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Could you tell me a little about horse body language and different types of riding?

My mom said I could get started in horseback riding which has been something I've wanted to do for ages. This will be my first time working with horses (I was SUPPOSED to go to camp, but my mom never signed me up...)

Since horses are new animals to me, could you please describe or give me sites where they show what the different positions of the ears mean, some basic behaviors, etc. Also, what kind of riding and competitions are there? I'd appreciate simple descriptions as well.

I'll be riding at an equestrian center so I'm sure they'll explain a lot, but I'd like to be a little prepared and more confident before I hop on the animal. Thank you!

This is a big topic and there are lots of things to learn.

Horse body language is important. The best book I've found on that is

"The Body Language of Horses" by Tim Ainsle and Bonnie Ledbetter

On-line, this is a good site

http://www.angelfire.com/tx2/kidshorses/bodylang.html

In terms of types of riding, there are basically three major styles

- Basic
- English
- Western

Basic riding is the foundation and some people never really need to go beyond it it. If you are just interested in safe riding at the three gaits of walk, trot and canter, this may be all you need. You need to master this first anyway, even if you want to later ride English or Western.

The other two styles bring along with them a set of different competitions at different levels of difficulty. They also have their own unique styles of Saddle, reins, and clothing.

English has light small saddles, focuses on tight contact between the reins and the horse, typically requires formal dress, and often requires special postures or variations in gait from the horse. Disciplines like dressage (precision riding), hunter / jumper (riding a course with jumps), and eventing (riding a long outdoor course with obstacles, water, jumps and turns) are among the types of competition. English riding is based on the idea of the hunt from horseback or a very formal "dancing" style".

Western riders use heavier saddles, focus on light contact, loose one-handed reining. steering with legs and may require Western attire such as cowboy hats, chaps, western shirts, cowboy boots and spurs. Western is based on the riding style of US ranch hands, but has many disciplines. Disciplines like reining (precision riding at lope and gallop), Western Pleasure (gentle riding with smooth control of gaits), working cow horse and cutting (riding in simulated ranch work to control cows and calves in a herd) are among the types of competition.

Some people consider trail riding to be Western, but it is also an advanced form of basic riding that both English and Western riders can enjoy. It takes a well-trained horse and a confident rider to do well in varying terrain, crossing water and to deal with the potential for the horse to be frightened by something we might consider quite normal.

You Tube is a great place to seem some excellent riding in these disciplines - here are some samples...

Reining: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Cp-UvxOAw
Dressage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKQgTiqhPbw
Trail Riding (Outdoors): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOpEMbhDDhU&feature=related
Working Cow Horse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT-tPneaPuc
Eventing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=463PhvZuzeE&feature=related

Horses, to be well-suited for any discipline, need specialized training. Reining horses, cow horse, dressage horses and good trail horses are typically not interchangeable. You also need an instructor who knows the discipline, once you decide to specialize.

There are many things to learn about horses beyond riding, especially if you will eventually own a horse. Among them horse health, how to select and keep a farrier and veterinarian, nutrition, conditioning, and much more.

Here are some sites I really find useful:

http://horse911.com/kb/?CategoryID=4

http://www.horse-sense.org/index/

http://www.juliegoodnight.com/q&a.php

http://www.thehorse.com/

Congratulations and enjoy.

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