Learn to ride: Galloping through your vacation

Horse riding on vacation – Whether young or old, horse riding is an activity that is fun at any age.
In summer you can explore nature, while in winter you can improve your skills in the riding hall.
With a suitable camping vehicle, such as a rooftop tent, you can also easily head to the nearest riding school.
Riding can have a therapeutic effect and relieve stress.
Whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider, there is always something new to learn.
Try it out and experience for yourself how much fun riding is!
Here you can find out how you can learn to ride while camping.
From the basics of riding to safety tips and how to make sure your horse stays happy and healthy.
We also discuss what you should look out for in riding lessons for children and how to find the right riding instructor for you.

All beginnings are difficult – right?

If you want to enjoy horse riding, it’s important that you master the basic skills of riding.
Whether you prefer to race along the beach at a fast gallop or explore a forest at a leisurely walk – without the right skills, riding can quickly become dangerous.
It is therefore advisable to take riding lessons at professional riding schools.
Here you will learn the correct sitting position and how to handle the horse.
You will also learn various techniques that you can use when riding.
Even if you already have riding experience, it’s always a good idea to take lessons from time to time to refine your techniques and correct any mistakes.

The first riding lesson: lunge, section & guided ride

If you want to learn to ride, you usually start with a guided ride, where the horse is led by the riding instructor to get a first impression of the animal.
This is followed by lunging, where the horse walks around the instructor on a long lead.
Here you can do without a saddle and instead use a girth with handles to hold on to.
As soon as you can sit confidently at all basic gaits (walk, trot, canter), you can usually ride independently.
Riding in a group, where you ride together with other riders, is ideal for this.
You should take a riding lesson once a week.
Of course, riding lessons can be scheduled differently when you are on vacation or have other commitments.
The important thing is that you and your children feel comfortable with the riding instructor and that you have confidence in them.
This is what you can expect in your first riding lesson:

• At the beginning: guided ride by the riding instructor
• Then continue with lunging (long line)
• Basic gaits = safe?
  Ride independently!
• Section riding in the group: more experience
• One riding lesson per week is recommended
• Important: you feel comfortable with the riding instructor

Partner horse: Communication between humans and animals

Riding is much more fun when your horse is also doing well.
Riding is communication with a living being that deserves our respect and care.
If you want to have fun riding, you should make sure that your horse is also comfortable and treated appropriately.
A horse is not a machine and should never be treated like one.
Anger or frustration should never be taken out on the animal.
When choosing a riding school, you should make sure that the horses are treated well.
But how can you tell?
There are signs that can indicate poor husbandry, such as visible injuries, matted fur, little access to pasture or tense behavior when interacting with people.
Lameness (“limping” in horses) and the overly tight use of a bridle can also indicate poor husbandry.
Of course, not every scrape means that your horse is being mistreated, but if this occurs more frequently or in combination with other issues, you should keep an eye on it.
A good riding instructor should not shout excessively and should not encourage his students to use violence towards the animals.
Tools such as whips or spurs should only be used with caution and gentleness.
A friendly approach to the horse and appropriate use of aids will lead to a successful and happy riding experience.
Your horse is not a machine!
You should question your horse’s attitude when it comes to these points:

• Visible injuries
• Matted fur
• Little grazing
• Tense behavior when dealing with people
• Riding instructor shouting loudly
• Incitement to violence against animals
• Using aids (whip / spurs) is exaggerated

Safety instructions: Avoid accidents

When riding, it is important to remember that horses are living creatures with their own needs and minds.
It is therefore important to protect both yourself and the horse from accidents.
Horses are flight animals and can be easily spooked, so beginners should avoid stressful environments with loud noises, machinery, other animals and unfamiliar routes.
With these tips, you can make the riding experience safe for you and your horse:

• Horses are living creatures with their own needs
• Protecting yourself & horse from accidents is important
• Horses are flight animals & can get spooked quickly
• Beginners should therefore avoid stressful environments

Children & horses: From what age?

