Top 5 Tips For Improving Your Horse Riding Skills

Avid equestrians are always on the quest to improve their riding skills. Perfection is out reach but that doesn't stop rider from trying to attain it! Here are 5 simple ways you can use to improve your riding today:

1. Watch Others: Watching other riders can help you differentiate between good and bad posture. Humans are usually visual learners and you'd be surprised how much you can learn by watching good riders at work. Make an effort to attend a riding lesson and listen to what the riding instructor is saying, you can pick up a lot of good horse riding tips by doing so. Observe how riders communicate with their horse and pay attention to how the horse responds, you can learn a lot by simply observing others.

2. Enlist the Help of a Trainer: Perhaps the best way to work on your riding skills and posture is to enlist the help of a professional trainer or instructor and take some equestrian riding lessons. Professional riders enlist the help of trainers to help them fine tune their skills and keep on top of their game. A trainer can help identify problem areas in your riding and they can help you correct them. If you own a horse try to find a trainer who is prepared to work with the two of you, this is the ideal set up and you will find your riding skills improving dramatically.

3. Work on Your Balance: Balance is essential in any equestrian discipline, even if you just want to hack or trail ride. Keeping your balance not only ensures you won't fall off; it also assists your horse as well. To achieve good balance try to work with your horse without stirrups and reins and incorporate some bareback work. This is achieved with the assistance of a trainer or friend as the horse should be held on a lunge. If you don't have someone to assist then try to ride your horse without stirrups or bareback as much as possible.

4. Cross Training: Keeping physically fit is essential as it helps you ride better! Pilates has become very popular among equestrians in recent years as it focuses on increasing the strength of your body's core. This form of exercise in particular focuses on building lower abdominal strength which is vital for maintaining balance and good posture when riding. Most forms of exercise are beneficial especially exercises that increase strength and flexibility.

5. Practice: You've heard the saying "practice makes perfect" so get out there and start practicing! Clinics, exercising and observing others will only get you so far, you need to apply what you learn. Whether you're riding for pleasure or competing, the more you ride, the better at it you'll become!

Stal Amani is an impeccable equestrian centre complete with three indoor and outdoor arenas. We regularly hold show jumping and dressage competitions from novice up to Grand Prix level and due to our central location in Belgium, the facility is ideal for foreign competitors looking for a temporary or permanent base in Europe. We are minutes away from Herentals. For more information please visit: http://www.stalamani.com