When you've been riding your entire life, getting back on the horse after a fall has probably been drilled into you since the first time you stepped a foot into a stirrup. But when you're raising a young rider, you'll have more luck helping them grasp that concept with a little more nuance, a sense of humor, and fundamentals that become part of their muscle memory.
Taking a tumble from horseback can best be handled in three phases. I'll cover each of those phases in detail below, all of which I use to teach my riders, from the smallest to the most mature.
Phase 1: Preparation
When your child begins riding, I suggest teaching him or her to be ready for an emergency dismount. This means practicing a dismount at any time, off either side of the horse. I prefer to practice these emergency dismounts at the walk while doing other riding exercises..
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