What You Need to Know Before Your First Riding Lesson

You’ve found horseback riding lessons near you and have signed up for your first lesson.

Congrats!

Here’s what you need to know before your first riding lesson.

If horseback riding is something you’ve been wanting to try, but are a little hesitant, don’t be.

Riding can be one of the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences in the world!

But before you take your first lesson, there are some important things you need to know as new riders.

This blog post will give you all the information that you’ll need for your first horseback riding experience!

If you’re not yet ready to commit to a full lesson program, summer camps can be a great introduction to younger children.

Your local equestrian center will mostly likely host a summer camp on their school horses for all riding levels.

These tend to be all-day affairs with horsemanship, crafts, grooming, and games for young riders.

For the following post I’m including information for both English and Western beginner riders.

If there is a difference in each I’ll be sure to point it out.

What to Expect In Your First Horseback Riding Lesson

Equipment You Need Before Your First Riding Lesson

The first thing you need the very first time is the right equipment.

Likely your new trainer has already told you this, but if not you’ll need a boot or enclosed shoe with a heel, long pants and a helmet.

You need enclosed shoes to protect your feet in case your horse accidentally steps on your toes.

Horses can’t see well beneath them and this happens more often than you’d think.

You’ll need a shoe with a small heel to prevent your foot sliding through the stirrups and getting hung up if you were to fall off.

Long pants will help protect your legs from what we call raspberries – where your skin will rub on the saddle or stirrup leathers and cause a blister or sore.

For your first ride jeans are acceptable, but as you advance in the skill levels you’ll want to invest in a good pair of britches.

You’ll also likely need a helmet.

Safety should always come first when it comes to horseback riding because it is inherently a dangerous sport.

Check out my post on the best beginner horseback riding helmets for ideas.

Even the best lesson horses can be unpredictable and you should always take safety precautions.

One of the best ways to protect ourselves is to protect our brains with a helmet.

Good Etiquette For Riding Lessons

Your trainer will likely run on a tight schedule, so always arrive at least 15 minutes early. 

This will give you plenty of time to get set up and meet the horse for your first horse riding lesson.

You should also always be punctual so that more people don’t have to wait around on you, especially if they’ve been waiting for a while already!

If 15 minutes is not enough time, ask your trainer in advance what time you should arrive for your lesson.

If your lesson is at a big lesson barn, you may show up even earlier to observe previous lessons.

Watching other people ride is like listening to a radio in another language in the background.

You’ll learn by osmosis without even knowing that you’re learning.

Horsey Homework

Studying up before your first lesson will help you understand your trainer’s instructions.

Besides, horseback riding is a very technical sport and you’ll need to know the vocabulary.

Knowing the language around horses and horse sports is like adding street names to a map.

Without them it’s near impossible to get from point A to point B.

Read up on horse anatomy, Beginner Horse Terminology, Parts of the Saddle and Bridle, how to saddle your horse for English lessons or Western lessons, what equipment is needed for each lesson type (if any), and basic safety tips around horses.

A Typical Beginner Riding Lesson

There are three types of lessons: private lessons, group lessons, or semi-private lessons.

In a private lesson you will be the only student.

The one-on-one attention in these is excellent, however they tend to be more expensive.

In group riding lessons there can be up to 20 students, depending on the school and size of the arena, but are cheaper.

In a semi-private lesson there may be two-four students, so that you get more one-on-one attention, without the price tag of a fully private lesson.

When I give an hour long lesson to a beginner, I’ll usually catch the horse from the field myself so that the horse is ready for their lesson.

As advanced riders, this may be something you do ahead of your lesson, but that all depends on your trainer.

My beginner lesson plans include a lot of basic horsemanship and grooming.

I’ll show them the grooming tools, and teach them how to groom the horse – ie how to brush and clean them, and pick out their hooves.

Next I’ll walk them through how to put the saddle and the bridle on their horse.

We’ll take the horse to the riding arena, and I’ll hold the reins while instructing the student on how to mount.

Once on the back of the horse, I’ll give the rider the reins, show them how to hold them, and then begin the lesson.

The actual riding part might only be a 15 or 20 minute lesson, before we dismount, lead the horse back to the stall, and untack and groom again.

In my experience, new students usually don’t have the musculature to ride for much longer than that.

The muscles used in riding are not used doing any other activity, so they take awhile to develop.

In addition to developing proper muscles, learning the basics can be overwhelming, so I like to stick to learning only three things in each lesson.

Each trainer may be different, however, so open communication with them on their expectations and your expectations is the best way to ensure everyone has the best possible experience!

A great instructor will focus on safety first and molding you into a confident rider.

If you at all ever feel unsafe, disrespected or ignored, don’t give up! Simply look for a new instructor.

Check out my post on how to find horseback riding lessons near you for more options!

Horseback riding is a rewarding and fulfilling past time and sport.

I am so excited for you to begin this journey!

For a complete FAQ on riding lessons including how much to expect to pay, and how to choose the best riding center for you, check out my friend’s guide on Horseback Riding Lessons: How to Start & What to Expect!