horsies!

[rm]

Well.

Despite being terrified of the very brusk man on the phone at the horse riding place -- I've a lesson for Sunday at 2:30p.m. -- he must have verified with me that I've never ridden before like 800-times, which was sort of freaky, but I suppose it's just so they have the right horse and instructor for me.

You know, when I came up with this cracked idea (one of many in a long history of cracked ideas), I didn't think it was that insane.

But no, it's that insane.

I've flown a plane, I can do this. I've flown a plane, I can do this.

So like... what do I wear? Jeans and solid shoes, yeah?

Comments

[rufus.livejournal.com]

As someone else has said, watch the ears. Laid back ears = unhappy horse. Swivveling ears = horse that is listening to what's going on.

Also, don't forget the gloves. Leather gloves -- much like driving gloves. Very, very important. And you want boots with a good solid heel.

The other thing to do is spend a minute visiting with the horse before you get on it. Proffer a closed fist for it to smell, talk to it, pet its neck, that kind of thing.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Why a closed fist? (that's like so the opposite of dogs)

[adriang.livejournal.com]

They may nibble your fingers. It's done sort of playfully, but still you don't want them nibbling on your fingers. I don't offer a closed fist, since I'm used to fending off their mouths, but I can see that as being a good way to keep your fingers safe. In my case, I actually let the horse get his nose right up to mine so he can smell my breath, but I do have to have my hands close by to control the head, because there is some chance that the horse will bite some part of my face. It seems like this sniffing each other's breath thing is a social reflex, and they are a little more polite while they are doing it, but I'm so much in the habit of being wary of that mouth, I just have to keep my hands where I can assert some control, if I need to.

You might also note, in general, that horses tend to be curious, and they will satisfy their curiosity by grabbing things with their mouths and nibbling on them. Anytime you are within easy range of their mouths you probably ought to try to be aware of what they are doing, all the time.

Adrian

[rufus.livejournal.com]

precisely as is noted below, because they might nibble on your hand. some horses will also swing their heads around and whuffle at you rather firmly, or snort, or sort of bonk you gently with their heads while looking for carrots or apples in your pockets. others will just stand there, ears tilted forward or a-swivel, and look at you.

[patashoqua.livejournal.com]

I was always taught a flat palm, with the fingers curved back a bit. For aforementioned nibbling-related reasons.

[graene.livejournal.com]

Actually in tech school we're specifically taught to offer dogs, cats, everything a closed fist, palm down. If they do bite, they'll hit bone before anything else, like nerves, tendons, chomping off fingers, etc. Definitely not what we were taught as kids.

You can also ask when you get there if it's ok to offer a sugar cube, piece of carrot, whatnot to the horse to make friends before or after the ride.