Horse riding is not just a healthy sport — it is also an opportunity to build a special relationship with a magnificent animal in every respect. Here are an expert's tips for the best possible introduction to the world of equestrianism.
A horse can be a loyal friend not only in your free time, but also in everyday life. Living in symbiosis and harmony with horses, in fact, helps to resolve many psychological issues, as well as obviously offering the opportunity to practise a magnificent and healthy sport such as horse riding. But beware! The world of the horse is a universe that must be understood thoroughly if you want to build a rich and happy relationship with this wonderful animal. Loving horses means above all respecting their needs and habits, their requirements and their nature. And to do that, you need to set aside your own for a while and take a step into theirs, as well as into the natural world that surrounds them.
Horses are animals that live in herds and in the wild would be prey. By their very nature, horses are ethologically defined as "flight animals" because they need to detect danger immediately and, to escape a predator, find in running and movement their only hope of survival. For this very reason they have indispensable needs that we must take into account when approaching the equestrian world, whether out of passion or for sporting reasons.
"Horses need to live in a herd, and therefore to find closeness, affection and help from their own kind when necessary. Horses left alone in stalls for long periods of time are condemned to both physical and psychological distress," explains Dr Carlotta Caminiti, veterinary surgeon. The simple proximity in a stable of many horses, with windows left open so that they can maintain visual contact with one another, is extremely important. In this way, the horses' need to be and remain part of a herd will be satisfied, making them calmer and less fearful.
"Another important aspect is feeding, which must be of good quality, correct in quantity and in keeping with the animal's physiological rhythms," continues Dr Caminiti. In the wild, a horse spends most of its time eating (approximately 18 hours, according to calculations): it stands to reason that leaving a horse in a stall with a meal that takes three hours at most to finish leaves the animal not only with too much time on its hands to grow bored, but also creates a problem for its stomach, which is left empty for far too long. "Boredom and gastritis are an everyday occurrence for around eighty per cent of stabled horses that never have access to a paddock. And yet very little would be needed to avoid these problems," the vet adds.
Horses also need a great deal of movement, not least to work off their considerable physical energy. "Free time outdoors must never be missing from the life of a happy and healthy horse," concludes Caminiti. When we decide to enter the world of equines, it is therefore important to take into account the primary needs of the species and to look for stables and riding centres where these are respected and observed. "A happy horse makes for a contented rider": never forget this maxim if you want to share a part of your life with this animal.
The first approach to horses must be made gradually and always with the assistance of an instructor who holds an appropriate qualification and is able to convey a sense of calm and confidence to the pupil, as well as knowledge and guidance on both the ethological characteristics of a horse and the best technique for riding. "It is important that an instructor knows how to instil the right spirit and the passion needed to spend time with a horse in a relaxed and fearless way," explains Dr Caminiti. "Every pupil should know how to groom and saddle their own horse, even if it belongs to the school, as well as how to lead it on the ground. In the first phase it would be appropriate to do this with docile, calm horses, and then, at a later stage, consider buying one on the advice of their instructor or trusted individuals. Owning a horse of your own is an expense that you will very likely have to meet for many years, so it is important to make the right choice, both in terms of your own ability in the saddle and with regard to the temperament and character of the animal."
For a beginner, a docile horse will be necessary — one that is capable of forgiving the inevitable mistakes of whoever rides and manages it on a daily basis. "Geldings (that is, castrated males) are always the best choice in my opinion. As with dogs and cats, horses are not all the same, and each breed has certain characteristics, generally suited to the discipline for which it is bred. Competition horses possess a great aptitude for jumping that other horses simply do not have, while for example Arabians are particularly well suited to endurance racing because they have great stamina over long distances. Before buying a horse, in my view, it is important to understand which discipline you would like to focus on — whether that is competitive sport or simple rides through the countryside — and to base your choice on the most suitable individual," the expert adds.
There is no right age to buy a horse, but there is a level of passion below which it is absolutely not worth doing so. Owning a horse only to ride it a couple of times a week and leave it in its stall for the rest of the time is not only unfair to the animal, but also makes absolutely no financial sense. Horses need time, attention and care. It is therefore better to weigh up the decision carefully before purchasing. If the right conditions are not in place, it is best to find a good riding centre and a capable instructor and to continue riding in whatever time is available, reserving the choice of a horse of your own for a moment that is more favourable in every respect.