Riding bareback

[TBgirl]

Hi all. I haven't been posting much at all, but I come on often and read the threads. Anyhow, I was glad to see the winter thread Vicki had posted asking how often we all work our horses. I have a hard time with the cold winters...and here in NY it's been quite cold. I have only been riding Cherry about once a week. I feel so guilty, but with - windchills I lack motivation. Ofcourse when I get to the stable and actually get working with her then I don't want to leave lol.

Tonight I rode Cherry and had such an amazing ride! I've been riding her bareback in the indoor because I stay warmer that way. The weird thing is...I feel like I ride better bareback. I've been doing walk, trot, canter...alot of halting, backing, switching directions, 20 meter circles and serpentines. She has been responding so well! She's rounding and moving really well for me. She's doing good when I ride with my Dressage saddle as well...but I feel like I ride better without a saddle. I feel like I move with her so much better.

Does anyone else feel this way? If so, why do you think it is? I mean, you'd think as riders we'd feel more secure in a saddle. One of my fellow boarders has told me she thinks I'm crazy to be working her without a saddle. I'm truly working her too...not just getting on her and playing around a little then getting down. I want to ride as good in the saddle as I do when I'm riding bareback.

[shewasmyshadow]

You're totally correct. Anyone who loves communicating with their horse should love bareback. I personally prefer it hands down. Especially when I'm working with a green horse. I can feel moods and sense the horse's thoughts MUCH better bareback. Saddles are cumbersome and they get in the way so much of the time. When I was a teen I had enough muscle strength that I could do everything bareback that I could do with a saddle. Even posting and the 2 point jumping position. Now, of course, that I ride once or twice a month I don't have enough strength and need a saddle for most things. However, I still love bareback.

Good for you! Don't let anyone tell you you're wrong. You will be a better rider for doing it.

[natisha]

Bareback you have no choice but to follow the horse, no stirrups to press against & brace. Many people who ride bareback well have a hard time transitioning to a saddle.

[Dakota Sunrise]

I'm that way with Dakota. I ride him bareback 90% of the time and feel very comfortable at all gaits. I love nothing better than bareback trail rides.:) I like being so close to him and really feeling his every move and being able to communicate with him so well. We're happiest riding bareback, and it has made me a better rider.

I think Natisha is right- if you're riding bareback and want to stay on, you have to move with the the horse and use your seat and legs. When I was younger I couldn't ride bareback to save my life and fell of at the slightest wrong move.:o And that was because I never learned to balance and grip with my legs and seat, I just depended on my stirrups to keep me in the saddle, like by pushing with my feet to brace against them. It was my neighbor & riding partner Donna who figured out what I was doing wrong, and once I started using my legs and seat and relaxed enough to actually move with the horse I could do it. That was two years ago. Now I'll ride Dakota bareback any where at any speed. It just takes a little confidence and a lot practice.:)

It's great that you're riding bareback so much.:) It has really helped to improve my riding skills and balance, and I think it's that way with everybody.:)

[TBgirl]

SWMS- I completely agree with you! You sure can feel alot more with a horse while bareback. I think I stay much more in tune with her. Funny you should mention how you could do almost anything bareback as a teen! Me too! I'd jump small fences bareback and everything! Not sure I'd try that now lol. I don't think my boarder friend meant it in a bad way, she was just saying there is no way she'd ride without her saddle. :p

natisha- Absolutely, and I sure do think I have a hard time with that transition. I actually started riding her bareback this winter for the warmth and also to work on strengthening my legs. Now when I ride in the saddle it just doesn't feel the same in my seat or legs. The stirrups seem to get in the way, if that makes sense?

[TBgirl]

Dakota- Sorry we must have posted at the same time! Yes I agree with you; you have to get that confidence level up to ride bareback, then when you do you realize it's an even better ride! Not sure how I'd feel going on a bareback trail ride though! Your brave girl!! :)

[Dakota Sunrise]

Dakota- Sorry we must have posted at the same time! Yes I agree with you; you have to get that confidence level up to ride bareback, then when you do you realize it's an even better ride! Not sure how I'd feel going on a bareback trail ride though! Your brave girl!! :)

It took me quite a while to get brave, but I had a good role model.:) My riding partner Donna is an amazing bareback rider, much better than me. I wanted so bad to be like that so I just kept trying until I could keep up with her!
In the summer when it stays light until 9:00 p.m. or so, we love to get off work at 5:00, go home, change clothes, grab a bite to eat, and then jump on the horses and meet up for a bareback ride.:) We'll spend the last few hours of daylight riding on the trails and dirt roads around our houses, cantering where ever we can and laughing whenever we have to climb a big, steep hill. The goal is not to slide off over their butts, lol. It makes for great leg muscles!:p ;)

[Arrow]

I totally agree with everyone else! I love bareback--especially in the winter to stay warm! It's actually a bigger problem in the summer because of horse sweat--yuck! If I ride bareback for a few weeks, I feel really strange when I ride in a saddle again. And when I take a couple weeks off at Christmas and start riding again--my thighs hurt so bad for a couple days when I have to whip them back into shape. And your butt disappears. I have trouble getting rid of my tummy, but my butt is flat and tight!

