other behavioral issues under saddle
• Not wanting to be caught from their stall or turn out pen
• Some horses will continue to behave but they’ll develop a sad and defeated personality – you can see it in their eyes and ears.

As a Rider, You Can Make or Break a Horse’s Experience Under Saddle

Inexperienced riders are probably the least fun to lug around because they pull on the mouth, flop around, don’t distribute their weight evenly, kick too much, and so forth. It’s not their fault, they just don’t have the strength, ability, or knowledge to ride well yet. Yet, even some of the biggest names in professional riding can have unhappy horses out in the show ring. Therefore, rider skill level doesn’t always dictate if the horse under saddle is happy or not.

A horse regularly used for trail rides by different people may tolerate horseback riders more so than enjoy them. After all, horses enjoy routine and consistency and different riders are going to have unique styles which can make a horse feel less comfortable. Also, trail horses are often ridden by people who don’t really know how to ride, which can make the experience far from comfortable for the horse.

On the other hand, a horse with a regular and experienced rider is going to build a relationship with that rider and they are far more likely to enjoy going for a ride. Of course, some days are going to seem more favorable for a ride than others. Just like somedays going to work isn’t so bad and other days you’re counting down the hours till you can leave.

What About People Who Say Horse Riding is Cruel?

I’ve thought a lot about this over the years. The last thing I want is to be cruel to the horses I care so much about. I believe that riding can be cruel when done improperly but that it doesn’t have to be that way.

It IS cruel to beat your horse, push them when they are sore or hurt, or use inconsistently rough aids. It is NOT cruel to ride your horse with soft aids, show them lots of praise whenever they do something well, and kindly correct them when they act poorly.

You can’t say that all forms of horseback riding are cruel. After all, I have known too many horses who love human contact, enjoy going out for rides, and are overall happy-go-lucky creatures living a quality life.

How to Make Your Horse Happier Under Saddle

• Think like a horse, use gentle pressure to communicate

To build a good relationship with your horse, it’s important to understand how horses naturally communicate with one another in the wild. Wild horses use gentle measures to communicate amongst the heard and only resort to physical force as a last resort.  Horses are sensitive creatures; they feel everything and will learn to respond to the slightest of commands.

Horses trained with gentle aids and positive reinforcement learn to respond to slight movements and pressure. Horses trained and handled with a heavy hand develop vices, like a hard mouth that resist even the harshest (evilest) of bits. It benefits you and your horse to use gentle aids. Your horse will feel more comfortable while training in the arena or out on the trails, and you will enjoy a more responsive horse.

Side note: If you purchase a horse that is used to firm aids, you’re in an entirely different arena, and it’s very hard to reverse the damage done. Not all hope is lost; I’ve seen many trainers work miracles on horses that have been poorly trained with a heavy hand.

• Don’t rely heavily on whips and spurs

You may need to carry a whip to train your horse not to stop in corners, but that doesn’t mean you need to beat the horse with that whip. There are many levels of force you can apply to a horse without ever resorting to hitting them hard with a whip or crop. Clucking, a gentle tap, a squeeze, a grander motion of your legs prior to squeezing, simply moving the whip around and giving your horse a gentle tap on the behind – all of these things are naturally favorable to beating, yelling, or violently kicking a horse into submission.

• Find a discipline your horse likes

Find a discipline your horse likes and excels at; some horses love jumping while others prefer the fast stops and turns that come with barrel racing. If your horse puts up a lot of resistance over fences or starts bucking as soon as you ask for a piaffe (dressage move), you must consider if this is the right sport for your horse.

• Make sure your tack fits correctly

Imagine working out at the gym in clothes that restrict your movement, make it difficult to take a deep breath, or cause constant pain to your mouth – not fun, right? Poorly fitting tack is a leading cause of horses who do not like being ridden. Make sure that all your tack fits properly and doesn’t restrict your horse’s movement or comfort in any way. Have an experienced trainer check out your gear or call in a professional saddle fitter to make sure you are using the right shape saddle for your horse. Good fitting tack can make a world of difference for both horse and rider.

• Never lose respect

Horses are huge animals that could kill us in a matter of seconds if they wanted to. Never lose respect for the power of these creatures and all that they do for us. Show your horse kindness and respect through praise, gentle encouragement, and lots of treats after every ride. Being appreciated and respected goes a long way – for both humans and horses.

What Do Horses Think When We Ride Them?

You can get an idea about what your horse is thinking about by looking at his ears. If they are pointed at the hay shed, he’s thinking about hay. If they are pointed towards an approaching horse and rider, he’s thinking about them. If they are slightly turned back towards you, your horse is thinking about your aids and what you want him to do. In other words, horses think about all different things when we ride them. Horse thoughts are fluid and fluctuate throughout the ride depending on what’s going on, how well you hold their attention, and if outside factors are distracting or scaring them.

