Horses are complex, beautiful creatures that require a great deal of patience and discipline to ride. As the proud owner of a beautiful horse, you may have grown up wanting to experience the joy of horseback riding or even owning your own horse. But before you jump in the saddle, it’s important to understand the basics of setting boundaries and providing discipline.
In this guide, we’ll break down the fundamentals of establishing these two cornerstones of successful horsemanship.
What is Boundary Setting?
Boundary setting means establishing limits for both yourself and your horse. This means understanding what behaviours are unacceptable for both yourself and your horse, as well as recognising which situations would be dangerous or detrimental to either you or your horse at any given time. When it comes to riding horses, there are two main types of boundaries you should set: physical boundaries and verbal boundaries.
Physical Boundaries
Physical boundaries refer to any type of physical contact between yourself and your horse. For example, if you use spurs when riding, make sure they don’t cause any pain or discomfort for your horse – and never use them in a way that encourages bad behaviour from your horse (e.g. kicking).
Additionally, avoid using harsh tools like bitless bridles or whips when working with horses – these can be painful and can lead to negative associations with riding. Lastly, if possible purchase horse riding pants in Australia so you have the necessary protection while riding a powerful animal like a horse!
Verbal Boundaries
Verbal boundaries refer to how you communicate with your horse during training sessions or rides. It’s important that you speak calmly when communicating with them; loud noises or shouting can frighten them and make it difficult for them to learn commands effectively.
Additionally, avoid using language that might confuse them – it’s best to give clear instructions such as “walk on” instead of “go forward” so they will understand what they need to do without question. Finally, always reward good behaviour with praise, as this will encourage positive reinforcement between rider and mount.
What is Discipline?
Discipline refers to teaching horses lessons about acceptable behaviour through consistency and repetition. You should always use positive reinforcement when disciplining horses – never yell at them or punish them for not following instructions correctly; rather reward them with treats or praise when they do something correctly.
You should also be consistent in how you interact with your horse. If he knows what behaviours are expected from him every time, he will be more likely to respond positively each time he is ridden or trained.
Ready to get started?
Horseback riding can be an incredibly rewarding experience – but it takes skill, patience, and an understanding of boundary setting and discipline before making those first steps into the saddle. Enjoy the ride!
