RIDING- GENERAL

Dressing safely for riding

Riding Hats (which should be worn whenever you ride)
For all Pony Club activities, Pony Club Members must when
mounted, wear a hat, which conforms to the Pony Clubs current
required standard. The hat must fit comfortably, the drawstring (if it
has one) must be adjusted correctly and the chinstrap must be
fastened. Hats are available in various shapes and sizes, so when
you buy a new one, make sure that as well as conforming to the
required standard it is a suitable design for the size and shape of
your head. The shop assistant should be qualified to give guidance
as to which hat is suitable for your particular needs and to ensure
that the fit and adjustment are satisfactory.
Footwear
Footwear must have smooth soles, and heels of a sensible depth.
Jodhpur boots or riding boots are recommended. In Pony Club
competitions, they are obligatory. Trainers and other soft shoes,
or those without heels, can slip through the stirrup and cause
serious accidents. Wellingtons and other boots with large treads
are also dangerous because they can be wedged in the stirrup.
Jodhpurs and Breeches
These are designed specifically for riding. You will ride better and
feel more comfortable if you are wearing one or the other.
Body-Protectors
These are recommended for show jumping and are compulsory for
all cross-country work.
Mounting
Before mounting, check that:
1. The girth is sufficiently tight to prevent the saddle from slipping
2. The stirrup irons are down
3. The stirrup-leathers approximately the correct length
4. The saddle flaps are lying smoothly
To mount from the left (near) side of the horse, stand with your left
shoulder to the horses left shoulder. Take the reins and the whip
into the left hand, with the reins properly separated for riding and
of suitable length to prevent the horse from moving. Keep the right
rein slightly shorter than the left rein.

Place your left hand in front of the withers. With you right hand,
turn the stirrup clockwise. Then put your left foot in the stirrup iron.
Press your toe down so that it comes under the girth and does not
dig into the horses side. Pivot your body round to face the horse.
Place your right hand either on the far side of the saddle at the
waist or on the front arch, and spring lightly up, straightening both
knees. Swing your right leg over - taking care that it does not brush
the horses quarters - and at the same time position your right
hand on the front arch of the saddle. Let your seat sink gently,
without a bump, into the lowest part of the saddle. Put your right
foot quietly in the stirrup and take the reins into both hands. It is
correct and useful to be able to mount and dismount from either
side. Once you are mounted, walk a short distance and recheck
the girth as it may necessary to tighten it.
Dismounting
To dismount from the left ('near'), remove your feet from the
stirrups. Put the reins and whip in the left hand. Put your left hand
on the horses neck, and lean forward. Put your right hand on the
front arch of the saddle. Swing your right leg back and clear over
horses back, allowing both feet to slip to the ground. You should
land lightly, bending your knees and avoiding the horses forelegs.
Then with your right hand take hold of the reins a short distance
from the bit.
Holding the reins
The rein should pass directly from the bit, between the little and
third fingers then across the palm and the first (index) finger, with
the thumb on top. It is important that your third finger holds the
edges of the rein in the joints nearest the palm and that your
fingers are closed securely but without tension. Holding the rein
this way stops it from slipping through your hands.
Altering the stirrups
To alter the left stirrup, first take the reins in your right hand. With
your left hand take hold of the spare end of the leather. Then, with
your thumb on top of the buckle, steer the tongue of the buckle
with the first finger, the other three fingers continuing to hold spare
end of the leather. Disengage the tongue and guide it into the
required hole. Move the buckle up close to the bar of the saddle by
pulling down on the inside of the leather, then replace.

You should never remove your foot from the stirrup. You should get
into the habit of changing the length of your stirrups by feel,
without looking down.
Tightening the girth when mounted
To tighten the girth on the left-hand side, take the reins and whip
into your right hand. Keeping your foot in the stirrup, bring your left
leg forward. Then, using your left hand under the saddle flap,
tighten the girth as for the stirrup leathers. Ideally, the girth buckles
should at the same height on the girth straps on both sides the
saddle. When you have finished, make sure that the buckle guards
are lying flat over the girth buckles.
Diagonals
'Riding on the left diagonal' means that you return to your saddle at
the same time as when the horses left forefoot and right hind foot
touch the ground.
'Riding the right Diagonal' is the opposite of 'riding the left
diagonal'. This means that you return to your saddle when the
horses right forefoot and left hind foot touch the ground.
It is generally considered correct to ride on the left diagonal when
proceeding to the right (on the right rein) and to ride on the right
diagonal when proceeding to the left (on the left rein).
You should change the diagonal when changing direction, and also
at intervals when out hacking, so that the horse makes equal use
of the muscles on both sides of his body.
To change the diagonal, you should sit down in the saddle for an
extra beat before rising again. For example when changing from
left to right diagonal you would start by returning to your saddle
when the left forefoot and right hind foot touch the ground (riding
the left diagonal). Then rather than rising, sit in your seat for one
extra beat and then rise again. Return to your seat as the right
forefoot and left hind foot touch the ground. You are now riding the
right diagonal.
Opening and closing gates
If the horse is being trained at home and is obedient to the aids,
this is often quite simple. A young horse is often anxious about
going close up to a gate, and finds it hard to stand still. A little time

and patience will usually fix this. Do not allow the horse to face the
gate, as he may well try to jump it. When opening a gate, make the
horse stand still, parallel with and close to it, his head facing the
latch. Use the hand nearest to the gate to unfasten the latch. Pull
or push the gate open then pass through. To shut the gate, turn the
horse round, transfer your reins and whip to the other hand, and
either pull or push the gate shut. Again, make the horse stand still,
parallel with and close to the gate, while you lean down to fix the
latch with your hand.
The aids
Halt to walk
Shorten the reins so that you have a gentle feel on your ponys
mouth. Close both legs, and when the pony goes to move just give
a little with the reins.
Walk to trot
Shorten the reins so that you have a gentle feel on your ponys
mouth. Close both legs, and when the pony goes to trot just give a
little with the reins.
Trot to canter left
Use your legs to make an active trot. Go into sitting trot. On
approaching a corner make the left rein a little shorter, supported
by the right rein, the left leg on the girth and the right leg behind
the girth ask the pony to canter.
Trot to canter right
Use your legs to make an active trot. Go into sitting trot. On
approaching a corner make the right rein a little shorter, supported
by the left rein, the right leg on the girth and the left leg behind the
girth ask the pony to canter.
Canter to trot
Make sure your reins are short enough to feel the ponys mouth.
Have both legs against his sides, and ask him to go into a nonallowing hand. As you get more experienced you will learn to ask
him to slow with your outside hand and seat and legs.
Trot to walk
Go into sitting trot. Make sure your reins are short enough to feel
the ponys mouth. Have both legs against his sides, and ask him to

go into a non-allowing hand. As you get more experienced you will

learn to ask him to slow with your outside hand and seat and legs.
Walk to halt
Shorten your reins so you can feel the mouth. Close the legs
against the ponys side, and ask him to go into a non-allowing
hand. As you get more experienced you will learn to ask him to
stop with your outside hand and seat and legs.
To turn or circle left
Look to the left, your weight must be central, left leg on the girth
and right leg behind the girth ask him to turn left.
To turn, or circle right
Look to the right, your weight must be central, right leg on the girth
and left leg behind the girth ask him to turn left.