Equestrian sports, including horse riding, are well known throughout Spain. In fact, in our country there are several riding schools and centres of great relevance worldwide. This makes it one of the most practised sports and, at the same time, one of the most followed.
Furthermore, this discipline is practised as a sport, as a military sport, as a hobby or even for therapeutic purposes. This is due to the fact that the rider coordinates with the horse and a unique and very beneficial connection is generated.
Therefore, if you are interested in knowing what kind of riding courses there are and where to take them, Equspaddock, as manufacturers of accessories for horse riding, gives you all the information. Take note!
What is horse riding?
If we talk specifically about what horse riding is, it is a sport where the rider maintains balance on the horse and works as a team. In other words, it is the activity of riding a horse, one of the most common disciplines of equestrian sport.
Types of riding courses
When signing up for a riding course or specific training in this discipline, it is important to be clear about the different types of courses available:
- Riding courses for beginners. These are for those people who have never done this sport before and it is the first time they are practising it, whether they are adults or children. Therefore, their objective is to learn how to work with the horse, to know the riding postures and to learn other techniques such as saddling and unsaddling, etc.
- Riding improvement courses. If you already know how to ride a horse and you would like to perfect your techniques or increase your competition level, these courses are the right ones for you. In this modality, there are several courses: classical riding, equestrian jumping, dressage or endurance riding.
- Specialised and technical riding courses. These are aimed at riders who have experience in the equestrian world and who wish to specialise. For example, equine therapy (training as a riding instructor for therapy), equestrian tumbling (acrobatics on horseback) or riding instructor courses for children.
What will you learn on a riding course?
If you are thinking of signing up for a horse riding course or you are interested in finding out more information, you should know that these courses include both a theoretical and practical part. In other words, you learn a more technical part that you then have to put into practice with the horse.
Therefore, depending on the type of training you take, you will learn one type of knowledge or another (for example, in beginners’ courses you will learn about the horse’s anatomy or safety, while in more specific courses you will learn more advanced techniques).
Some of the skills you can learn in this type of activity are: equine anatomy, horse care, feeding, safety for the animal and the rider, riding postures, types of trot or dressage, balance, coordination…
How to choose the right riding course
When choosing which course to take, it is important to take into account different aspects. Above all, it is important to be clear about whether you want to ride a horse for pleasure or professionally. From there, other factors that you should analyse in order to choose the best one for you are:
– Choose a school or centre near your location.
– Ask other people who do the sport for their recommendations.
– Consider your budget and time availability.
– You can also consider the option of going to riding lessons with another family member or friend, for example.
Characteristics of a good riding school
If you already know what kind of training you want to do, it is also important to choose the right training centre for you. To do this, you should take into account location, reputation and specialisation. We recommend that, before choosing, you gather information about the teachers and make sure that they are qualified.
Other features that indicate a good riding school are:
– The facilities are clean, well maintained and safe for the horses.
– The horses are tame and well cared for.
– The instructors and monitors are experienced and trained in each discipline.
– The users are happy and recommend the centre.
At Equspaddock we are true horse lovers and we recommend this sport to have fun with horses, you will love it!
Frequently asked questions about riding courses
With all this information about horse riding courses, do you have more questions or do you want to know something more specific? You can read some of the most frequently asked questions!
Is there a minimum age for horse riding?
In most schools there is no minimum age, although it is recommended that you start from the age of four or five.
- Are horse riding courses very expensive?
This depends on different aspects such as the type of course, the reputation of the school, the experience of the instructor and so on. The most interesting thing to do is to ask for a quote from different centres.
- Do you have to be fit to ride a horse?
A healthy and flexible physical condition is recommended, as well as good coordination. However, these skills are not essential.
- Do you have to buy specific clothing for horse riding?
If you can afford it, yes, it is the most interesting thing to do. However, it is not necessary; as long as you wear comfortable clothes that allow you to make the necessary movements.
