Breaking a Horse to Ride: A Guide to Teaching a Horse to Accept a Rider

Breaking your horse to ride doesn't have to be a scary ordeal for you or your horse. If you take the time to make the whole experience of introducing a rider to your horse as smooth and familiar as possible, it can be a rewarding and safe pleasure for both of you.

The best age to introduce a horse to a rider depends on the individual horse and his breed and conformation. It is usually a good idea to wait until the growth plates in your horse's legs are finished growing. Some breeds mature faster than others. A quarter horse is typically ready to ride at age 2, while an Arabian might not be ready until age 4. It is also advisable to wait until your horse is mentally ready to accept carrying a rider. Remember that a horse is never too old to start under saddle training!

Before you mount your horse for the first time, he should already be willing and responsive to you on the ground. If a horse does not respect you on the ground, he will not respect you when you are on top of him. He should lunge in both directions, understand the words "walk", "trot", "canter", and "whoa", and be accepting of the saddle and bridle. Finishing your groundwork is the first step in saddle training your horse.

Be sure to lunge your horse before you start backing him. This serves two purposes. First, it gets him in the mind set of listening to you, and second, it ensures that he is not fresh when you get on his back for the first time. After you lunge your horse to a sufficient degree, lead him to a quiet corner of the arena and have someone come over to help you, preferably someone who is knowledgeable when it comes to horses. Have your helper hold your horse while you work with him.

The author with Cadbury, her Andalusian horse.

Credit: Harry Proctor

Copyright: Tiffany Proctor