Riding other peoples horses?

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Evil_Cookie

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Hi, well I've sold all my horses now, and am hoping to ride a few peoples horses for the summer, thing is, I'm so used to riding my tb mare, I'm not sure how I will adapt to other peoples horses?

Could you give me some advice on what to do, for example, assesing the horse in order to school it. What do you do first when you get on a new horse?

I'm a confident, but not confident rider, meaning I can cope with bucking, rearing and whatever else is thrown at me, but get nervous when someone watches me riding, as I get so paranoid that I'm doing something wrong...

So anyway, any advice is appreciated
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First of all- If you do ride someone else's horse ask them and get permission. Nothing more annoying than turning up at the yard to find some random person rode your horse.
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Maybe you could go help at a riding school, if you're that nervous you could go build up your confidence on an older been there done that kind of horse. You could perhaps consider loaning one!
 
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First of all- If you do ride someone else's horse ask them and get permission. Nothing more annoying than turning up at the yard to find some random person rode your horse.
mad.gif




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Did someone do that to you?!
 
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[ QUOTE ]
First of all- If you do ride someone else's horse ask them and get permission. Nothing more annoying than turning up at the yard to find some random person rode your horse.
mad.gif




[/ QUOTE ]

shocked.gif
Did someone do that to you?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes! I was so mad i went and told the girl to get off of my horse.
mad.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
First of all- If you do ride someone else's horse ask them and get permission. Nothing more annoying than turning up at the yard to find some random person rode your horse.
mad.gif




[/ QUOTE ]

shocked.gif
Did someone do that to you?!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes! I was so mad i went and told the girl to get off of my horse.
mad.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

No bloody wonder!!!
 
First, make sure that you are insured, the BHS give really good cover as part of their membership and the point over permission is important as is keeping up the communication with the owner, this will ensure that not only you are ok to ride but you can check out what they are doing with the horse too.

I would always try and see the horse ridden by the person who normally rides it first, it will give you a really good idea of what it is like and what it is used to. Get them to show you it in different situations and first of all get them to tack it up and watch for bad habits, there is nothing worse than an unexpected bite off an unhappy horse that doesn't want its girth doing up etc..

The more you ride, the more you will adapt - Good luck and have fun!
 
I wouldn't think anyone would ever dare do that!!!!!!!!!!

They certainly wouldn't do it on my yard but I am shocked to hear that someone would do that at all!


In answer to the original question, I would try to get as much information as possible beforehand, as to the horse quirks etc.

Then take it slow, I would always ride in a school first if possible (soft landing if needed!) and just walk until you are happy and same with trot until you canter.

I too don't like being watched.

Just go at your own pace.

You might find that the first time you walk for half an hour then finish off with a quick trot but the second time you ride that horse, you know what to expect so you are trotting after a warm up and then spend the rest of the time working in canter.

Good luck!
 
Me too! It makes me feel slightly sick to think someone would ride you're horse without permission, totally disgusting! It's as good as taking somones car without permission, rude and illegal to boot!

Re the first question, I like to take things nice and slow when I get on an unknown horse, it's nice to watch somone from the ground to get an idea of how sensitive they look but it won't tell you much about how they'll feel. Don't feel pressure to start asking for shoulder in or leg yield the firwst few time, basic walk, trot and canter are enough while you both get a feel for one another.
 
I always watch the owner first, as they know their horse better than anyone and you may be able to pick up things that they do subconsciously and wouldn't be able to tell you about. Get on, walk around, get a feel for the stride etc, collect them up. Always have owner on hand the first few times, mainly so they can shout at you if you're doing something wrong! Like silverspring says, just get a feel for the horse and it's tricks. The owners won't be expecting you to be able to ride their horse like they can and most are slightly offended if you can, so don't worry too much what they think, as long as you're not dangerous I shouldn't think any of them will have a problem with your riding style at all. Oh, and always listen to the owner. If they say their horse can't be jumped above 3ft, then their horse can't be jumped above 3ft. SOunds obvious, but I know plenty of people in hte past who have decided they know better.
 
I find I am better riding other peoples horses when I've not been told too much about them and I can get a feel for the horse myself without any preconceptions.

I will do lots of transitions to get a feel for how sensitive the "breaks" and "accelerator" are and play about with my hand position to see what the horse works better with.

You'll be fine.
 
You'd be suprised, but I don't ride peoples horses without their permission
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I can't believe somebody would do that!
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I can ride, but I am a perfectionist, I always want to ride the horse as much from behind as they are capable of doing, but like I said, I'm not used to riding other horses other than my mare. How do you get your horses working properly?

Inside hand to outside leg, and circles helped my mare get her back legs working, but is it the same with every horse? Do some do better with transitions or different rein contact... I used to not worry about riding different horses, but I've mainly ridden her for four years, so it seems strange now.

Thanks for your help so far
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