There are so many sports in the United States that, believe it or not, not everybody knows about. Horseback riding is one of those sports.

Horses are just like people, they have different personalities, and even strengths and weaknesses.

Horseback riding is a chance to create a bond with your horse that will last a lifetime. Horses are a part of many peoples lives, and they feel their lives would not be complete without their horse. Horses are magnificent animals, that can become a good friend that is by your side when you need one most. They’re also a mode of transportation and your own personal lawn mower.

After you create a special bond with your horse, you have to train him or her to be the best that he or she can be. There are many ways you can train your horse that is convenient for you. One way is to train your horse by voice command. In a style called “Western Riding,” you train your horse to walk, trot, gallop, run, and stop by saying certain command words. To stop your horse a common word to use is, “whoa.” But you can use any word you choose. For faster speeds you could say, “giddy up,” “walk on,” “let’s go,” or other quick commands.

Another way to train your horse is by the reins. The reins are like the steering wheel on your bike. The reins control where the horse goes. Wherever you pull the reins, the horse’s nose reacts. When I ride the saying is, “Where the nose goes, you go!” You can train your horse to stop, walk, and run by the slight pull of the reins. To help train your horse to walk or run, you can also squeeze your calves when you’re on the horse.

After you train, you can compete. When you enter your horse in a competition or race, you have to make sure that your horse is meant for that specific competition or race. For example, if you want a jumping horse you have to make sure that your horse is born to jump because every horse is different. Some were born to jump, others were born to run.

Riding isn’t just a sport. It’s a passion. Before cars, there were horses. We may live in the city now, but it wasn’t so long ago, that everyone knew how to ride horseback. Riding is part of our nature.