Hippotherapy - Can i teach myself how to ride a horse successfully without a professional horseback riding instructor?

Can i teach myself how to ride a horse successfully without a professional horseback riding instructor?

I live up north and i dont really have very many opportunities for riding, but have just been given permission to use my neighbours horse. I have had maybe two weeks of riding instruction in my life and I'm 18 years old. So i'm planning on going there every afternoon after work to ride, and try to improve my skills, does anyone know good books or some type of system that i could use to teach myself to be a good rider? I dont want to form bad habits and a bad style of riding, but there really isnt anyone who can teach me to ride properly, and i dont have the money to hire an instructor to come out there and assist me. Any helpful information would be really really appreciated! Thanks alot everyone! Awesome, you guys are so quick to answer!. Thanks for all the tips, and I am going to try and get someone to come out and give me pointers and such, it just might take a while...thanks again for your input..

Public Comments

If you can't hire an instructor at least make firends with someone who has experience. Until you've been bucked 10 feet into the air, land on your back and blackout, you really won't understand why having experience on your side is needed :)
I found that Horse, Follow Closely was a good book. Also, I find that I can learn by watching, such as another experienced rider or TV shows/videos. There's some good ones out there. Best thing to remember is to relax and try not to pull on their mouths. Also, learn how the horse is trained, whether neck rein, leg commands, etc., before you get on him so he will understand your commands.
There are some good books, like Centered Riding and Dressage books by Kyra Kirklund (depending on the discipline you will be riding). While books are good, a person right there to tell you your bad habits is better. You can start with books, but even if you can get someone to come out once a month or once every other month would be better, or at least a great addition to books. I know a lot of people that ride without ever taking lessons and they do well - would not pin in any shows, but they avoid falling off. If all you are looking to do is avoid falling off, you should be fine - to really learn the more complex points of riding, an instructor is necessary.
i think that you can ride successfully with out a trainer, but there is more chance for error and creating bad riding habits. center riding is a good book to start with ( i forget the author but she also has videos) if you go to any tack store i'm sure they'll have basic books to help, some may even have riding videos that are useful. you could go to the library if you didnt want to spend the money and ask them to order the books and videos (once you pick out a few you like from the store just write their names down). good luck.
well, it really depends. personally, i'd select a trainer. you may not believe it, but they honestly know everything about horseback riding. i can pick up a canter for one second and my instructor already knows if im on the right lead or not. if you can have the ability to get all the information about horseback riding like instructors do, then of course you can teach yourself. but if you want to become a great horseback riider, i recommend an instructor. for me, i usually go on google or somesort to pick up some horseback riding tips, i find that books arent so good, but if you go to saddlesource.com under books you can order some that might help you. best of luck :] -caitlin
YA i did now I am sooooooo good at riding!!!!
Defiantly should try to find friends with horse experience. I've been around horses my entire life. Depending on the horse it could go easy or be tough. Look online to see if you can find any training videos by John Lyons. Reading books is a good start.Horses can tell when your scared, and dont know what your're doing. Some will use that to get outta being ridden. Perhaps maybe your neighbor could give you some help?
No. Can't be done. Riding is not something a book can give you feedback on. Sorry!
Although I am a professional rider now, I got my start riding ponies (they didn't look small when I first started) bareback racing up and down the road. If you have a knack for it then yes, you can probably teach yourself to ride, although your style may be somewhat awkward. If you don't, then you probably won't. If you do want to ride on your own, please use a helmet and body protection. The most important books you are going to want to read are the ones about horse health care (how to clean hooves etc) about how the tack fits so that you do not pinch the horse with saddle, girth or bridle and about general horse care. I would get with someone who knows there stuff as there are little tricks to everything (for instance you never want to put fly spray where the tack touches the horse, when you hose the horse off you need to scrape the water off as it will actually hold in heat if you don't). Next, look at books that will give you the basics of how to hold the reins, how to sit, what not to do (like jerk the horse in the mouth) etc. I agree with the person earlier who said have someone who is a good rider help you out and give you the basics, otherwise you are looking at a tough road. The older you are, the more difficult it is to learn to ride on your own. (When you are younger, you bounce better.)