Do Horses Like to Be Ridden? My Final Thoughts

So, do horses enjoy being ridden? I say they most certainly can if they have a respectful and steady rider. I believe many horses learn to tolerate poor riding and harsh discipline, because what other choice do they really have? Beating a horse into submission is cruel and takes away the beauty of the experience. There’s nothing like bonding with a horse through mutual respect. Just like any living creature, horses do best with more praise than punishment. If you want your horse to enjoy being ridden it’s time to see the world through their eyes and treat them the way you’d want to be treated if you were a horse and they were your rider.

Next Up: Nailing a Quiet Ride: The Power of Half-Halts

The post Do Horses Like When We Ride Them? appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.

Find out how half-halts helped me get my canter back on track with a horse who just wanted to run, run, RUN… faster and faster he’d go.

What do you think about when you ride? If you’re anything like me, it’s next to nothing. In fact, it’s one of the few things that makes my otherwise buzzing brain go silent. When my horse Stanley tracks too close to the arena fence I might think, ‘uh oh, my leg—push over!’ And if something predictably spooks him near the bush full of bunny monsters, I might think: sit back, hold steady. But otherwise, as I ride along, my mind is playing a peaceful hum. Even when the tree branches hit me in the face with a wet slap I keep on grinning. After all, there’s just nothing like horseback riding. Even in all of its glory, any seasoned equestrian can agree that some horses provide a much more peaceful riding experience than others.

Take my horse Stanley for instance. Two years ago there were few places less stressful than atop his back when he cantered. Sure, it wasn’t the regular to-do lists cluttering my mind, instead I was constantly thinking: how will I ever slow this horse down? He just wanted to go faster and faster with each break-neck turn. One trainer told me to put him away to pasture for a year, and then retrain him again.  Another trainer told me to try endless circles when he went too fast, let him work harder until he slowed down. Since option number two seemed a more reasonable place to start, circle I did, but Stanley didn’t care how many circles we made, he just kept on flying. I’d be up there huffing and puffing, my lips chapped and my throat dry, just trying to keep up with Stanley. And yet nothing I tried seemed to be working.

The Power of Half-Halts: Giving Your Horse Some Brakes

“I know,” my younger sister would sympathize, “Stanley is really hard to ride.” She knew as well as I, she was his original rider, the one who begged and pleaded for him before realizing he was too much horse for her. At which point, she swiftly passed him onto me—so his speed was now my problem. And so we raced and raced around the arena until a trainer came along with a simple solution. “He just needs a set of breaks.” She told me, with a slight country twang. My first thought, but he has breaks! He knows what ‘whoa’ means—but did he really? Clearly, the state of his canter was screaming otherwise.

Since his other gaits offered a comfortable and controllable pace, I never thought he had poor breaks altogether, therefore I never thought to work on endless half-halts while walking and trotting. Although this is exactly what trainer #3 advised me to do. So up and down the long sides I went, half-halting all the way. “And again.” The trainer would instruct me. Seriously? I’d be sweating and thinking, but I’d do it, over and over until I thought Stanley might kill me over repetition.

But then, before Stanley got the chance to plan my demise, all of the stop-and-go really started to pay-off. His antsy attitude and high-held head began to relax, he puffed some air out of his nose, and stop, go, stop, go, we continued along without fault. Stanley’s newly acquired breaks worked just as well at the canter as they did at lower gaits. Once I sat back and relaxed, stopped pulling on his mouth and squeezing tight with my seat in attempts to slow him down, he relaxed a bunch too. The first few times I experienced a truly controlled canter I was ecstatic, and today (more than one year later) I still don’t take it for granted.

Using Half-Halts for Controlled Well-Bent Corners

Finally, we had a controlled canter that didn’t increase in speed every time we went around the arena, but this deceleration brought about a host of other suddenly noticeable issues. For instance, Stanley’s corners were a mess. Bending? What’s that? In fact his turns were the one place he still liked to speed up and flat line the most! And so we were assigned even more half-halts, now at the canter and just before each corner. Guess what? It worked!

Today Stanley canters like a four-legged gentleman, he can go fast or he can pull it together nice and slow. The moment he starts to feel strung out, his mind anywhere but on my aids, I start up with the half-halts, the exercise that always helps bring us back together again.

Moral of the story? When cookies don’t taste right it’s probably because a core ingredient is missing. In horsey terms? If you’re having a major issue with your horse, look towards the most fundamental solutions to get your riding back on a peaceful track!

Stanley and I enjoying a peaceful morning ride together, all thanks to half-halts!

The post The Power of Half-Halts: Retraining a Horse Who Canters Too Fast appeared first on Official Website of Becky Bruce.