How to ride a horse: balance, body position and first cues

Riding doesn't start with your hands but with balance. The horse feels every shift of your weight, so a calm, balanced seat sends a clear and comfortable message.

Correct position: sit upright in the middle of the saddle, ear, shoulder, hip and heel in one line. Heels slightly down, knees relaxed, eyes forward — where you want to go, not down at the horse's neck.

Hands hold the reins softly, as if holding a bird. Elbows are bent and follow the movement of the horse's head. Reins are not brakes or a steering wheel, but a thin line of communication.

First cues: to walk on, apply light pressure with both legs and release once the horse moves. To turn, look where you're going and gently open the inside rein. To stop, breathe out, sit deeper and only then close your fingers on the reins.

The key rule: the reward is the release of pressure. A horse learns when pressure disappears the moment it does what you ask. We teach these basics in the first hours of the trail riding preparation programme at Black Horse Ranch.