If you want a book recommendation, I would start with Musler's Riding Logic, the Pony Club manuals, the BHS manual of horsemanship, and Principals of Riding by the German National Equestrian Federation. However, because riding is an athletic skill, it really cannot be learned from a book, it must be taught. A book can help you understand the theory and the 'why' of what your are trying to do, but only an instructor can give your the 'how' and make sure you are doing it right. I think that working on your own regularly is good and necessary to become proficient, but you really need oversight by a good instructor to make sure you do not fall into bad habits. Remember that the best riders in the world still take riding lessons because they still need someone on the ground to be a second set of eyes. Would it be possible for you to go to some clinics that are not too far away? That would at least give you some instruction and lots of things to work on when you get home. Or how about having an instuctor come out once per month? Is there anyone else nearby that rides? You could split the cost of lessons with them. This will at least give you a double check of what you are doing. I know you said that money is an issue, but if you really want to learn to ride, you'll have to find a way to get some help.
If you can't afford a trainer, then there are LOTS of books written about proper equitation. However you can't watch yourself to see what you are having problems doing. That's one of the BEST arguments for getting a trainer. I rode for my first few years without one, but by the time I had the money and transportation to afford one, I'd already established some BAD habits that had to be change. You can try using your shadow and a BIG help would be a dressage mirror.
I have never taken lesson in my life and I even show, very successfully. I would say if you are looking to expand your riding capabilities then go ahead. But it isn't necessary.
There are many of us that learned to ride on our own. I see no reason that you cannot learn to be a very accomplished rider with out a trainer. If you have a goal in dressage or hunter jumper or that sort of thing, well yes a coach would be necessary. But if all you want to do is ride for the pure enjoyment of horse and nature, then yes by all means. I have learned on my own and have covered a great deal of territory on a horse and have not suffered nor have my horses.
If im honest you can read all the books in the world but i know the only reason im a good horse rider today is 1) I have been taught by amazing people 2) I have been on a horse since i was 3. When you have an instructor there there to help you and to remind you what to do but even though you can learn it all in a book it will be really hard for you to remember it when all you wanna do is concentrate on one thing at a time so you perfect it all slowly! I'd say you can try and use a book and then please tell how me how it went! It wil also depend on how good your neighbours horse is to - if hes been there and done that it will be alot easier. Good luck!!!
A great book is "How Your Horse Wants You To Ride". It'll take you through proper form and it's function to benefit the horse. It also has some great visual exercises to release stress before even getting into the saddle. To learn how to ride without an instructor I'd ride a lot bareback. The most secure seats on a horse have been made by riding bareback. Don't be afraid to trot bareback. It'll only make your seat stronger. That's the best way to learn from the best teacher, the horse. Please, please, please buy a helmet and then have a ton of fun! Good luck!
Absolutely. That's how I learned how to ride - i got on and taught myself. Watched people. Read books. Eventually I did take professional lessons (for almost a year). There are things that you learn that an instructor cannot teach you, and things that you need to learn which you may only find out from professional lessons.
You can learn to ride a horse on your own & that will be o.k. if all you want to do is ride for something to do. But to learn anything where you will be showing or jumping, etc. then I would seek someone to help. Never had a trainer other than dad & grandad when I was growing up. We did ranch work & team roping, no style involved, but you definitely needed to know how to sit a horse it some bad & weird situations & terrain. I didn't show or ride english which takes someone who knows what the judges are looking for to help you. Safety is a concern if you are not use to being around horses though, on the ground & on their backs. By the way, you can form bad habits, I have several that would make a "show" person or judge cringe, but I have been riding for 40 years & I doubt I'll change any of them soon. Take Care, Have Fun & Good Luck!
you being the teacher with no knowledge of horsemanship has a fool for a student not to be rude but get professional training