Alana Silverman

How to

Sit the Canter Properly

Cantering is a fun riding gait that comes after the trot. If you're a beginner, you may find sitting the canter somewhat difficult. It can feel awkward at first to position your body in a way that allows you to move with...

How to

Get Into Shape for Horseback Riding

The best way to get in great shape and become a good rider is to ride. Having strong muscles is half of it, but training your brain and eyes and having balance and body control while on a moving object is also important....

How to

Ride Western

In general, there are two ways to ride a horse: English style and Western style. Western-style involves steering with your saddle position, hips, and light reining on a horse's neck (neck reining), whereas English style ...

How to

Calm Your Horse Down Quickly

A horse's emotions depend on her surroundings and the emotions of his or her human counterpart. Some horses have a tendency to be scared easily, or get "spooked." Sometimes spooking can occur simply because a horse comes...

How to

Get Your Horse to Trust You

The key to any relationship is trust, and that is particularly important when it comes to horses. Trust is crucial, as a horse who doesn't trust his owner may end up intentionally or inadvertently hurting that person. Li...

How to

Make a Horse Move Forward

Getting a horse to move forward requires an understanding of how to communicate clearly with horses. If you can give a horse clear directions and not give it mixed messages, most horses will move willingly. However, if y...

How to

Put the Bit in a Horse's Mouth

The bit is the part of a bridle that goes into the horse's mouth. It is used to control the horse when you're riding it. When putting the bit in, you also must contend with the rest of the bridle, so you start by having ...

How to

Feed a Horse Carrots

Carrots are a classic treat for horses. However, eating too many treats is unhealthy for your horse, and can even make them disrespectful. Horses evolved to forage, and have eaten mostly dried grass during their evoluti...

How to

Befriend a Horse

Horses are a lot of things; playful, majestic, strong, curious, gentle, dependable. But they are also loving and loyal - once you bond with a horse, they will be your friend for life. However, developing that kind of rel...

How to

Avoid Soreness During Your Horse Riding Training

There’s no way around it: horse-riding definitely jostles you around. This can leave you sore and strained afterward, especially if you are a beginner who is still getting used to it. Choosing the right equipment and c...

How to

Feed a Horse

Feeding a horse can be confusing. There are a large number of different feeds available and no two horses are alike. The amount and type of feed given will depend on the horse’s type, age, weight, health, workload, the...

How to

Avoid Injuries While Falling Off a Horse

Falling off a horse is almost inevitable if you ride often. Learning how to prevent falls and fall gracefully when it happens can help prevent serious injury, though there's nothing you can do to protect yourself complet...

How to

Convince Your Parents to Get You a Horse

Getting a horse or pony can take a lot of work and preparation. Learn as much as you can about horses and their care by attending a horseback riding camp or volunteering at a local barn. You'll probably discover that hav...