male wants to try riding

[percy]

hi all

new to the forum...looks good..and friendly...congrats to the webmasters lol

i'm a male who fancies trying horseriding!
any tips would be appreciated

i like horses, looks fun, may keep me fit?.

although if i go to a riding centre, could be a bit daunting as i gather that it will be mainly if not all women! and i't would give them a laugh...i've never sat on a horse in my life

always fancied it though.

trouble is i'll probaly be wearing the wrong things and i gather from other threads that a man have to be a bit carefull!!!

is it better as a group or 1-1 for the first session or two.


what does every one think??

regards and keep posting ....LOL

Percy

[KarinUS]

Just call the centre (see, I can spell it British, too ;) ) and ask what they recommend for you to wear.
I started out in jeans and bought breeches a few months later. The jeans gave me bruises. The breeches are much more comfy. Do get a helmet though, unless they will outfit you with one.
I bought my own from the start, especially since it is very hot here and the thought of other people's "head sweat" kind of grossed me out...
Will more experienced riders get a kick out of watching you struggle?
:D Absolutely!!! :D
There is two couples that always seem to ride when I do and they love to volunteer "helpful" advise. They mean well though. I sort of ruined my reputation as a graceful rider right from the start when I dismounted and my sweater and bra were still up on the saddle horn (I started out riding Western) while I was already on the ground :rolleyes: ...
As an adult rider (male or female) you just are more likely to be a source of amusement...
It's fun though. I get private lessons and that has worked out well for me.

[Katie_85]

Don't let the post about male riders put you off, we really can be a sypathetic lot! :D I think private lessons are really better, especially if you have never sat on a horse before. Horse riding does always seem to be a source for not only our own amusement, but for everyone else's too! ;) As far as males and females are concerned with riding, I figure we are pretty much even. Yeah, you guy types may have to be a bit careful, but when it comes to riding horses with a very high stepping or bouncy trot, you have the obvious advantage in not having visible bouncy bits! Okay, that was blunt. :)


Karin: How embarassing!! I've always been afraid of that heppening! :eek: Just out of weird curiosity, how did you manage to regain your clothes and some degree of dignity?

[KarinUS]

I had two things working in my favor (in horse terms): Position and Conformation.
I had the horse between me and the other riders.
I am 17.2 hands tall (I've heard of short riders hanging off the horn and never reaching the ground!)

[floppy]

hi,

well you have read the interesting thread about keeping your tackle in place then?:D

well, first find a place to ride and see what they do as a suggestion for lessons.

group rides tend to be easier because you dont have to work so hard as the instructor concentrates on various people and not just one person the whole time.

If you are worried in anyway of being emabrassed about something or dont like an audience then a 1-1 lesson might be what you will prefer.

group lessons are a good way to meet people but then that is only fun if youa re riding with people in yrou own age group and not aload of little kids!

If i had to go back and start all over i would ask for a private lesson to begin with..
also i fyou want to progress quicker with your riding then private lessons will aloow this..otherwise a group lesson will hold you up!

[Mark]

Definitely, definitely give it a go!

I suffer from a terrible lack of confidence and had to really force myself to go to my first lesson. I pulled the car off the lane and nearly turned around. Not because I was particularly nervous about getting on the horse but because I was afraid of entering this alien environment surrounded by all these 'horsey' people. They turned out to be normal people who happen to ride (although if you read some of the threads on this board you may be forgiven for thinking otherwise ;)) I soon discovered that I had nothing to worry about and the instructor seemed very friendly. They don't give you time to worry, before you know what's happened they've put you on a horse. From that moment you might find yourself instantly hooked - so be warned, it could be the start of a lot of expenditure!

Everyone feels like a fish out of water when starting any new activity, especially if you have to go on your own. I still do to a certain extent because I'm still new to this game - but that should get better with time.

Also, people don't laugh at you. They're too busy concentrating on their own lessons (at least they should be)and they've seen it all before anyway. In any case, horses can still make even the most experienced riders look silly if they want to - that's part of their charm I suppose!

