I stood beside this celestial creature, immaculate and radiant with white light transcending around him. Mesmerized by his poise he was undoubtedly a work of art. In the midst of my trance, I heard a sound - which grew louder with every second. It was my alarm. I was dreaming of Pegasus, one of the most fascinating creatures of Greek Mythology. He is a divine white winged horse, known to have been born from the blood that sprang from Medusa’s Neck when Perseus beheaded her.     

As far back as my memory dates, I have been obsessed with horses. Horses have evolved from being multi-toed creatures to large species. Horse breeds are divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods" suitable  for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often for creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. 

Although for most people, horse - riding as an activity can be very intimidating and frightening. But it’s very easy to overcome this fear if you follow simple techniques which will help to effectively communicate with the horse and also understand his body language. First up what you need is to get your riding equipment. You can purchase this from a Local Tack Shop or search for equipments online. You will find a whole lot of sites selling Riding equipment ranging from the not so expensive to the very expensive.  

Your basic riding equipment will consist of: 

1. A Helmet/Hard hat - Make sure you buy a helmet that is approved by a recognized organization and is made especially for horse riding purposes only.

2. Breaches/Trousers - It’s essential to wear tight fitting and sturdy pants to avoid saddle sores. You can invest in breaches worn by experienced horse rides at a later stage.  

3. Boots/ Shoes - Your Riding Shoes must be flat sloes (no treads) and have a 1 inch heel. This will help you to avoid getting your foot stuck in the Stirrups.

4. A Body Protector - Strongly recommended for children since their bones are not fully developed.

5. A whip - You must learn the correct use of the whip. The whip must not be used to hurt the horse. You must use the flaps at the end of the whip to make a sound. The sound makes the horse go forward.

Now that you have your riding gear in place, the next step is the Learning Process. I would describe it to being similar to learning to ride a bicycle that involves the art of balancing then the finer techniques of riding. Learning to ride a horse is well, not easy but once you overcome this hurdle you will find horse riding as immensely satisfying and enjoyable. It is also a great way to relax. It’s important to be patient and to pay close attention to what your instructor is saying. Also, as I said earlier try to read the horses, body language and see how he responds to you on different occasions. You will be able to identify your horse’s likes and dislikes. You must keep the following things in mind while learning to ride a horse - 

a) Balance - Practice makes perfect, the more hours you spend in the saddle, the better you get. To learn Basic riding, it can take you anywhere between two to six months depending upon your age, ability and attendance.

b) Controls - Squeeze and pull on the reins to control the horse but never jerk the horse in the mouth whatever you do. With training and practice you will be able to effectively STOP, TURN and make your horse GO with the help of the reins.

c) Paces - Sit lightly and try and to move along the horses body movements. During your course of training you will learn to Walk, Trot, Canter and eventually Gallop. The more time you spend trying to master the trot the better the rider you become.

In addition to these, do remember to carry a ‘Treat “for your horse. Horses love Carrots/Sugar Cubes/Jaggery always carry a treat for your horse which you can give him before and after riding.  There are few riding schools in India where you can enroll yourself in a training course. 

a. Mumbai - Amateur Riders Club

b. Bangalore - Embassy International Riding Club

c. Chennai - Madras Riding Club

d. Kolkata - Tollygunge Club

e. Delhi - Army Polo Riding Club

Also, try getting your hands on a copy of ‘The Hand Book of Riding” by Mary Gordon  Watson Or “Manual of Riding” published by the British Horse Society.

He knows when you're happy

He knows when you're comfortable

He knows when you're confident

And he always knows when you have carrots.

Happy riding !