Essential Horsemanship Skills: How to Handle and Ride Horses from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand how to ride a horse at a walk, trot and canter safely and effectively.
Tack up a horse and untack a horse.

Feel comfortable and confident around horses.
Approach, lead and move around a horse properly.

Understand how to ride a horse at a walk, trot and canter safely and effectively.
Tack up a horse and untack a horse.
Feel comfortable and confident around horses.
Approach, lead and move around a horse properly.

Syllabus

Introduction

Meet your instructors for the course. Ali (the human) and Noah (the horse) have been together for over 17 years, and are thrilled to share with you their combined experience and knowledge so you too can discover just how much fun horses and riding can be.

Why should you bother learning what all the weird names are for the parts of a horse? That way if you ever need to ask someone a question, like a trainer or a vet, you can say "my horse's right front fetlock joint" rather than, "that knobby thing above his foot." Plus, it helps you feel confident around horses to know what you're talking about :)

There are a few essential items and other things that you will need to have in place to get the most out of this course. You can still learn a lot even if you can't ride right now, but for those who are ready this lecture will make sure you've got everything you need.

A horse is a horse of course...but what does that mean for how you should act around one? This course will help you understand the mindset of a horse and how to predict a horse's reaction in different situations. It will help you be safe and confident around horses.

This section will help understand how horses behave, and teach you how to catch and lead a horse.

Many horses live out in open areas. This lecture shows you how to safely approach and catch a horse in a paddock or field.

This lecture demonstrates an essential skill for new horse people: how to correctly tie a quick release knot for safely securing your horse.

Before you can put a saddle on your horse, you need to make sure he is clean. This lecture shows you the basics of grooming.

Make sure all your equipment is tight and adjusted properly.

This lecture reviews "tack"--what your horse wears when you ride. By the end, you will be able to identify all the important pieces of tack and know what they are used for.

See how to get your horse ready to ride.

Western saddles are a little different than English saddles. This lecture shows you how to tack up with a Western saddle.

Although early riders made do without them, stirrups make it a lot easier to stay in the saddle. It's best if they are adjusted correctly for your height. Learn how in this lecture.

Before you hop on, run through this final check-list to make sure everything is ready to go.

Learn how to properly ask your horse to walk, stop and turn.

How to mount the seemingly insurmountable--no pole vaulting required. This lecture shows you how to safely and comfortably get on your horse.

Keep a leg on each side and your mind in the middle. Although this course focuses on English riding, the basic riding position for all disciplines is the same. This lecture walks you through the basic riding seat.

A quick bonus lecture on more detailed pelvis positioning in the saddle.

Ready, set, go! Although there's no gas pedal or steering wheel, there's still a right way to ask your horse to move forward, as well as stop and turn. By the end of this lecture, you will understand how to ask a horse to stop, go and turn.

A bonus lecture on using your elbows correctly in all your rein aids.

Understand what a trot is and how to ride it.

Once you've got the basics down at the walk, you can move on to faster speeds. The next gait after the walk is a trot (or jog), a two-beat bouncy gait. This lecture will show you what a trot is and how it looks from the ground.

There are two ways to ride a trot; sitting and posting. Posting is a technique to make a trot easier and more comfortable to ride. This lecture shows you how to successfully post a trot.

It takes a fair bit of practice to get comfortable riding a horse at the trot. Sitting a trot properly is a fairly advanced skill, but this lecture will get you a long way along that path.

Learn what a canter is and how to ride it.

A canter is the speed at which worries can't keep up! Learn what makes the canter different from the trot besides just being faster.

This is a bonus lecture on some riding exercises to improve your control in the canter.

Learn how to take care of your horse once you are done riding.

Learn how to safely and comfortably get down off your horse.

Once you've finished your ride, you need to take care of your horse. Learn how to untack a horse in this lecture.

Just like people, horses like getting rewards for a job well done. Learn how to safety feed a horse a treat.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Meant for beginners who want to learn the basics of horseback riding, whether for pleasure or sport

Covers essential topics such as catching, leading, grooming, tacking up, riding at different gaits, and horse care

Emphasizes safety throughout the course, providing tips on how to approach and handle horses

Taught by Alexandra Mannerings, an experienced horse rider with over 17 years of experience

Suitable for those with no prior horse riding experience

Provides a comprehensive foundation for those who want to pursue horseback riding as a hobby or sport

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Essential Horsemanship Skills: How to Handle and Ride Horses with these activities:

Practice identifying horse breeds

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Practice identifying different horse breeds by their physical characteristics, which will help you become more familiar with the different types of horses and their unique traits.

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Look at pictures of different horse breeds.
Read about the different characteristics of each breed.
Try to identify horse breeds in real life.

Watch a video tutorial on how to groom a horse

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Watching a video tutorial on how to groom a horse will help you learn the proper techniques for keeping your horse clean and healthy.

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Find a video tutorial on how to groom a horse.
Watch the video tutorial.
Practice grooming a horse.

Review some basic math skills

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Brush up on some basic math skills like order of operations and converting fractions to decimals, which will help prepare you for understanding more advanced math in this course.

