The Importance of Building a Strong Relationship Before Riding a Horse

Horse riding is often perceived as a physical activity, something that requires technique, balance, and confidence. While these elements are important, they are not the true foundation of riding.

Whether you ride regularly or join a guided trail experience for the first time, understanding the principles behind riding will significantly improve your safety, comfort, and connection with the horse.

Riding is not about control. It is about communication, awareness, and partnership.

This article explains the essential foundations every rider should understand before mounting a horse, especially in a guided outdoor setting.

Understanding Riding as a Relationship

The foundation of riding starts on the ground. Horses are highly perceptive animals. They observe posture, breathing patterns, and emotional energy. Even before mounting, a rider’s attitude influences how the horse responds.

Taking time to approach calmly, listening carefully to instructions, and observing the horse’s behavior creates a stable beginning. In guided trail environments, this preparation phase is particularly important. It allows riders to become familiar with equipment, understand safety expectations, and feel grounded before movement begins.

Balance over Strength

One of the most common misconceptions about riding is that it requires physical strength. In reality, balance plays a far greater role. A rider who sits upright yet relaxed, allows the hips to follow the horse’s natural motion, and keeps the shoulders soft will create a smoother and more secure ride than someone who grips tightly or pulls firmly on the reins.

Balance is often taught as a physical skill, but it also reflects the rider’s connection to the horse. When a rider is balanced, they move with the horse rather than against it. This harmony makes riding smoother and safer.

Understanding the Horse

Horses are prey animals. Their instincts are designed around awareness of their surroundings. Sudden movements, unfamiliar sounds, or changes in terrain may cause them to react quickly. This reaction is not disobedience; it is instinct.

In outdoor riding environments such as forests, dunes, or beaches, this awareness is even more pronounced. Riders who understand this natural sensitivity are better equipped to remain composed when small reactions occur. The rider's calm often leads to immediate calm in the horse.

Recognizing that horses respond to their environment helps riders replace anxiety with understanding.

Communication Beyond Words

Communication with a horse goes beyond verbal commands or rein signals. Horses read subtle cues like shifts in weight, breath, and muscle tension. Effective communication requires riders to be sensitive and intentional.

Key communication tips include:

• Use consistent cues so the horse understands what is expected.

• Maintain a soft and steady contact on the reins to avoid startling the horse.

• Pay attention to the horse’s responses and adjust accordingly.

• Use positive reinforcement such as gentle pats or verbal praise to encourage good behavior.

  
  

For instance, a rider who tightens the reins abruptly may cause the horse to tense or stop. Instead, a gradual, gentle cue invites the horse to respond willingly.

The Role of Breath and Emotional Regulation

Breathing is rarely discussed in beginner riding lessons, yet it plays a critical role in riding foundations.

Horses are sensitive to tension. A rider who holds their breath or tightens their body unintentionally signals stress. Slow, steady breathing stabilizes both the rider’s nervous system and the horse’s response.

When riders focus on the rhythm of the walk and allow their breathing to follow that rhythm, the entire experience becomes more grounded.

Emotional regulation is not only beneficial for the rider; it directly contributes to the horse’s sense of safety.

Riding as a shared experience

Even during a short guided trail ride, horse riding is a partnership.

The rider contributes balance, clarity, and emotional stability. The horse contributes movement, sensitivity, and responsiveness. Neither operates independently.

When riders shift from the idea of controlling the horse to cooperating with it, the experience becomes more refined. The ride feels lighter, safer, and more connected.

This is the true foundation of riding.

Final Thoughts

The true foundation of riding lies in understanding how horses think, how balance influences movement, and how subtle communication builds trust. These principles apply whether someone rides weekly or participates in a guided experience in nature for the first time.

Technique improves with time, but awareness can begin immediately. When riders focus on connection rather than control, they create a partnership that enhances safety, comfort, and enjoyment for both horse and rider.

Written by LITS Horses

Praia do Meco, Portugal

www.litshorses.com