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Preparing for your first riding lesson starts with finding a right riding school. Before signing up for a class go to the stable and look around and talk to the people and feel the whole atmosphere.

The place should be relatively clean and well kept, it is important that you do feel welcome in the riding school. Before the visit you should call and ask when is the good time to come, that way you are not on the way and can introduce yourself and your child if you are signing her/him for a lesson. Leave your dog either home or inside your car and make sure to act polite and friendly and not to run around the horses or scare them in any way. (Turn your cell off!)

If you feel good about the place and other riders seem happy and horses well kept and right for the job, go ahead and sign up.

While signing ask what you need for the lesson. Riding school should request ASTM/SEI approved helmet before letting a rider on the horse. If you do not have one or do not want to invest for one right away most riding schools will borrow helmets.

Another thing you should have is sturdy heels on your shoes, not nesessarily real riding boots but shoes that have good sturdy heel that gives you a better grip of the stirrups right from the start. Sneakers are not usually recommended.

Your clothes should not be too tight, you should be able to move your arms around and feel comfortable in the saddle. Leggings are better than jeans in general.

You do not need gloves from the start but I always felt more in control holding the reins with my riding gloves on so you might want to get a pair to boost your selfconfidence.

I would also recommend getting your own helmet just because you do want one that fits you right without moving up and down or being too tight, you'll have enough to worry about while sitting on a horse first time, helmet should feel comfortable!

There is many sites selling used riding apparel and often you can find ads on someone selling right on your local riding school, take advantage on them to stay on budget.

You can find many good books about first riding lessons and it is wise to read them to learn how you should behave around these magnificent animals. Go to the library!

I don't think it matters so much what you eat before the first lesson, of course you do not want to feel stuffed or hungry but other than that I would not change my eating habits just because a riding lesson. Eating healthy and feeling good and energetic is great advice what ever your daily activities are going to include!

Good riding schools use only "bullet proof" horses for beginner's lessons and they are generally very safe and your instructor should be helpful and explain you how to act right from the start to make your first contact in the saddle and in control of the horse as smooth as possible.

It is fine to be little nervous, after all horse or even a pony is a big and powerful animal and they can get spooked even under the greatest care.

Still try not to show your horse that you are scared (if you are!) horses can read people's mind quite well, they are smarter than many give them credit for.

Never scream around them without a reason or swing your arms up and down or pull their reins too suddenly while mounted. But if you are in the right riding school, your instructor will tell you all this before you even get to go close to your hopefully new equine friend.

Happy trails!

Learn more about this author, K Bert.
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