See If You Can Ace This Horseback Riding Knowledge Quiz

The bit goes into the mouth of the horse. When riding, it's important to remember that this is a sensitive part of a horse's mouth. Be gentle when pulling, or your horse may get a little irritated.

Neck reining is another way to steer your horse, which is a little more gentle. Using this technique, you apply pressure with the reins to a horse's neck to indicate that you want it to turn that way.

To get your horse to go, you'll want to give it a gentle nudge on the sides with your feet. After that, you horse will know what it has to do for you; you just handle the steering!

It's very important to groom your horse before saddling it up. That way, you make sure that there is no dirt under the saddle and keep your horse clean.

A helmet is highly recommended. Even experienced riders wear helmets as a safety precaution. Always keep in mind that you are on a large animal which can be spooked easily.

Closed boots are a great choice to wear when riding. Keep in mind that accidents can happen, such as your horse accidentally stepping on your toe. If you're wearing a closed-toe boot, it can help you stay better protected.

It's okay to be excited to go riding, and you should be! But keep in mind that horses can be timid despite their size; try to keep calm and collected. It will make your bond with your horse that much stronger.

Independence is not a riding style, but English and Western are. These two riding styles are among the most popular in the world and differ in many ways.

Lightly pulling back on the reins and saying "whoa" is the proper way to tell your horse to stop. If for some reason your horse does not stop, try pulling the reins as if you were turning in a circle to slow the horse down and bring it back to the task at hand.

A saddle isn't always the most comfortable place to sit, so you may find that you'll have a bit of a sore bottom after riding for a while. It's normal, and it will go away after a while!

Balance is important while riding, as it keeps you from falling off your horse. First-time riders can feel off while sitting in the saddle and find balance a hard thing to keep. It's important to learn how to stay steady when your first start riding and get into good habits.

The left side is the side that most riders mount into their saddle from, although it is okay to mount from the right as well. A trained horse should allow you to mount from any side, with no issues.

Taking care of a horse's feet, especially before going for a ride, is important. Cleaning out the hooves with a pick is a good way to make sure that there are no stones or other objects stuck inside that can hurt your horse while riding.

The saddle pad always comes first, as the saddle cannot sit on the horse's back by itself. After the saddle pad comes the saddle, which is then strapped on properly using the cinch and girth.

As you don't want the horse to react badly, gently pull on one rein to bring the horse's attention back to you and the task you are asking of it. Try to turn the horse in a circle or two in order to calm it down, and you should be able to take control once again.

Your horse can be spooked easily, and that means that you should always know what is around you when riding. That way, you can help to keep your horse calm before it even has a chance to be spooked.

A curry comb is usually used as the first step in grooming your horse. The comb is used by rubbing it in circles to make the dirt come off better when the other brushes are used.

Your horse has a special bond with you that is unmatched. Once you've improved your skills as well as your horse's, then you can partake in many fun activities and competitions together.

A stirrup is where your feet go when you are riding a horse. The purpose of a stirrup is to give the rider more support. You can be more comfortable and sit up straight, which are all important factors when riding.

If your horse isn't groomed before you saddle it, it can be bad for your furry friend. Their skin could become irritated, which can be painful and is easily avoided with a simple grooming.

An American Quarter Horse is considered to be one of the best breeds for beginners. They are known for being fast at learning and are more confident than other breeds, which can make a newcomer more comfortable.

If your horse is lame, it is not the best idea to ride it. Instead, it is more important that you focus on treating your horse so that it can get better rather than worse.

You should never flat out walk around the back of a horse. The safest way to do so if you must is to run your hand along their side and back as you walk while speaking softly to them. As horses can be scared easily; this will put them ease and let them know that you're the one behind them.

The reins are your main means of control when riding. Letting go of them can make things bad, as you have lost the ability to steer your horse and keep control of it.

A horse should be comfortable as should you while riding. Typically, a horse is comfortable when its head is level, give or take depending on the horse. Any other position can indicate problems.

A horse is trained to know that the direction you pull the reins is the direction that you are asking it to go in. Pull gently on the left rein, and your horse will turn left. Pull gently on the right, and your horse will listen.

The Western style is known for a distinctive horn that is located on the saddle. The horn is there for you to hang on to, but it is not part of the English style of saddle.

A horse can have a sensitive mouth just like a human, especially since it spends a lot of time with a bit in its mouth. Remember this while you're riding, and try to be as gentle as you can with the reins. Your horse will appreciate it!

As a little reward for your horse after a good ride, it is great to give it a few treats. Giving it a meal might not be the best thing to do, however. Wait a little bit before feeding to help your horse digest the meal better.

While riding on a road, it is important to make sure that you're visible. Wearing bright clothes can help drivers to see you better and slow down for you and your horse to ensure everyone's safety.

Jumping your horse is an art that can be hard to master! Once you get the hang of it, you'll have lots of fun jumping along with your gentle giant.

A horse is large and could easily step on your foot or toe by accident. In order to avoid this, it's important to train them to walk beside you, but not on top of you, so that this danger is eliminated.

The girth is an important step when saddling your horse. When used properly, the girth will secure the saddle to the horse so that it doesn't move.

A horse naturally has four gaits, but others can be taught to them. The four gaits are the walk, trot, canter and gallop, which all vary in speed. The walk is the slowest, while the gallop is the fastest.

Placing your hands at your hips while riding is an important step to learn. Some new riders may find this uncomfortable or weird, but it is helpful when trying to direct a horse.