About English Riding Lessons

English riding is a collective term for a group of riding disciplines practiced throughout the world. The primary defining characteristic of these riding styles is the saddle, which is generally small. Students typically take English riding lessons as a hobby or to train for competitions.

Saddle

The primary purpose of the saddle in English riding is to allow the horse the maximum freedom of movement possible for a particular task. This is in contrast to Western riding, where the saddle is primarily designed to keep the rider from falling off the horse. Students taking English riding lessons generally spend some time learning to remain mounted on the horse.

Classes

The first riding lessons in English riding typically involve the student preparing the horse for riding by grooming and putting on the tack. This progresses to leading the horse and mounting the horse from the left. The next phase of English riding lessons deals with learning the proper posture and the correct way to hold the reins. The student may then begin walking the horse and advance to learning the various gaits. Advanced lessons include guiding the horse through specific maneuvers such as running in a circle and jumping.

Jumping

Jumping can be a challenging skill to learn because the barriers can reach a height of 4 feet. Riders must keep their legs still during the jump to avoid miscuing the horse. It also requires the rider to shift forward into the jumping position as the horse prepares for the jump.