So book that lesson - if I can do it any one can

Mark

[Mare-e]

Percy,

Absolutely do not let what others think of you or your riding interfere with the great joy you may experience if you give it a try. As others have said, if other people are present they should be focusing on their own lessons and will have their own fair share of awkward moments. At my last lesson my teacher decided to interupt my lesson to get on my school horse herself to "wake him up" a bit since he was being a bit stubborn. This teacher is a bit rougher in her methods than I like and she rode him with spurs. Well, he reacted by kicking back in this huge buck while letting go an ear splitting, er, release of wind. The teacher ended up on the ground feeling utterly humiliated. In this case she caused the situation by using poor judgement, and I learned lessa on at her expense. Even experienced riders are not perfect. Have fun and share your experiences with us.

[katyptaty]

Hi Percy

you will find that most riders are more content watching those who believe they ride well but ride terribly! pride is a dreadful thing with horses! the beginners i know have had more support from the long term riders as most of us remember how nerve racking the first few steps of riding are!

jeans should do for the beginning - but if you enjoy it and want to carry on, i would get some jods pronto.... they will make life a lot more comfortable. you can get some cheap ones to start off with!

Also, yes, i would have a few private lessons to start off with. Most people don't and i believe that you will not advance as quickly or as confidently if you are in a lesson where everyone is at slightly different stages in the learning process. you will also not get the full attention of the teacher. I would start at 30 mins lessons if possible to start with. This will be enough for the pain barrier (having your legs split in half around a horse for the first time can be a strain the day after).

Try to get into a stables who will put you on a lunge first of all, i.e. the instructor has a long line attached to the horses head and has control. you should have no reins to start with as you learn balance and control of your legs.

Keep everyone updated. everyone will give lots of good advice and encouragement. look at one of the boards on this site for new riders as this will also give you encouragement from advanced riders and those going through the same things as you.

where are you based?

happy riding. you will love it if introduced to it carefully and responsibly!

Kate

[Hayleyb277]

Go for it Percy.

There's not really much else to add to be honest but definitely take Katy's advice, find somewhere that will start you off on the lunge (going round in circles at the end of a long line) for at least the first few lessons. This will help you to get the hang of being on a horse without the worry of having to steer, but more importantly will establish a seat that is balanced and independant of the hands (in other words you won't rely on the reins for your balance).

Even the most experienced riders still have lessons, you never stop learning with horses, good luck and let us all know how your first lesson went.

[Roz]

Go for it Percy.The one thing about horse riding is that all of us have been there at the beginning(some may not remember as the were so little and seem to have been riding for ever)but we all bounced and jiggled with the best of them!My other half took a couple of private lessons first as 'he didn't want to look a total twit' in the group class but if you go in a group of total beginners,to be honest you'll all be much the same and probably as nervous as you, first time.But be prepared cos once you get the bug we all know what the next step is Yes horse ownership so beware life as you know it will never be the same again.Have fun!

[horselover]

If you like it, Percy, then go ahead and who cares about other people! I am sure you will have a great time and enjoy yourslef immensely.

I don't know about in the UK, but you can get jeans that are made for riding. We have them, I guess, because of western riding. The most popular ones are called Wrangler jeans- they have the thick seam on the outside rather than the inside. But I do know from experience that riding english in jeans is quite uncomfortable unless you have chaps.

Here is a link for Wrangler jeans (http://statelinetack.com/scripts/index.asp?company=slt&category=1161) if you would like to take a look.

[claireh]

Welcome to the board Percy, and welcome to the addictive world of horses!

Don't worry about what other people think- contrary to popular belief, not all horse riders are stuck up women with plums in their mouths and wide rear-ends! Nor are we all kids who think we know it all.

Loads of adults take up riding, and many of us never look back!

Good luck & let us know how you get on!

One other thing- Please take no notice of Mark's implication that some of us here aren't normal- we are perfectly normal, aren't we Hayley?!!:D ;)

[msp]

Definately go for it!