Children aged seven to ten can usually learn to ride without any problems, as many of them are very fearless and enjoy it.
However, they should not be younger.
It is also important that children start on ponies, as they respond better to the weight and leg movements of children.
Although there are really lovely and well-behaved big horses, a lot is passed on to the horse via the weight and thighs when riding.
This works less well if the child is still too small and too light for a large horse.
Even if you don’t start as a child, you can actually learn to ride at any age!
Then children should start riding:

• 7 to 10 years of age
• They should not be younger
• Children should start on ponies
• But you can learn to ride at any age

Advantages: Nature experience, family time & new friends

Horse riding during a camping vacation with a roof tent offers you the opportunity to learn something new and explore the surroundings at the same time.
With horses right in front of your tent, you have a much closer connection to the animals than usual.
If you are already a horse fan, riding on vacation also gives you the chance to experience horses in a different environment, for example on a horseback ride on the beach.
Overall, horse riding is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and build a special bond with horses.
Riding during a camping vacation with a roof tent offers the whole family shared family fun, physical fitness, relaxation or adventure.
All the benefits quickly summarized for you:

• Learn something new & explore the surroundings
• Opportunity to experience horses in a different environment
• Building a special connection with horses
• Enjoy nature & make new friends
• Family activity with fun together
• Physical fitness, relaxation or adventure

More about the horse: Ground work & riding styles

Working with horses is usually about more than just riding.
You can find out more tips for everything else here:

The most important facts about horses: an overview

Horses are mammals that can be found in almost every part of the world.
They have three basic gaits: walk, trot and canter.
Horses have been used by humans for centuries, especially for riding, transportation, agricultural work and sport.
They are generally very friendly animals and are therefore ideal companions for a wonderful vacation.
In a nutshell, here’s what you should know about horses:

• There are three basic gaits: walk, trot & canter
• Horses have been used by humans for centuries
• Friendly animals & ideal companions for your vacation

Everything to do with horses: also from the ground

There is much more to equestrian sports than just riding.
When you start riding, you should also learn how to handle the horse from the ground.
This includes grooming, such as cleaning and saddling, but also safe leading.
You should also familiarize yourself with the typical behaviour of horses.
You should pay attention to this so that you can handle your horse safely when you are not in the saddle:

• Learning to handle horses from the ground
• Grooming, saddling & practicing safe leading
• Get to know the behavior of horses

Riding styles: dressage, show jumping or western riding?

There are various riding styles that differ in their technique and origin.
The dressage riding style places particular emphasis on the fine coordination of rider and horse in order to achieve harmonious movements.
In western riding, the focus is on working with cattle.
Show jumping is about steering a horse over obstacles.
Each style has its own opportunities and difficulties.
If you try out different riding styles, you can discover which one best suits your personal interests.
Here are the most important things at a glance:

• Different riding styles differ in technique & origin
• The most important: dressage, western riding & show jumping
• Every riding style has its own challenges & possibilities
• It’s best to play around to find out what suits you best

Clothing & equipment: pants, boots & helmet

When riding, it is important to wear the right clothing and equipment to avoid injuries and accidents.
Tight pants without seams on the inside are ideal to avoid pressure points.
For the same reason, the trousers should not have any creases.
A well-fitting riding helmet is essential to protect the head and brain from injury.
A bicycle helmet is not suitable for riding and should not be used.
Boots or sturdy shoes with a firm sole and a little heel are important to have a good grip in the stirrups and to protect the foot.
You won’t go wrong with this packing list:

Tight pants (without seams on the inside)	▢
Well-fitting riding helmet	▢
Boots or sturdy shoes (firm sole & low heel)	▢

Tip!
If you want to transport everything, you should also use a suitable storage system.
The large Campwerk Box L, for example, is ideal for this.
You can find more in our store under: 👉 Storage

Campsite with offers for riders

Many campsites also offer horse riding nearby.
This often saves you walking time and brings you closer to the beautiful animals.
Here you will find a selection of beautiful campsites with horse riding facilities throughout Germany:

• Campsites for riders