Beginner Horse Riding - Taking Your First Lesson

So you've decided to take beginner horse ridingmaintained. The health and well being of the horses
lessons. You see local stables as you're driving downshould be a top priority for the barn manager and
the street, horses peacefully grazing in the fields andowner. Less than optimum care of the animals or barn
your mind begins to wander to blissfully gallopingis a reflection of the owner's overall attitude toward
across a field, wind in your hair...... Now what?horse care and safety.
1. Decide on what you want to do on horseback.4. Lastly, and most importantly, safety.  Most barns
 Most people don't consider this when they decide tothat provide beginner horse riding lessons have horses
take lessons.  This is a very important factor in thethat are called "School Masters". They have been
decision of where you are going to take lessons.around the block a few times and are usually
 Depending on what you want to do, you need toun-phased by goings on around them.  However,
choose a facility that is geared toward the type ofhorses are unpredictable prey animals and when
riding you want to do. This will insure that you are beingsomething goes wrong, things happen very quickly. It's
taught in the manner in which you want to ride.imperative that the instructor and or barn manager has
2. When considering a prospective barn for beginnerthe safety and well being of both horse and rider
horse riding lessons, you want to visit prior to starting.foremost in their mind.
It's important that the instructor is actively engaged inIt's exciting when you begin your first beginner horse
the lesson and not giving in to distractions. You'reriding lesson. But do your homework first to make sure
paying for instruction, not their social time.that you have done everything you can to make it the
3. Make sure that the facility is clean and wellbest possible.