Racing on horseback feels great! Whether you are racing for money or to just pass time, it’s fun to compete with fellow riders. If you have never raced before, you might feel nervous, especially when you know other people will be monitoring your performance. In fact, the skills that are needed when racing are a bit different to those that are needed when walking the horse. For a start, you have to be prepared for the worst. Besides that, you must know how to control the horse. As a matter of fact, the control you will have over the horse will be determined by your sitting position. Here are some professional tips that can help you while racing on a horse back.

Wear the Right Outfits

Whether you will be racing on a course or an open field, it’s advisable you wear slim fit clothes. Loosely fitting clothes are actually a recipe for trouble. This is because they can get entangled on the horse or on the branch of a tree and cause to fall. You should also wear boots that cover your legs up to the knees. Such boots are ideal because they protect your legs from bruises and other injuries that might result from a fall. If you don’t have horse riding boots, you can just wear any closed shoes. However, the heel should be a low enough so that your feet can fit perfectly into the stirrups. Besides that, it’s advisable your wear a helmet before mounting on the horse. In fact, every coach that offers professional horse racing tips advises all jockeys to always wear their headgear. The helmet helps in protecting your head against severe injuries during an accident.

Sit Upright then Lean Forward

After mounting the horse, you should seat in an upright position while heading to the docks. This is because the horse will just be walking. Once the race has started, you should change your sitting position by leaning forward. The advantage of leaning forward is that it signals your horse that you want to move at a faster speed. In addition to that, it eases your body weight by shifting it forward. This enables the horse to run faster. Since you will be competing with other riders, it’s important you maintain this position all the way to the finish line. If you try to sit upright before the race is over, the horse will definitely slow down, giving your rivals an edge over you.

Focus on the Trail

If you have never competed before, you might easily get carried away by other things that are happening on the field. First there are fans that keep cheering because they have placed their bets and other riders. Whether they are betting on your horse or not, your primary concern should be your safety. You can’t ride safely when you keep looking at what’s happening around you. It’s advisable you keep your eyes on the trail because that’s when you will be able to avoid an accident. In fact, riding a horse is not much different from riding a car. Remember, your horse will go where you direct it.

Use the Reins to Control the Horse

The reins are normally reserved for controlling how the horse moves. However, most novice jockeys don’t know how to hold them the right way. Although the reins are usually long, they should be held at the level of your waist line. That way, you will not have to pull so hard when you want the horse to stop or make a turn. In fact, holding the reins high is a huge mistake. This is because your pulls will not have any impact on the horse. If you want to make a left turn, you should just pull the left reign and ease the pressure of your leg on the stirrups.