Tall Rider

I'm 6'4" and here are the things that make me uncomfortable when riding.
-Short horses for two reason. One is it makes me feel like my feet are going to plow the arena at any moment. Second is your legs typically go below their chest which makes it feel like I have nothing to hold onto with my legs and will end up under their belly. Ask for a bigger horse if using a small one.
-Stirrup length. Since you said knees are up to the saddle I'll assume you are riding english. Us tall people generally don't like our legs set up that tall even if it's the "proper" seat. Lengthen those stirrups and see how it feels. I ride with my knees barely bent and if I stand up in my stirrups my butt clears the saddle by only a bit. You don't have to go as long as I do, I used to ride with them shorter but then my knees starting hurting on longer rides.
-Saddle fit is very important for proper balance. Another guess on my part you don't have your own saddle and using a saddle the trainer provided. They probably put you in the largest saddle they own due to your height, that doesn't mean it's a good fit. Could be to small and even to big if you have a small butt.
-If you are using an english saddle, try a western or aussie if available. They provide more support and as a beginner will likely make you feel like your seat is more secure. Riding in an english saddle does take more leg and core strenght than using the other two types.

Any kind of stability thing comes down to your abs and how open your hips are.

The more ab work that you do, the better. Having your legs underneath you versus in front of you (chair seat) gives you much more stability IMOP.

I'm only 5'6" or 5'7" but my father and brother are in the 6'4-6 range and when they rode I told them to use their abs and they found it MUCH easier to get up and down the hills on our short ride.

Core strength: planks, crunches, holding your tummy in while exercising, side crunches..

Here's a website with some ideas: http://www.workoutbox.com/workouts/a...minal-workout/

I work out with an exercise ball and resistance bands which add a new dimension to just working out on the flat. I do crunches and sit ups and even push ups (amongst a vast variety of other things) on the ball which makes it a LOT harder and much more effective. The resistance bands come into play too.

Usually, body protectors are recommended for people who do cross-country and jump. However, if wearing one would make you feel better, go for it! However, they are a bit expensive.

My favorite safety equipment are:

*A certified helmet
*Gloves
*Proper boots

For me, the rising trot was difficult to learn. I believe that it's important to get some type of exercise a few times a week besides riding. Lots of no stirrup work and two point will help to build up those leg muscles. It helps to get the horse really going forward, and to use the (the word is escaping me right now) motion I guess to help you rise up. Remember to try to learn good form early on so that you don't have to correct bad habits later, which means using strong muscles to balance yourself and rise/fall rather than your stirrups or the horse's mouth.

Work on the lunge line can also benefit you.

If you plan on jumping I'd say yes, but for flat work I don't see it to be necessary (although I know some people wear it all the time while on horse).

Hi! Yes, feel free to ask away.
It's great that you have started horseback riding. One of my biggest pieces of advice I can give you is not to get discouraged. It is too easy to do this, and you have to just realize that when you keep up with it and practice and truly commit yourself, you can expect great results and your skill to truly increase.

I am a taller rider as well. I'm not quite as tall as you, but still tall! One of the pieces of advice that I have read is to feel in the center of gravity with the horse. I remember hearing that you should not fall behind the motion by leaning far back or ahead of the motion by leaning forward. You also should not rely on the reins for all of your control.

Posting was difficult to master, and I'm sure if you are having trouble with it, it's not something that is unique to you... it's just hardddd! As you have probably heard, horseback riding is quite demanding to various muscles. I mean, you engage everything from what seems to your legs, to back, to abs, to hands... I don't know if it is a full-body workout or not because I'm not a fitness guru, but it sure as heck seems like it.

If you are able to maintain fitness outside of riding, doing squats or cross-training through methods like pilates or bicycling, I'm sure that would benefit you in the long run. I enjoy training outside of horseback riding to help me increase my fitness in the saddle... and just all around as well.

Keep those heels down and remember to stay relaxed. You don't want to be relaxed in the way that you slouch your back or something, but you really don't want to be tense. Even when you are walking, it is good to move your hips with the horse and really get the feel for the horse's rhythm. This is a great thing to learn, and is extremely helpful especially at the trot and canter. You can adjust speed with your hip movement, whether you want to drive the horse forward or reduce the speed you are at.

Happy riding!!

**A lot of this advice is not original, but from other sources/people. :)

Thank you wonderful people for all your helpful replies :) englishagh yes I my persistance is strong and I'm no quitter. For the record I do heavy weights at the gym and heavy leg presses. I'm a tall but lean muscular person.

I find with the instructor I have used a couple of times from another, is great in that she is strict and has taught a lot of dressage. I have a flaw in that I like to perfect things with time and patience and I have a relaxed personality which is of great benefit to the horses I ride.

As I live in the countryside something has always nudged me to get back on horse back and have fun. I'm glad I did! I always felt I should but didn't have the guts to in the past.

NOW...the rising trot is definitely and area I would like to ask if you can practice on whilst away from the riding school with something like an ab ball?

I can't quite get the movement I know it's meant to be forward back and not really up and down. This may sound a bit strange sorry but is it meant to be a bit like a pelvic thrust forward and back?

Hmm, not really. The movement is kind of hard to explain. To me it just feels like I move up and forward (a bit- not like a thrust) when the horse's leg goes forward (diagonals- are you learning about them?) and then down and back when the horse's leg goes back.

Hi Cinder, diaganols...no I'm not learning about those at the moment but will look into it thanks ;)

How long have you been riding now?

For posting you basically move your hips/pelvis, NOT the legs, and don't use stirrups to "push" yourself out of the saddle. Try the exercise on ground: just position like you are on horse: legs bent, shoulders-hips-hills all aligned, and try to move hips forward-backward without moving your upper or lower body.

I've been riding for about six years on and off, I've been taking lessons consistently for about two of those.