Instructions
Sit in the correct position. Sit straight but not stiffly, with your shoulders squared and your seat bones under you. The balls of your feet should be in the stirrups, with your heels pressed down to give you a deeper seat. Don't put your knees forward, as this will unbalance you. Ideally, you should be able to draw a straight line from the top of your head, through the hip, to the ankle.
Hold the reins correctly. Depending on what style of riding you're doing, you will hold them in either one hand (Western riding) or two hands (English-style riding). Either way, you should hold your hands low over the horse's shoulders. You should be able to draw a straight line from your forearm to the horse's mouth. Never use the reins for balance -- they are meant as a communication line between you and the horse. If you need to adjust your balance, grab the horse's mane with one hand.
Use your hands to steer the horse. While not the only part of steering, the hands are the most important part. Gentle resistance from your hands should slow the horse. A small amount of pressure from your right or left hand will induce the horse to go in that direction. If you're riding Western style, your horse may be trained to "neck rein" -- in which case it will move away from a light pressure of the rein against its neck.
Use your lower legs along with the reins. To effectively use the legs, you must be in the position described in Step 1. When turning, move your outside leg just behind the girth of the saddle and apply pressure. This will control the horse's hindquarters and keep them in the proper position.
Use your weight, too. Shift your weight in the direction that you're turning, or, if you want to stop, roll your weight backwards, sitting deeply in the saddle. The horse will be slightly thrown off balance by this shift, and it will move in the direction that you want it to.
Use your voice if needed. The horse may be trained to respond to words such as "whoa," "walk on," or "trot." Usually, clicking your tongue against the roof of your mouth will induce a horse to speed up. If the horse is alarmed or excited, a gentle, soothing voice will help calm it down and refocus its attention on you. It takes practice to use all of these aids together, so take riding lessons if you can.
How Do I Steer a Horse?
One of the most common questions asked by new horseback riders is, "How do I steer this thing?" It may seem daunting to think of directing a thousand-pound animal to do your bidding, but steering a horse is easier than you think. The reins are a major part of steering, but good riders also use their legs and weight. Horses naturally want to please you -- you just have to make it clear to them what you want.