Incorrect horseback riding posture can be life-threatening. The posture of various parts of your body while riding and the techniques and knowledge of safe riding are extremely, extremely important—far more so than galloping techniques. Because safety comes first before anything else. It's not about running fast, trotting, cantering, jumping, or dressage. For us, safe riding is the most important thing. As always: we're here to have fun, but we must prioritize safety.

1. Never stand directly behind or to the side-rear of a horse to avoid being kicked.

2. Before mounting, always have the guide or horse owner check whether the girth is securely fastened. Only mount after confirming it’s tight. A loose girth can cause the saddle to shift, which is very dangerous.

Check the tightness of the girth periodically while riding as well.

3. Choose a horse with a ring on the saddle—it helps you maintain balance.

4. The correct horseback riding posture is: place the front half of your foot in the stirrup, sit upright on the saddle. This is the posture for a slow walk. When moving faster or galloping, use your calves and inner thighs to grip the horse, lean slightly forward, and keep your hips lightly touching—or almost touching—the saddle, moving in rhythm with the horse’s pace.

Press your thighs tightly against the horse and lean your body forward, keeping your hips just barely touching the saddle as you rise and fall with the horse’s rhythm.

5. When mounting, angle your toes inward in the stirrup. When dismounting, first angle your left toes inward, then release your right foot, and step down. Keeping your toes angled in the stirrup when mounting and dismounting is crucial. If the horse gets spooked or bolts, at worst you’ll fall off—but if your whole foot is caught in the stirrup, you could get dragged, which is extremely dangerous.

If the horse gets startled or refuses to be ridden and bolts, at most you’ll fall off—but if your feet are fully stuck in the stirrups, you could get dragged, which is extremely dangerous.

6. Avoid racing or galloping near forest edges. If the horse panics or goes out of control, it might dash into the woods—a very hazardous situation.

7. Don’t change clothes (or wave around other objects) while on horseback, especially bright-colored clothing. Horses can be easily startled; if you change clothes and the horse reacts by bolting, you could fall off immediately.

The rider simply falls off.

8. Beginners often get rubbed raw on the calves, inner thighs, and buttocks. Wearing riding boots and breeches can help. If you don’t have those, knee pads and gaiters can serve as substitutes.

Generation.

Picking the right horse requires strategy: if you want a good horse, don’t rush—start with these 4 aspects:

1. Chat with locals to learn about horse care, riding, etc., then inquire about the horse you’re interested in.

2. Observe the horse’s temperament—is it gentle? This shows in its eyes and movements. Fast horses typically have broad chests, strong loins, slender legs, small and round hooves, and a lively spirit.

with small, round hooves and in good spirits.

3. Have the horse owner try riding it first, or try it yourself.

4. Pay a bit more—offer the horse owner a little extra money. It shows respect for a good horse and encourages the owner who raised it well. Horse lovers in China should also continue to improve their horse culture and cultivate a tradition of respecting and cherishing horses.

Continuously improve equestrian cultural literacy and foster the tradition of loving and respecting horses.

Note: Do not carry valuables while horseback riding to prevent loss.

Horseback Riding Precautions

I. Preparations Before Riding:

1. Secure items that may easily fall, such as mobile phones, cameras, wallets, and other personal belongings.

2. You must wear proper attire (avoid shoes with long heels or open toes, etc.; jeans and flat shoes are best) to ride.
3. Do not ride if you are mentally or physically unwell—for example, those with high blood pressure, heart disease, or those who have been drinking.

4. Before riding, make sure the girth is tightly fastened to prevent the saddle from slipping (this is very important for your safety).

5. When mounting or dismounting, do not walk behind the horse to avoid being kicked by its hind legs.
6. When mounting or dismounting, you must shorten the reins and hold them firmly—do not relax your grip—to prevent the horse from getting nervous, slipping free, and running off.
7. When dismounting, make sure both feet are out of the stirrups before getting off, especially the left foot, to prevent being dragged by the horse.

8. Riding posture: Hold the reins firmly, place the balls of both feet securely in the stirrups with equal pressure, do not sit too heavily on the saddle, and let your body move with the rhythm of the horse’s steps.

9. Control method: Grip the reins tightly with both hands; pull left to turn left, pull right to turn right. To stop, pull both reins firmly at the same time. 10. Do not use an umbrella while riding, as it may startle the horse.

11. Do not ride directly behind another horse to avoid being kicked by the one in front; maintain at least the length of one horse between you. Also, racing with others is strictly prohibited.

12. When two horses cross paths while riding, turn early and do not get too close or brush past each other to avoid clashing feet or knees, or the horses kicking each other.

13. If a rider on horseback needs a whip, the person handing it should hold the whip behind them, ensure they have a firm grip on the reins, steady the horse, and then slowly pass it over. Under no circumstances should the whip be thrown to the rider on horseback.

14. If a horse runs out of control, firmly grasp the reins and slowly tighten them. Do not scream or jump off the horse. At the same time, make a “yee…” sound, and the horse will slow down.

15. If another horse runs out of control, other riders should immediately stop, shorten the reins, and stand still to prevent their own horses from joining in.

16. If you fall off the horse, try to hold onto the horse’s neck and the reins. Release your grip only after you’ve hit the ground. Once on the ground, do not move or stand up quickly to avoid being stepped on. If uninjured, get back on the horse immediately, even just at a walk, to avoid building up a fear of falling.

17. Without permission, do not ride freely in the wild. When no instructor is present, do not attempt to jump obstacles to avoid danger.
18. When riding in the wild, it’s best to go in a group, maintaining spacing in a single-file line. The lead horse should not suddenly trot or canter, and following horses should not overtake recklessly.