Though if you are in the UK the standard of teaching unfortunately varies a lot.... It is well worth just poping into the local tack shop and asking them where they would recommend for your age and build. I did that a while after starting, and the two places they recommended are excellent, and the posh place I started was not that good...

I found one-on-one lessons much better until you can sort of trot.

Have fun

[percy]

hi all

thanx for you replies

by the sound of it, i'm best to try 1-1 in a pair of jeans (not my best) with a borrowed hat.
do i just wear a pair of strong shoes?

forgive me if i'm asking daft questions, although i think here everyone is very friendly.
makes a great forum and fun to log onto see see whats the latest.

i'm from the midlands so pretty central to all areas...perhaps not quite as scenic as some.

must be great to leave the car and ride where its nice and peacefull....just the noise from the horses.

hope every one is Ok and i'll post more if i have anything else to say! or pluck up the courage for that first lesson.

now that could be a funny post!!

regards to all

lol

Percy

[Moonlightrider]

Karin - I'm 15 hands tall... hold on... 15x4=60 inches, yeah, that's right... so I had a problem a bit like yours only I couldn't get back up and de-attach myself OR stand on my feet. Unfourtunately, it was my first group lesson.:o

There aren't any stupid questions. Well, maybe there are, but we answer them all the same. Private lessons are good for the first few.

I teach beginner lessons and have taught a few men. It's really funny to watch at first - they just don't bend the same way:cool:

Shoes... get someone else's help with that. Boots if you can. One of my friends gave me a pair of her old boots for my first lesson, so I never had to worry about it.

[Tash]

Percy, Go for it there is nothing as wonderful as riding a horse.
More advanced riders will laugh, but not at you, it will be fond rememberings of thier own first ride. For example my first bareback lesson were I was legged up onto the horse a little enthusiastically and flew right over him and landed in the dirt on the other side.
As for shoes, for safety they should be solid and have a heel on them, to stop your foot slipping through the stirrup. Try to avoid lace ups as in the unlikely case of a fall were your foot gets stuck in the stirrup lace ups don't pull off your foot as well as elastic sided boots.
Saddle pinches can be a problem. If the saddle rubs you too much on the first ride then womens pantyhose are a good idea. I know it's a horrible thought but worn under the jeans they do help to reduce the rubbing and the amount of leg hair you can loose. For those of you who trail ride in wet areas they also stop leeches.
But go for it. It will keep you fit, and apart from being a great outdoor hobby, there really is nothing like the feeling of a good working partnership with a horse.

[floppy]

hmm..when you make the big phonecall or visit to orgranzie a lesson im sure the people there will tell you what would be a good idea to wear for riding...different schools have different ideas...they may tlel you to wear a pair of tracksuit trousers as for shoes..hehe maybe a kinky pair of wellie boots???hehe

tash- lace up boots verus boots with elasticated sides.
with my lace up DM's and my elasticated jodphur boots(both of which i ride in)...there is no way that i would get my foot out of either boot should i fall off and leave a foot stuck behind in a stirrup! in fact i cant even get my jodphur boots off without one of those boot things that you stand on with one foot and pull the shoe off the other!:)

[Hayleyb277]

Claire - I was very well behaved and chose to ignore Mark's insinuation, I'm sure he had certain people in mind :D

BTW regarding Joddy boots, mine have to be elasticated, apart from wearing them practically all day everyday I'm too darned lazy to be messing around with laces anytime I want to go into the house :p

[katyptaty]

leg yield - when the horse is going straight but you ask for it to step over his back legs to move sideways i.e. from the middle of the school across to the side. The horse would still be facing forwards though. it encourages the horse to use his back legs effectively and also to be more rounded in it's movement. it helps when a horse is 'flat' or rushing or has no elasticity of movement. It also makes them think more and use their whole body to move sideways.