Browse courses on Math

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Review the order of operations (PEMDAS).
Practice converting fractions to decimals.
Try some basic algebra problems.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Join a horse riding club or group

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Joining a horse riding club or group will give you the opportunity to practice your riding skills and learn from more experienced riders.

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Find a horse riding club or group in your area.
Attend a meeting or event.
Meet other horse riders and learn from them.

Volunteer at a local horse rescue or riding academy

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Volunteering at a local horse rescue or riding academy will give you valuable hands-on experience with horses and help you develop your riding skills.

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Find a local horse rescue or riding academy.
Contact the organization and ask about volunteer opportunities.
Volunteer your time to help with horse care and riding lessons.

Organize your notes and materials from the course

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Keeping your notes and materials organized will help you stay up-to-date on the course material and make it easier to study for exams.

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Create a system for organizing your notes and materials.
Regularly review and update your notes.
Organize your materials into folders or binders.

Create a blog or vlog about your horse riding experiences

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Creating a blog or vlog about your horse riding experiences will help you reflect on your progress and share your knowledge with others.

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Choose a platform for your blog or vlog.
Create content about your horse riding experiences.
Share your blog or vlog with others.

Mentor a new horse rider

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Mentoring a new horse rider will help you reinforce your own knowledge and skills while also helping someone else to learn about horses and riding.

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Find a new horse rider who is interested in learning from you.
Create a plan for your mentoring sessions.
Meet with your mentee regularly to teach them about horses and riding.

Career center

Learners who complete Essential Horsemanship Skills: How to Handle and Ride Horses will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Riding Instructor

A Riding Instructor teaches people how to ride horses. They work in a variety of settings, such as stables, equestrian centers, and summer camps. Riding Instructors must have a strong understanding of horse riding techniques and be able to communicate effectively with students. This course is an excellent starting point for someone who wants to become a Riding Instructor, as it provides a solid foundation in horse riding and handling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Riding Instructor

Horse Trainer

A Horse Trainer may work at a racing stable, farm, or equestrian center, and they typically board, train, and care for client horses. Training involves honing a horse's form, instincts, and behavior to work with a rider. Trainers must understand horse psychology, anatomy, and training methods to optimize outcomes for each horse. This course helps build a foundation for someone who wishes to become a Horse Trainer as it teaches the basics of horse handling and riding.

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Ranch Hand

Ranch Hands work on ranches, where they are responsible for the care of the horses and other livestock. They may also be responsible for maintaining the ranch facilities and equipment. Ranch Hands must have a good understanding of horse care and handling.

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Stable Manager

Stable Managers oversee the day-to-day operations of a stable. They are responsible for the care of the horses, the maintenance of the facilities, and the staff. Stable Managers must have a good understanding of horse care and handling, as well as the different types of horses that are boarded at the stable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Stable Manager

Farrier

Farriers trim and shoe horses' hooves. They must have a good understanding of horse anatomy and physiology, as well as the different types of shoes that are available. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Farrier, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Farrier

Veterinary Technician

Veterinary Technicians assist Veterinarians in providing care for animals, which may include horses. They perform a variety of tasks, including taking vital signs, administering medication, preparing animals for surgery, and assisting with diagnostic tests. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Veterinary Technician, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Horse Show Judge

Horse Show Judges evaluate horses and riders in competitions. They must have a good understanding of horse riding techniques and the different types of horse shows that are held. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Horse Show Judge, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Equestrian Journalist

Equestrian Journalists write articles and stories about horses and horse riding. They may work for a variety of publications, such as magazines, newspapers, and websites. Equestrian Journalists must have a good understanding of horse riding and the horse industry. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an Equestrian Journalist, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Horseback Tour Guide

Horseback Tour Guides lead groups of people on horseback riding tours. They must have a good understanding of horse riding techniques and the different types of trails that are available. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Horseback Tour Guide, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Therapeutic Riding Instructor

Therapeutic Riding Instructors teach people with disabilities how to ride horses. They must have a good understanding of horse riding techniques and the different types of disabilities that can be accommodated. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Therapeutic Riding Instructor, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Equine Photographer

Equine Photographers take pictures of horses and horse riders. They may work for a variety of clients, such as magazines, websites, and horse owners. Equine Photographers must have a good understanding of horse anatomy and movement, as well as the different types of photography equipment that is available. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an Equine Photographer, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Equine Massage Therapist

Equine Massage Therapists use massage techniques to help horses relax and recover from injuries. They may work with horses of all ages and breeds, and they must have a good understanding of horse anatomy and physiology. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an Equine Massage Therapist as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Animal Caretaker

Animal Caretakers provide care for animals, which may include horses. They may work in a variety of settings, such as animal shelters, zoos, and farms. Animal Caretakers must be able to handle animals safely and provide them with a clean and healthy environment. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an Animal Caretaker, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Horse Breeder

Horse Breeders breed and raise horses. They may specialize in a particular breed of horse, and they must have a good understanding of horse genetics and breeding practices. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become a Horse Breeder, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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Equine Nutritionist

Equine Nutritionists develop and implement nutrition plans for horses. They must have a good understanding of horse nutrition and metabolism, as well as the different types of feed that are available. This course may be useful for someone who wishes to become an Equine Nutritionist, as it provides a basic understanding of horse care and handling.

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