Horseback riding is a great sport, and those who enjoy it most tend to pursue their interest by taking advanced horse riding lessons.
Choosing a Reputable Riding School
Horse riding is a very popular sport in the UK. There are many reputable equestrian centres to choose from all over the UK. These equestrian centres offer advanced horse riding lessons for those who wish to learn the more advanced skills of horse riding. Located in London are Wimbledon Village Stables, The College Equestrian Centre and Stag Lodge Stables, to name a few. Drumcarrow Equestrian is well known in St.Andrews. There are too many to name all over the UK. Do your homework and shop around for the best Advanced Riding Equestrian Facility local to you.
Building on the Skills You Have Already Learned
When you decide to take advanced horse riding lessons, this usually means you have already taken beginner and intermediate riding lessons. You have learned many skills in horse riding. Taking advanced lessons will build on the skills you have already learned, taking horse riding to the next level.
Controlling the Direction of the Horse
Advanced riding lessons will teach you how to have more control over the horse’s direction. Riders need to have tremendous body control, extreme balance, and completely know how the insides and outsides of the horse’s body work.
Lateral Movements
Riders and horses work together as a team. During advanced riding lessons, you will learn how to do lateral movements together with your horse effectively. There are two and three-track movements that will be taught. Riders will be taught exercises to use with their horse on how to more effectively transition between the gait and the lateral movements.
Walk, Trot and Canter
Advanced horse riding lessons will also teach the rider how to extend the gaits during walk, trot and canter methods of riding. Learning all the advanced aids between the rider and horse is required for advanced to upper levels of riding.
Dressage Test
During your advanced riding lessons, riders are expected to endure dressage testing. This is a way to track the horse’s progress as it moves up levels. There are several segments in a dressage test which both the rider and the horse are rated on a score out of 10 points. The 1 to 10 ratings are as follows:
- 10 being Excellent
- 9 being very good
- 8 being good
- 7 being fairly good
- 6 being satisfactory
- 5 being sufficient
- 4 being insufficient
- 3 being fairly bad
- 2 being bad
- 1 being very bad
You will find some of the segments may have double marks; the score out of ten will then be doubled for that segment.
Perfect scores are seldom. However, scores over 70% are very good scores. Scores between 60 and 70% are good scores. Consistency of scoring 60% or better is an indication that the rider and the horse are ready to move up a level. There are several levels of dressage to work towards.
Taking advanced riding lessons can help a rider achieve goals like becoming a riding instructor, competing in the sport of dressage, shows and jumping events.