My Experience

I went riding lessons with my beginner friends. I knew how to trot already but I took a long break from riding so felt kind of weird. 
 
I suggest not to tense up when you are riding like gripping with your knees, it makes the horse or pony you are riding feel nervous too. It was fun, no , EXTREMELY fun as the horse I'm riding (Fork ) is super calm but not "sloppy" ok, maybe a little sloppy. He (gelding) always stop at the point where I always lead him in the manege. When you know your horse is about to stop or starting to feel he is slowing down, nudge him on don't just sit there and let him stop. It will be harder to make your horse walk when he stops. Remember, you're the boss not your horse, be the boss not bossy. Don't let him pull you around the arena while you sit on the saddle trying to pull him back back to the track. 
 


 Our insructor was very funny too. Back to riding, do not keep your reins to short nor too long. My friend kept her reins too long and her horse took the chance to turn 360 degrees around . Place your weight evenly on you seat bones to balance your horse. Sometimes on the saddle I felt Fork's hindquarters lift up I thought he was going to buck but instead he just pooed !

Book Reccomendations

1.

Understanding Your Horse's Weight by Shannon Pratt - Paperback (2010)

Understanding Your Horse's Weight is a practical guide to maintaining your horse's optimum weight and body condition. In an easy-to-understand style, the book takes readers through the step-by-step process of determining whether they have an overweight horse, and the best practices for correcting the problem. It also offers insight into the equine diseases directly linked to obesity such as laminitis and insulin resistance. Also written with the underweight horse in mind, Understanding Your Horses Weight explains how to put weight on your horse safely and how to maintain the appropriate weight level.

2.

This British Pony Club publication breaks down and isolates for riders the key factors of dressage, in order to make the discipline more understandable and, incidentally, more enjoyable. The book is divided into two parts, the first concentrating on the rider, the second on the horse. As Jane Kidd strongly insists, riders must learn to establish a balanced, centered posture with allowing hands and leg aids appropriate to the situation. The author's skilful explanations and simple exercises to improve riders' balance and posture on a horse in motion are aided by numerous photographs. She returns to this theme throughout the book, reminding readers that training the horse still depends on the consistency of the rider.

The section on training the horse has at its core the German-developed Training Scales, which she likens to musical scales one must master, again always assuring that you have built a solid foundation before proceeding to the next level.

3.

40 Fundamentals of English Riding: Essential Lessons in Riding Right by Hollie H McNeil - Hardcover with DVD (2011)
 

Master the 40 basic elements essential to all riders in the classic disciplines of dressage, jumping, and eventing. These fundamentals include correct seat, leg, and hand positions for the rider; the three basic gaits of walk, trot, and canter; how to perform halt and half-halt; how to direct a horse's movement correctly and energetically; the stages of the Training Scale (rhythm, looseness, contact, impulsion, straightness, and collection); and how to perform basic schooling figures in the arena, from circles and serpentines to diagonals. Each fundamental is defined and explained in text and photos, with an emphasis on how to avoid common errors, and the book includes a 90-minute DVD showing action sequences for each fundamentals.

4.

Lessons with Lendon: 25 Progressive Lessons by Lendon Gray - Paperback (2003) 
 

Two-time Olympian, Lendon Gray fervently believes that dressage is for every horse and rider. And to make it easily accessible, she has developed 25 "bite-sized" lessons that start with the basics, and slowly build (e.g., from position, sitting the trot, working on the longe line, cavalletti - and its benefits to trail riding, through transitions). To be successful, she says, you must be completely present at all times. "Dressage isn't complicated" but you must "dedicate yourself from the moment you get on your horse's back to the moment you get off --shutting off all distractions" (like the argument you just had, or the hundreds of things you SHOULD be doing). The concepts are simple with very clear explanations and illustrations, but even from the first lesson "Can You Do Nothing?" (that is, can you ride without accidentally "interfering" with your horse through the movement of legs, hands whip, etc.), Lendon is "upfront" that the execution takes work on our part (as well as the horses!).

5.

Horse Anatomy Workbook by Maggie Raynor - Paperback (2005)

A beautifully illustrated anatomy book of the horse and its structure. Large pictures allow you to color systems for learning and clarity. In addition there is information on nerves, lymphatic systems and the viscera that make this book a perfect study guide and companion to Goody's Horse Anatomy. Left side pages list each part and the adjoining right page shows a clear illustration of the parts. High school age or older, as it is fairly technical.

source:KNIGHT ESQUATRIAN BOOKS the horseman's bookstore


6.

The Complete Equine Training Manual by Jo Weeks - Hardcover (2007)



 
Insrtuction on how to deal with headshy horses, youngsters bridling stages , saddling and answers some problem with other people's horse that have certain unique problems like 

 Q:My Thoroughbred x cob yearling mare is difficult to lead. She walks in the field in a headcollar , but as soon as I try to lead her across the field she pulls away and runs off. She is the same if I try to lead her in the school. She either squashes me into a fence or spooks and pushes past.
Speaking of that we will have some post for Q and A. Comment below if you have question regarding your horse. I may not be fully correct and may not answer the questions I don't now or I'll end up hurting you or the horse. I'll try my best to answer the questions. Let's get back to the book's details shall we?

The essential principles of training for effective equine schooling in any discipline.

Learn to train your youngster with professional advice on handling the young foal, backing preparations and early days under saddle.

                                                              .

 Improve your horse's manners with sound guidance and groundwork exercises for common problems including catching , mounting and loading.

                                                              .
 Use expert flat work and jumping lessons individually or together to build a tailored training program for your horse.
                                                              .  
Solve specific training problems in the school, the yard or out and about safely and effectively with masterclasses from top equine behavourists and clear step by step photography.
 This book has been compiled in Your Horse magazine. Famous riders contributed in the book too! :) Like Carl Hester :O , Mary King :o:O Blyth Tait :O OMG
 

I read the book myself although it took me two whole weeks to finish the book(not so thick but because i'm busy about 249 pages) it was brilliant , the content,pictures , all wonderful. I bought it at original price at about UK 19.99 US $29.99 Can $37.99 . I'm really sorry but I don't have the British Pound sign on my keyboard.