Big Striding Horse

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bumblingbee33

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Hi there, I'm just looking for some advice as I'm about to purchase a horse, he will be my first horse after years of riding lessons and sharing. He ticks all the boxes I was looking for but he is a big striding horse. I've never ridden a horse with such big movement and it made me feel a bit all over the place and I just wondered what everyone else experience was - is this something I'll get used to and does anyone have any tips to get used to the movement and strides?! Thank you!
 
bumblingbee33 said:
Hi there, I'm just looking for some advice as I'm about to purchase a horse, he will be my first horse after years of riding lessons and sharing. He ticks all the boxes I was looking for but he is a big striding horse. I've never ridden a horse with such big movement and it made me feel a bit all over the place and I just wondered what everyone else experience was - is this something I'll get used to and does anyone have any tips to get used to the movement and strides?! Thank you!
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You should be okay as long as you don't have any physical issues.

I have a slipped disc and when my horse used to be very active behind which shot my back in canter.
 
I'm sure you'll be fine and lunge lessons without reins are excellent but lunging is quite hard on the horse so I wouldn't go overboard with it. Perhaps regular lunge lessons on a school horse.
 
wren123 said:
I'm sure you'll be fine and lunge lessons without reins are excellent but lunging is quite hard on the horse so I wouldn't go overboard with it. Perhaps regular lunge lessons on a school horse.
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Good idea - I'm hoping just spending more time in the saddle out hacking and just getting used to his strides plus lunging and will definitely try no reins too, thank you!
 
In general I think that 'privately' owned horses have more movement than riding school horses. I'm sure you will get used to it.
 
My last horse had massive movement and I was quite experienced. I would spend the first 20 minutes in walk, first 10 minutes free walk on a long rein, and I may kick my stirrups away. Second 10 minutes was walk lateral work, loosened us both up so that I didn't go into orbit with the first rising trot!

Saddle is a really important consideration, it needs to work FOR you and if you have anything other than an average shaped pelvis then you may struggle in many saddles, and that's without it being a basic good fit for you (ie enough room for your bum and legs, stirrup bars and blocks in the right place and fitted in balance).
 
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