Avoid these 5 mistakes when riding a horse

1- Tying Or Attaching Yourself To the Saddle or Horse
You might want to do this in order to secure yourself from falling off the horse, but if you do fall off, you want to fall free. This lessens your chance of getting dragged, which could result in far worse injuries than just hitting the ground.

2- Letting Go of the Reins
The reins help you control the horse. If you get scared, your reaction might be to toss the reins and hold onto the horse. However, this could actually confuse and frighten your horse, especially if you lean down and grab it around the neck. So, even if you are scared, hold on to those reins and listen to what your guide or coach is telling you.

3- Slouching
Some nervous riders appear to want to curl into the fetal position as they ride. However, it’s hard to control a horse while hunched, and your balance will be affected. Anything that affects our balance also affects our horse’s ability to do its job well.

4- Wearing baggy or loose clothes
Flowing scarves, baggy pants, bulky sweaters with loose waists, and other sloppy or loose clothing can get caught on the saddle if you should fall off, meaning you could get dragged, and that is far more dangerous than falling clear of the horse.

5- Trying To Hold the Saddle To Stay On
You should not count on the saddle to keep your balance. If you feel unstable, try adjusting your posture, extending your legs, or holding the reins more gently, but the saddle horn should not be used for that.