Saddle up and ride on into the sunset ‘ People start horseback riding because they think it ’ s cool , but it ’ s actually a whole - body sport that takes energy and focus . ’ April 02 , 2011 Horses race at Racehorse Park in Gwacheon , Gyeonggi . Horseback riding has become a popular pastime among people looking for fun or exercise . [ JoongAng Ilbo ] Horseback riding has long been considered a sport for the wealthy or professional sportsmen , but with many Korean dramas featuring equestrian scenes , more and more people are saddling up for lessons . In the KBS drama “ Boys Over Flowers ” ( 2009 ) , leading man Yoon Ji - hoo ( Kim Hyun - joong ) woos his lady love with a romantic horseback ride on the beach at sunset , which caused young women across the country to swoon in delight . Romance and horseback riding also play a role in the 2009 drama “ The Man Called God . ” In the story , Bo - bae ( Han Chae - young ) and Woo - hyun ( Kim Min - jong ) have crushes on friends who are already involved in relationships and plot to steal away the objects of their affection while they are out on a date at a horseback riding club . But dreaming about such romantic encounters and actually having the skills to pull it off gracefully are two entirely different things , and one would certainly not want to fall out of the saddle at a crucial moment . Not to worry . Several horseback riding schools have sprung up around the country to teach these valuable skills . And as the owner of one such school says , it doesn ’ t take as much time or effort to learn how to ride a horse as people might think . According to Hong Sang - tae , owner of Samkwang Horseback Riding Club , in Pocheon , Gyeonggi ( where this reporter is currently a student ) , new riders can usually have their horse walking and trotting like professionals after just a few lessons and can have the horse running after 10 to 15 lessons . Once rider and horse are comfortable enough with one another to jump these hurdles , the fun really begins , he says . Still , Hong cautions prospective riders against thinking that riding is too easy . “ People start horseback riding because they think it ’ s cool , but it ’ s actually a whole - body sport that takes quite a lot of energy and focus , ” he said , adding that physical energy is just as important as mental focus when riding a horse . “ Riders need to focus their full attention on riding when on the back of a horse , which helps you focus on what you are doing at that moment and can even help you improve your focus in other areas of your life , ” he said . “ That ’ s why horse riding is frequently used to rehabilitate the mentally challenged , but there are benefits for ordinary people , too . ” Hong sat down with the Korea JoongAng Daily to offer a few how - tos about horseback riding . Correct posture is the key to horseback riding for beginners . [ ILGAN SPORTS ] First stepsIn the first session at his or any school , Hong says that new students typically learn the correct posture for horseback riding and how to control the horse . Then they practice having the horse walk and trot . But the most important thing to remember is that , unlike other sports , horse riding requires a strong connection with the animal . The rider needs to take the lead in controlling the horse so that the animal will stop and go at the rider ’ s command . Riders should also remember that horses can sense fear . And as much as you might be afraid to sit atop a horse , horses are also afraid of having someone who is not in control of his or her fears be in control of them . The rider needs to be confident and sure of herself before getting into the saddle . A horse will also test a new rider , so it is the rider ’ s job to give the horse positive or negative reinforcement based on the horse ’ s behavior . The rider can stroke the horse ’ s mane when it does something good or pull the reins tight when it refuses to follow instructions . Correct postureWhen you sit on a horse , correct posture is important . The first thing to do is make sure you are holding the reins tightly . Keep both hands about 10 centimeters ( about 4 inches ) apart and 10 centimeters above the horse ’ s back at all times . Elbows should be bent slightly , at a 120 degree angle , but the arms should be relaxed . The feet should tilt upward slightly in the stirrups and the knees should be bent . People tend to shift their weight into their toes as the horse speeds up , but that will cause the feet to fall out of the stirrups . The back should be kept straight and the rider should avoid leaning forward , which disrupts the center of gravity and could put you off balance . As the horse starts to walk , keep your eyes up and look in the direction you are heading . To keep your balance , squeeze your legs around the horse as if hugging it with your legs . Hold the reins tightly , so even if you fall , you will be dangling on the side of the horse instead of being thrown down to the ground , which increases the risk of being stepped on . Hong says that they usually see about two or three people fall off a horse per year , but that most accidents result in nothing more serious than a few bumps and bruises . Riding GearMost schools or clubs have equestrian gear , including helmets , calf chaps , gloves , safety vests and saddles . For comfort and safety , stretch jeans are recommended . Cargo pants are not recommended since they create friction between a rider ’ s legs and the horse ’ s body . Choosing a schoolTeaching methods vary greatly from school to school and will also depend on the purpose of the lesson - whether it is for professional training or leisure - so one of the most important things to remember when choosing a school is the teacher - student relationship and the overall feel of the school . Compare horse riding fees and the distance from your home . If driving is not an option , some horseback riding schools can be reached by public transportation , but most require at least two transfers and at least two hours of travel one way . PriceThe cost of horse riding is not much different than that of tennis lessons or a monthly gym membership , since people usually go horseback riding once a week . The fee differs based on whether a rider wants lessons or just wants to go for a ride . Bundang Equestrian Club in Gyeonggi ( 031 - 334 - 7935 ) charges 60 , 000 won ( $ 55 ) for a trial lesson and 565 , 000 won for 10 classes . Private lessons cost 900 , 000 won for 10 classes . Samkwang Horseback Riding Club ( 031 - 533 - 5001 ) charges 40 , 000 won per lesson on weekdays and 50 , 000 won on weekends . A 10 - class card is 300 , 000 won for weekday sessions and 400 , 000 won for weekend sessions . The club only offers group lessons , but if there are no walk - ins the rider can have a one - hour private lesson at the group lesson rate . Tteuksom Horseback Riding Club in Seoul Forest ( 02 - 463 - 8565 ) offers lessons for 77 , 000 won on weekdays and 99 , 000 won on weekends . Reservations are required . By Lee Sun - min [ summerlee @ joongang . co . kr ]