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 that the girth is securely fastened—you must only mount once it is tight. A loose girth can cause the saddle to slip, which is extremely dangerous. Check the tightness of the girth periodically while riding as well.

　　3. Choose a horse with an iron ring on the saddle, as it helps you maintain your balance.

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

　　5. When mounting, keep your toes in the stirrups; when dismounting, first keep your left toes in the stirrups, then release your right foot before getting off. Keeping your toes in the stirrups during mounting and dismounting is crucial—if the horse gets spooked or refuses to be ridden and runs off, at most you’ll fall off, but if your entire foot is stuck in the stirrup, you could get dragged, which is very dangerous.

　　6. Do not race or gallop near the edge of a forest. If the horse gets spooked or you lose control, it may dash into the woods, which is very hazardous. Once, I was racing through Feisha Forest when I suddenly noticed several locals resting by the roadside up ahead. The horse got startled and bolted full speed into the woods, smashing its head into several dead branches and scraping its neck. We were lucky no one was seriously injured.

　　7. Do not change clothes while on the horse, especially bright-colored ones, as horses can be easily startled. Changing clothes may spook the horse and cause it to bolt, throwing you off. Two German friends of mine experienced this—they were thrown off when they took off their jackets while on horseback.

　　8. Beginners often get abrasions on their calves, inner thighs, and buttocks from horseback riding. Wearing riding boots and breeches can help. If you don’t have those, you can use knee pads and leg wraps as alternatives.

　　9. In case of unexpected situations, hold the reins tightly with both hands and never let go.