Riding is a partnership between a rider and a horse or pony. The rider learns to sit in balance and ask the horse to walk, trot, canter, turn and stop with the legs, seat and reins. Looking after the horse, on the ground and in the stable, is part of the skill.
How competitions are won
In dressage, a rider performs set movements in a lettered arena and judges give marks; the highest score wins. In show jumping, horse and rider jump a course of fences; a knocked pole or a refusal adds faults, and the fastest round with the fewest faults wins. Eventing combines dressage, a cross-country course of solid fences and show jumping.
Rules children break first
A fastened riding hat every time, even just to lead a pony.
Never walk close behind a pony that has not seen you.
Speak as you come near, so the pony knows you are there.
Never wrap a rope or the reins round your hand.
At home you learn off the pony
The parts of the pony and the tack, the yard and road rules, sitting like a rider on a stool, arena figures with a hobby horse, falling safely on a mat, and how to tell a pony is well. All riding and handling is at a riding school.
Words you will hear (41, in plain language)
Pony
A pony is a small horse, under about 148 cm at the shoulder.
Near side
The pony's left side is the near side, where you usually lead and mount; the right side is the off side.
Tack
The riding gear a pony wears: the saddle, bridle and girth.
Saddle
The seat strapped on the pony's back.
Girth
The strap under the pony's belly that holds the saddle on.
Stirrups
The metal loops hanging from the saddle that hold the rider's feet.
Bridle
The straps on the pony's head that hold the bit.
Bit
The metal bar in the pony's mouth that the reins attach to.
Reins
The straps from the bit to the rider's hands.
Halter
A simple head strap for leading and tying up, with no bit.
Lead rope
The rope clipped to the halter for leading.
Quick-release knot
A knot for tying up a pony that comes free with one pull on the loose end.
Withers
The bony bump at the base of the pony's neck, where the shoulder is measured.
Croup
The top of the pony's hindquarters, above the tail.
Hock
The big joint halfway down each back leg.
Fetlock
The fetlock is the joint just above the hoof; the pastern is the short part between it and the hoof.
Hoof
The hard foot; a hoof pick is the small hook for cleaning mud and stones out of it.
Groom
Brushing the pony clean, in the direction the hair grows.
Gaits
The ways a horse moves. Walk is four steady beats; trot is two bouncy beats; canter is a rocking, three-beat skip.
Rising trot
Standing up a little in the stirrups on one beat of the trot and sitting on the next.
Diagonal
In rising trot, which beat the rider rises on; it is changed when the direction changes.
Rein
Riding round the arena one way is "on the left rein" or "right rein"; a change of rein is changing direction.
Circle
Arena figures. A circle is round, the same size all round; a serpentine is a snake of loops across the arena.
Arena letters
Letters round a riding arena that mark where movements start and finish.
Transition
Changing from one gait to another, such as walk to trot.
Canter lead
In canter, one front leg reaches further forward; on a circle it should be the inside leg.
Ground poles
Poles laid on the ground to ride over.
Cross rail
A small jump made of two poles crossed in an X.
Refusal
When a horse stops in front of a jump instead of jumping it.
Faults
Penalty points in show jumping, such as 4 for a knocked pole.
Dressage
Riding set movements in an arena, judged for accuracy and calm.
Show jumping
Show jumping is a course of knock-down fences in an arena; cross-country is solid fences across fields; eventing combines both with dressage.
Mounting block
A step to stand on when getting on.
Lunge
A long rope on which a trainer keeps a horse moving in a circle round them.
Vaulting
Gymnastics on a horse that is cantering or walking on a lunge line.
Hobby horse
A stick with a toy horse's head, ridden on foot.
Body protector
A padded vest that protects the rider's back and chest in a fall.
Spook
When a horse is startled and jumps or runs sideways.
Vital signs
Temperature, pulse and breathing rate, checked at rest to tell if a pony is well.
Lateral work
Movements where the horse steps sideways as well as forward.
In hand
Leading or showing a horse from the ground, not riding it.
Nobody is late. A beginner of any age starts at Basic.
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Basic8 cards · show· hideSafe handling, grooming, naming the parts of the pony and the tack, a balanced position at walk and trot, and trust. Vaulting on the lunge (b7) is a second way in for young children.
Move on whenthe instructor says the child rides walk and trot in balance and handles a pony safely on the ground, or on the vaulting route when the child kneels up at walk for a count of 10 and jumps off safely.
Intermediate3 cards · show· hideCanter, circles, transitions, trot poles and cross rails, riding out in a group on grass and different ground, and the first stable-care routines.
Move on whenthe instructor says the child canters in balance, jumps a small cross rail and rides out safely in a group.
Advanced2 cards · show· hideA competition horse, riding at any venue, coping under pressure, harmony and partnership with the horse, riding tests and mental preparation. This level is taught at a club.
Movement, safety and the words at home. The sport itself needs water, a boat, a horse or a coach.
You do not need to know the sport. Each card tells you where to stand, what to say and what to look at.
Pick one thing to say in a session and say only that. The first week looks messy; that is normal.
End every session on one that works.
Cards marked At a club are taught by a coach. They tell you what the
coach teaches, what is safe at home, and what to ask the club before your child joins.