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I highly recommend not riding this horse if you don't know how to ride properly at a walk trot and canter in a saddle. It's putting you at major risk on such a large horse.

First, dont ride this horse. I get it! I wasnt able to ride in till i was 12 and i could start paying for my own lessons. I would get them once a month. But slowly as i got older i got better and now i have a POA and a TB. Second, you are 13? You have to be 16+ to play this game. But if your just talking about the horse, sorry :P

Here are a few tips!

1. Try not to be nervous, horses can feel your nerves and it makes them spooky!

2. Ask one of your barn friends if they can give you some tips and tricks.

3. When I ride larger horses I imagine I am in my 14.1 hand pony, it really helps!

4. If the horses is obedient then you should Maybe put on a western saddle if you have one, that way you can hold on to the horn.

5. Trust the horse, the horse will take care of you.

6. Finally,remember to keep your heels down and your back straight, even if you don't feel confident looking like you are will help build confidence, maybe have someone video you that way you can see how good you look and see that the horse is listening, then next time you will have more confidence and trust yourself more!

I hope this helps, if you need to talk or spill your guts, pm me!

Edit: I missed the part that you don't take lessons, definitely don't ride this horse, he is way to big, there is a huge safety risk!

So for starters, a pony and a 17hh horse are very different... especially depending on breed and gait ect. Since you don't know how to really ride just yet, don't ride him. You are not ready to ride or handle a horse that large if you are scared. Believe it or not, you can ruin a perfect horse by riding him when you don't know how even if it is for just a short period of time. I'd say that you should have someone teach you how to ride him before even thinking about taking him out on your own. You should be confident with horses before diving in. Get to know the horse and bond.

Best of luck!

Lol, How do you learn to ride a horse without riding? You don't you have to start somewhere.

If he's a really quiet, gentle horse, just try walking with him. You can get a feel for how he moves and get comfortable with him. When I was 3, my mom put me on a 16.2 hh TB mare with a halter and rope and turned me loose. My mom used to be a trainer and had trained that mare herself, so she knew what the horse was like. This was a horse that I petted and led around all the time. This horse would not turn, stop, or go faster unless you asked. She was more than happy to walk wherever I wanted in the pasture, stop, and stand there for a while. I was tiny and the horse was huge, but she had a lot of training and a gentle attitude behind her. All I knew was to steer, stop, and go forward. All I ever did with that horse was walk around, and I moved up to trotting with a 15.2 hh QH mare. I just took things slow and never got scared. I rode bareback for years before I started using a saddle, and because of that, I have a great seat. If his height is scary, just hang out with him for a while and see what a sweet, gentle thing the horse can be. That always helps.

are you 13....?

The post says "even if they're tips you'd give a 13 year old. I feel like one." I take that as feeling smaller and younger on such a big animal.

no, I am 17 sorry I said even tips you would give to a 13-year-old as that is how old I felt riding him. I have actually taken into consideration what you all have said and have turned down the opportunity. I am very grateful to everyone who said I shouldn't ride him I never really thought about it I guess.