[Hayleyb277]

It's also handy for pushing a horse into the side of a road on a hack, especially a youngster who has only been out twice and thinks lorries are really huge monsters. :rolleyes:

I had a go at teaching Lenny to leg yield at a walk for the first time Monday evening and he spent most of the time trying to tell me he will fall flat on his face if he does it "But mum I can't, honest I can't, look it's impossible....... well perhaps not" :D

[katyptaty]

aha, hayley, your horse has wibble wobble syndrome as well!! have 2 friends at the yard with 4 year olds who constantly wobble all over the place. no control over limbs! very amusing seeing as one is to be a dressage horse and another bred for eventing! they are very amusing!!!!

[Mark]

Percy, I forgot to mention the most obvious piece of advice which is to go and watch a lesson and speak to the people running the school. If I'd done more of that it would not have felt like quite such a leap into the unknown.

I found that explanation of leg yielding very useful because my instructor was trying to teach me that last week and I wasn't sure what the point was!

Mark

PS, Hayley and Claire, you didn't cross my mind for a second, honest!!!;)

[claireh]

Mark- Why don't I believe you??!!

Percy- despite his cheek :D ;) Mark's advice was very good- go and spend some time around the stables and watch a lesson or two- it will give you a very good idea of whether or not you are going to get along with the instructor and their individual way of teaching before you part with any money!
If the stables says 'no' to you spending time doing this, ask them why, and if they don't come up with a very good reason- go elsewhere!

Good luck, and keep us all posted!

[percy]

hi all

just checked in on the board...

thanks for all the advice...good idea to go along...and check the school out


although they might think it strange, and that i don't trust them or something.

if i do that i'll keep you posted as to what they say, if they did they could encourage others to have a go maybe??

i also think that it would be good if they gave a really cheap first lesson for people who want to try, not that i'm a cheapskate or anything an i don't mind paying full price but again it might persuade newcomers.
and once they've tried they may get hooked

Good idea??

hope everyone if Ok and having LOL at posting.

regards

percy

PS why don't they put much horse sport on TV anymore?? i'm all for other sports on tv as well but to see dressage, crosscounrty or anything on tv in this country is a bit of a rarerity.

What do you all think?

[KRTex]

Hi Percy,

I just had may second lesson yesterday and I am so glad that I decided to do this. I was nervous about doing something new also but it has turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made.

I am starting with individual lessons first and once I get the hang of it I will try to move into a group class. My school lets you pay per lesson or per month so that if you decide it is not for you, you have not put in alot of money. The only extra expense I have put out so far is to buy a good pair of boots.

I will try to get to the point quickly... My first lesson was very slow and basic since I had never been on a horse before. I was thinking to myself "boy, this is kind of boring walking around in circles". Even the horse seemed to be bored:) . Well yesterday, we really got started. I got to saddle the horse and once we had warmed up a bit we started on a trot. What an experience that was. I am so sore today! But let me tell you I do not think it is boring any longer.

The point of all of this is to say Just Do It! You won't be sorry.

KR

[Katie_85]

KRTex it sounds like you had a good lesson. Are you riding Western or English?:)

[KRTex]

I am riding Western. My instructer had me posting (not sure of the terms yet) where you stand up and sit down in a trot. It was really hard and it is going to take alot of practice, but I really had a good time. Also, my lesson horse must have been having a bad day because she did not want to do anything so it was a real challenge and I really had to concentrate.

Thanks for asking. :)

KR

[Hayleyb277]

Mark - Don't believe you either :p But a very good idea all the same.

Katy - Wibble Wobble syndrome - never realised there was a technical name for it :D and yes he has it, it would help if he kept his head on the job and not on that cow running across a field half a mile away or the rabbit running across HIS field.

