STORY AND PHOTOS BY HEIDI NYLAND MELOCCO
As you ride your horse on hills, you’ll need to keep your center of gravity aligned with his so that you don’t lose your balance or cause your horse to work harder and lose his balance. In simple terms, you’ll lean forward to go up a hill and lean back when going down.
Here, trainer Jessica Dabkowski provides handy tips to help you get the hang of hills. Jessica runs Pony Peak Stangmanship in Laporte, Colo., focusing on natural horsemanship techniques while training Mustangs and all breeds of horses. She often works with young riders to help them prepare for Mustang Makeover competitions.