Best thing, though, as Dakota and rest say, is that you feel so close to your horse! It's wonderful!

[Gypsy Rose]

Bareback is so much nicer! For one thing, if you're riding a flighty or green horse, it's much easier to guage their mood, and be ready a good split second sooner than if a saddle was in the way.

I know that I feel much more in tune with Gypsy when we're riding bareback. I love my Dressage saddle, but so much of the time, it's just jump on and go. I've spent 90% of my riding years bareback, and I think it's done wonders for my balance.

[alittleoffkey]

I've always preferred bareback. My cousin (who taught me how to ride, and gave me Leggy) made me learn to ride bareback before he let me use a saddle - because then you either ride correctly, or you fall off. I still feel a bit awkward with all that leather between me and my horse. :)

[Flair]

I love riding bareback. Flair, my old TB, had a spine like you would not believe, so to prevent myself being sliced in half, we always went with a bareback pad. I can ride Mitch without one, but my big problem with him is he's very wide and it's hard to keep a good grip with my legs on him if he cavorts around happily.

I'm glad my new saddle is here. I've been slipping off the side the last few weeks. No injury thank goodness (helps that the pony is so close to the ground) but I think I'm done barebacking for a while.

[gabhainn]

I have the wrong plumbing for bareback, thankfully Jackson is a butterball.....Kevin

[natisha]

I have the wrong plumbing for bareback, thankfully Jackson is a butterball.....Kevin LOL, that reminds me of a guy I was teaching to ride. I start people bareback too. He always had that 'protective look' if you know what I mean. Finally I said to him, "I'm going to turn around & I want you to reach in your pants & pull your ___ up" He was horrified but did as told. He later thanked me. I made him buy a pair of Wranglers too. ;)
He turned out to be a good rider.
Kevin, I'd be happy to give you a bareback lesson :innocent:

[mandisue]

I love riding bareback. I two point bareback to torture myself...lol. Well its' actually to build up my muscles but it feels like torture!

[TBgirl]

I'm glad to see that others prefer bareback as well! I do have to agree with Arrow...bareback during the summer does equal yuck lol. I forgot about that! Guess I should ride bareback through the winter and spring as much as I can!

LOL, that reminds me of a guy I was teaching to ride. I start people bareback too. He always had that 'protective look' if you know what I mean. Finally I said to him, "I'm going to turn around & I want you to reach in your pants & pull your ___ up" He was horrified but did as told. He later thanked me. I made him buy a pair of Wranglers too.
He turned out to be a good rider.
Kevin, I'd be happy to give you a bareback lesson

LMAO :hysterical:

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

I have been thinking alot about riding bareback...I am waiting for the rain to clear up enough for the ground to dry out here. I know Buck is okay with bareback..Mira too..because Carla rides them both bareback. I don't know what it is..but I just can't wait to get on him bareback...He has just been looking sooooo inviting lately....lol

[BrittanyG]

I have also always preferred bareback to a saddle. When I was younger, I used to run barrels, play horse tag, jump over barrels, trail ride, pretty much I did everything bareback. I ride bareback about 90% of the time now, but I no longer run barrels and I have no one to play tag with (REALLY fun game to play if you have a bunch of people!) But I still trail ride, and work Baby Boy bareback. I also feel like he responds so much better to me when there is no saddle.

[TheJFactor&Fergie<3]

I love bareback. As everyone says, it just feels so much closer to your horse, and you can communicate so much more clearly. I also feel I ride better bareback.

love jumping and trail riding bareback, and to be honest any sort of daft childish pony games :L

I have also always preferred bareback to a saddle. When I was younger, I used to run barrels, play horse tag, jump over barrels, trail ride, pretty much I did everything bareback. I ride bareback about 90% of the time now, but I no longer run barrels and I have no one to play tag with (REALLY fun game to play if you have a bunch of people!) But I still trail ride, and work Baby Boy bareback. I also feel like he responds so much better to me when there is no saddle.

ARGH I have wanted to play horsey tag for years, i've never known anyone with similar motivations! Everyone I know lost the ability to have fun when they hit their teens... (Long time ago sadly!)

[cloedoll]

Ohhh, I love, love, LOVE bareback. I was forced to ride bareback because of saddle fitting issues and fell in love with it since. Jump bareback, post bareback, gallop bareback...everything! Haha. Really, nothing beats it and it doesn't surprise me you feel more connected and well, overall better bareback. Keep at it! :D