As for no control over legs, when we went on our two hacks (going out again tonight God help me) he looked like he was subject to a fashion victim. Front legs - brushing boots, over-reach boots (he oversteps hugely at a walk), knee boots (for when he trips up towards the end of a ride, when he's a tad tired and he's looking at cows in a field again, instead of concentrating on where his feet are), Hind leg - Sausage boot. :rolleyes:

Percy - Some fat cat bureaucrats decided that watching Showjumping was less exciting than watching Snooker, Cricket or Golf and so showed less and less over the years until now we're lucky if we get anything on the beeb at all. However it's treat time cause I'm sure they'll show the Hickstead Derby this Sunday and of course they will have Burghley on the following Saturday, mind you I won't be able to watch that on telly cause I'll be there :D

[Hevz2001]

Do any of you remember when my bro was writting stuff under my name? Well I changed it so i would have to log in every time i visit NR, and now (grr) my bro thought it would be funny to write stuff under the name Hevz20001, hence 20 thousand and 1, so its not me, and its really embarrassing but theres not much i can do so if you're unsure, check my name, Hevz2001 (two-thousand and 1) these are the posts that have been written by me.:(

[Hayleyb277]

So it was your Bruv that asked what's a leg yield, thought it was a bit strange since nothing had been mentioned previously, now his post has gone Katy and I seem like we're way off the thread, hehe.

[katyptaty]

no change there really - am always 'off the thread'. i must say i did think it rather strange cos there was another weird message.... thought i would answer anyway and give him the benefit of the doubt!

;)

[Hayleyb277]

Katy - back to wibble wobble syndrome - went out on the oaf last night (third hack) and we went splat three times, :rolleyes: first time it was a belly flop like a plane landing with no undercarriage and the other two times were nose jobs.

Fortunately each time I still managed to stay in the saddle while he scrabbled his legs back together, although for the belly flop I could see the ground meeting his shoulder and thought this is it as my foot scraped the ground but God knows how we got up from that one.

Honestly I do despair and he's meant to be my potential mega showjumper - beginning to have my doubts - keep telling myself he's a big lad and he'll learn as he matures mind you he doesn't trip up in the school as much now, maybe light at the end of the tunnel :)

[katyptaty]

Hi Hayley

very amusing! sounds just like my girlfriends. i have picked out a few of your comments to send to them so that they can see that others have the same problems!

one of them can't go out with anyone as he jumps on them and is just boisterous! the old ones can't even deal with it and so he is in a field amongst others.... therefore spends all his time at the fence saying 'PLAY WITH MEEEEEEEEEEE'.

he was very funny when my dog turned up with a bucket on his head (poorly tail) and was running around the stables. The rest of the horses just looked at him warily but Jonti was Mr Alert, head not moving, surprised person. He was probably just worried that his friend had a bucket on his head (my dog licks his nose!)

there will probably be many more sagas this weekend!

good luckk with your boy and his belly flops/wibble wobble/bambi legs!

kate

[floppy]

a little jack russel at the yard has a satelitle dish round her neck because she just been spayed and when ever she deicdes to come out on rides with me she scares the living daylights out of my horse if the dog isnt walkign infront:D

[Hayleyb277]

I'm so glad I'm not alone in this and that he is 'normal' after all. Lenny (Whinnum he's called too as he was never able to whinney properly and the sound he makes is.....Whinnum) was picked on by Henry just lately and also picked on by his little brother Cairn who used to treat him as a colt to play with, so now this great hulking 16.3/17.0 horse shares his paddock with my little girl's pony, Bonny an enormous 12.3hh who also takes the odd chunk out, chases him away from hay and is definitely boss - sad.

If Lenny saw a dog with a bucket on its head he'd faint.

H

[katyptaty]

hi hayley

we had the treat of the whinnum call last night too. sorry but youngsters are so funny. not quite 'got their throat' yet! whinnum is not a bad way of describing it!

funnily enough, when i forwarded your mail onto one of the girls she said it sounded scarily similar! .... they do! lenny and jonti are one and the same!

need to get michelle on the message board so that she can share her trials and tribulations i.e. jonti jumping onto another horse cos of a cat, rushing down hills, loving sheep and any other animals within spitting distance - sheep, dogs, squirrels etc

see you

kate

[Hayleyb277]

Aha but I'll bet Jonti has the decent excuse of being a four yr old, Lenny's five, though to give him his due he looked like a yearling until he was four and even then was still too immature to do anything so has started a bit late, typical warmblood I s'pose.

