When you come to the Bashang Prairie, you must ride a horse. When you see fast horses galloping across the prairie and people shouting loudly to their steeds, even if you didn't originally plan to ride a horse, seeing such a scene will move you, and unconsciously you'll walk towards the horse. In Beijing's outdoor training programs, there is no opportunity to ride horses. Moreover, we are all from the same outdoor training company, and most of us have no experience riding horses. Don't look at us as big guys or experts in outdoor activities; when it comes to horseback riding, we all share one common issue: we want to but lack the ability. But not riding a horse would make the trip to the prairie seem wasted, so we must give it a try. This moment doesn't matter much, but excitement and tension soon follow.
Here, horse riding is much cheaper than we imagined. The cost for each horse per hour is only 30 yuan, which is unimaginable in Beijing. In our excitement, we each decided to rent a horse for an hour. Horse riding requires skills. Horses are also among the most spirited animals. Some people shout loudly while galloping, trying to make their horse run faster, but often yelling doesn't help. Others just gently pull the reins, and the horse dashes off. The difference lies in everyone's varying mastery of horse-riding techniques. Below, I will introduce some precautions for horseback riding:
1. Do not wear or take off clothes on the horse’s back to avoid startling the horse.
2. Horses often defecate or feel hungry, during which their bellies shrink, and the girth becomes loose. Therefore, always check the girth. It should be very tight to prevent the saddle from slipping and causing a fall. If the girth is loose, ask the horseman or staff for help or tighten it yourself. If you cannot complete this, lead the horse by hand. Before going up or down steep slopes, dismount to check or appropriately sway left and right on the horse to ensure the saddle isn't loose.
3. Always mount from the horse's left side because horses are not accustomed to people approaching from their right side, which can startle them and cause danger. If the ground on the left side is low, turn the horse around, making it easier to mount and avoiding pulling the saddle too hard due to the low ground, which could cause the saddle to slip and result in a fall.
4. During horseback riding, no matter what happens, always hold onto the reins tightly because the horse may suddenly bolt for various reasons. If you grip the reins firmly, you won't fall off.
5. Do not insert your feet too far into the stirrups; use only the front part of your foot to avoid getting stuck. Ensure your shoelaces aren't too tight so that if you fall, your shoes come off easily, preventing your foot from being trapped in the stirrup.
6. Let the horseman or yourself adjust the length of the stirrups to a comfortable level to avoid leg pain and chafing. Change positions frequently on the horse to prevent buttock pain. (This often happens to first-time riders.)
7. Lean forward and grab the front of the saddle when going uphill. Lean backward and hold the back of the saddle when going downhill. Trust the horse when going up or down steep slopes; it has four hooves and will choose its own pace. (Do not let the horse gallop downhill because its front legs are weaker than its hind legs. Additionally, horses rented in the wild vary in quality, especially if you're unfamiliar with the horse. Doing so is very dangerous and can result in "tripping over the front hoof.")
8. Horses in the woods usually focus on their height, so you might be at risk of being hit by branches. You must control the horse and keep it away from dense forests or lie down! (While riding, don't just look down; like driving, keep your vision far ahead, choosing the horse's running route in advance, avoiding areas near forests, shrubs, and ditches.)
9. While riding, try to keep your back straight and avoid habitually slouching, as it can easily cause fatigue and injury. (A friend of mine once suffered from intervertebral disc herniation after continuously riding for four hours due to incorrect posture and uneven force distribution.)
The above is a summary of some small knowledge points about horseback riding from my recent trip to Bashang. These small techniques were gained through "blood and sweat." There is one point that needs special attention, which the guide will constantly remind you of during the ride. One of my colleagues almost got into danger because he did not strictly follow this point. That point is: when sitting on the horse, never put both feet fully into the stirrups. Although horses are smart, they are still animals. During the ride, a horse that was originally walking calmly might suddenly gallop or lower its head to eat grass or drink water. If you are not focused or do not hold the reins tightly, the horse's sudden movements can easily throw you off. If your feet are fully in the stirrups at this time, you might get your foot caught in the stirrup when falling, which would be very dangerous as the horse could drag you while galloping. One of my colleagues almost fell off his horse due to a sudden acceleration. His foot was already stuck in the stirrup, and the consequences could have been unimaginable had he fallen. Fortunately, he held the reins tightly, avoiding danger. Therefore, everyone must pay extra attention to this point when riding a horse.
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