Hopefully little bruv won't be so bad he's two and athletic does not even begin to describe him., and he can whinney properly albeit high pitched

:D

[LindaAd]

OK, maybe this is heresy, and I'm one of the first to say get a good instructor - but for starting from scratch, why not find a place where they do pony-trekking? You'll get the chance to enjoy the feel of the horse without having to worry about getting things correct, or controlling the horse the way you would in a school, and you can enjoy the countryside too.

[SILENT-ONE200]

Karin,

I had the same exact bra and saddle horn experience too!! I'm only 5'1" and my horse was 16.2 hands. Mind you, I've been riding for 27 years. Thankfully, it happened in front of my fiance'. Still, he gets a charge about teasing me about it from time to time.

Percy,

You are not alone in wanting to learn how to ride. I think you would enjoy it very much. :-)If you like animals, the horse will know it and that should transfer into a nice ride for you. :-) My fiance' has only ridden a horse 3 times and I think he's interested in it because I am. But he genuinely likes animals so he's learning "horsey info" from me all of the time. It is amusing to watch him ,but it's fun to teach him too. If you have a good instructor, you should pick up riding quite well.

SILENT-ONE200

[FRED]

Hi Percy, drawing from my own experiences and being a mature learner all of 12 months now.I would find a trekking centre and go on a steady 1 hour trekk,do this a few times and you will soon know if you really are going to fall in love with horses and riding.
A good centre will have just the horse for a complete beginner, the same horse will look after a beginner and give an experienced rider a thrill too, many horses are that good. In my opinion, this way of starting is a good way to develop a 'seat' and start to develop your balance,two of the most important things we learn in our early times on horse back.
Many may disagree, but there are some great horses out there at trekking centres.
Good luck and please do give horses a try:)
Best wishes from Fred.

[Joshua]

I always read these mails with interest. I started riding many years ago and I'm still hooked. I know men get stick for wearing jods or breeches but I gave up worrying about it years ago.
I suppose you wouldn't want to wander round a supermarket in boots etc.
Anyway to start riding u don't need much just a good hard hat, good riding school and sensible footwear. No good being dressed like a showjumper if you can't trot round the paddock.
Anyway good luck. The more u try the easier it becomes.

/ Joshua

A horse is dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle.:)

[Yann]

As usual plenty of good advice here:)

I agree completely, once you've got the bug you don't care about being seen in jods, I went to the local supermarket for the first time in mine this week to buy some milk after my lesson:D
It is female dominated, but most of them don't bite and as you will see on this board being a mature male beginner is not so unusual. If anything the instructor might be glad of the change of pupil!

In my (very) limited experience most of the people you will find in riding places are friendly and non condescending. Riding will give you lots of enjoyment and satisfaction, get you out and about and meeting new people, and help keep you fit. It may also become an obsession - beware:)

Good luck, definitely give it a go!

[Moonlightrider]

Sorry, this is off topic, but people keep leaving quotes at the bottom of their posts. So...

"Anyone who is concerned about his dignity would be well advised to keep away from horses." - Duke of Edinburgh

"Where ever man has left his footprint in his long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we will find the hoofprint of a horse beside it." - John Trotwood Moore

"The Horse. Man's noblest companion." - ?????

"People ought to quit worrying so much about whispering to their horses and just start listening to them." - Greg Darnall

A few of many, many, many!

[RickD]

Percy,

Tis RickD here, instigator of the underwear discussion. My first riding lesson confirmed your worst fears. In a school with 10 pre-pubescent girls all named things like Portia and Cassandra etc. Previous to that initial lesson, the closestI had been to a horse was in Ladbrokes. Was quite happy to walk around until the trot came. After I finished trotting, i looked around and everyone including the instructor were in tears. (of laughter). I was suffering tears of a different kind.
Soooo, i decided to book a few 1 to 1's. Ive know had 4 and am already cantering, Its wonderful, next time i go out it will be with the sky above me. (I think thats what they call hacking?).