on 12/4/2008
Step #8-funny. "Hold on" When I was a kid, my aunt handed me this crazy horse bareback with a tom thunb bit in, when I really needed either a good correction bit or a hefty curb. Hadn't been ridden in years. I had to learn to either control the horse, or get dragged under a tree, rolled over on, or fall off when it jumped the four foot fence. Broke my wrists twice that summer.. Many memories riding bareback!
on 5/4/2007
If it is cold & rainy & your horse is shaking, don't ride him bareback! Chances are, your going to get bucked off. this isn't always the case, but if your not sure, dont risk it!
on 5/4/2007
One way that me & more horse have really formed a stronger bond is by riding bareback. He was an abused, skinny horse that wouldn't trust anyone. Now, whenever I go down to the pasture to get him, I ride him bareback up to the barn. It has really helped me understand him better.
on 12/12/2006
HEELS DOWN.......pointing your heels down will focus your weight on the lower leg, while helping to keep you relaxed from the knee up. Concentrating your weight on the lower leg and heel will also help center you and gain balance as you ride.
on 12/12/2006
Heels Down....keeping your heels pointed down while riding bareback or in the stirrup with knees slightly bent will keep help you focus on relaxation from the knee up and center your seat on the horse for added balance.........
on 9/10/2006
Trotting bareback is only fun if you are balanced. If while trotting you are bouncing up and down a lot, try sitting closer to the withers. Another way to get balanced is to have someone lead you, and once the horse is trotting hold your arms out to the side - like a plane.
I think bareback riding is better than in the saddle because you can feel what the horse's next move is going to be.
on 9/10/2006
I learned to canter bareback before I cantered in the saddle. I found it a lot easier to balance. Bareback cantering is like being on a rocking horse, my first time in the saddle was very bumpy. If you want to try cantering bareback but you are scared, I suggest that you attach a lead rope to the halter and have someone to run beside you, and if you start to slip, just ask the person to stop running and the horse will too. Bareback riding is fun!
on 9/4/2006
Someone said to grip with your knees. This is one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to stay on the horse. It may feel safer at first, but gripping with your knees (or any part of your leg for that matter) actually makes your position a lot less secure and you are a lot more likely to fall off.
Instead of gripping with your knees, sit deeply with your legs long, and gently wrapped around the side of the horse. You should be relying on your seat, your weight, rather than your legs to stay on the horse. When you grip with your knees, you push your seat up off of the horse's back, if only slightly.
The point of bareback riding (apart from having a great time and bonding with your horse) is to improve your seat and balance. And gripping with the knees will worsen both.
on 8/8/2006
When I was younger (5-15) my mum used to force me to ride bareback. I was forever complaining of cramps while she continued to nag about it improving my riding. Now I'm older and I have a lovely position. I even back some horses bareback. I learned that if you're imbalanced, hold on to your horses mane with one hand rather than just bouncing up and down.
on 8/8/2006
Galloping bareback is amazing, it's next to flying. Don't be fooled, it's not always comfy, especially if you're on a horse with a bony spine. I recommend a bareback pad. Also, gaited horses can be easier for a first timer because they're so smooth.
on 7/24/2006
I have been riding horses for about thirteen years now. Riding bareback is a great way to learn how to keep your balance on a horse. One of the tips that I always tell my students is that whenever you ride bareback always try to keep relaxed. Remember to breath. Believe it or not, a lot of people hold their breath when they ride and that tenses up your muscles. Tensing up your muscles is going to make your whole body bounce around. Just keep relaxed and take deep breaths and try to feel the horses movements under you.
on 3/16/2006
Bareback riding is amazing. You are able to feel the power of the horse under you and how they move. It is a wonderful experience, but take some precautions. For a first bareback ride I would suggest a calmer horse, it doesn't matter how long you have been riding. Bareback riding is something different, a different way to balance and to stay on. Though it is fine to ride a green or energetic horse, just make sure you have the experience under your belt.
I myself have a spaz of a horse, he can get impatient easily and tends to always be fresh and ready for a fight. Yet I still ride him bareback 75% of the time. There is nothing more exciting than galloping all out bareback. Be careful, I know my horse pretty well, but he still has been able to get me off once.
on 3/11/2006
When you ride bareback, always sit directly behind the whithers. If you sit back too far on the loins your horse will probably buck you off! When you mount, lean on the horse so your stomach is where you are going to sit (behind the whithers), then swing your right leg over. Wiggle around a little until you find a comfortable spot to sit. When choosing your mount, pick a horse that is calm, has smooth gaits, and a horse with a fat back. That will make your ride more enjoyable. If you feel like you are going to fall off, do not pull on the reins to steady yourself! Just put your heels down farther and grab the mane. If you pull on the reins all your weight will be on the horse's sensitive mouth. And remember, if you fall off - get right back on!
on 3/21/2006
Relax! The whole point of riding bareback is to become closer to your horse and form a bond with him/her to improve your riding together. Learning to ride in an English all-purpose saddle is the best way to develop early balance, then work your way up to riding bareback. Remember to sit deep and keep your legs under you. That's the only way your butt will keep contact with the horse. And have fun!
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saddlebredgurl said
on 12/4/2008 Step #8-funny. "Hold on" When I was a kid, my aunt handed me this crazy horse bareback with a tom thunb bit in, when I really needed either a good correction bit or a hefty curb. Hadn't been ridden in years. I had to learn to either control the horse, or get dragged under a tree, rolled over on, or fall off when it jumped the four foot fence. Broke my wrists twice that summer.. Many memories riding bareback!
CowgirlCal said
on 8/26/2008 Thanks for the advice! I ride with a bareback pad. It's much easier putting on a bareback pad than a saddle.
Jinxedlace said
on 5/4/2007 If it is cold & rainy & your horse is shaking, don't ride him bareback! Chances are, your going to get bucked off. this isn't always the case, but if your not sure, dont risk it!
Jinxedlace said
on 5/4/2007 One way that me & more horse have really formed a stronger bond is by riding bareback. He was an abused, skinny horse that wouldn't trust anyone. Now, whenever I go down to the pasture to get him, I ride him bareback up to the barn. It has really helped me understand him better.
geezerlove said
on 12/12/2006 HEELS DOWN.......pointing your heels down will focus your weight on the lower leg, while helping to keep you relaxed from the knee up. Concentrating your weight on the lower leg and heel will also help center you and gain balance as you ride.
geezerlove said
on 12/12/2006 Heels Down....keeping your heels pointed down while riding bareback or in the stirrup with knees slightly bent will keep help you focus on relaxation from the knee up and center your seat on the horse for added balance.........
Anonymous said
on 9/10/2006 Trotting bareback is only fun if you are balanced. If while trotting you are bouncing up and down a lot, try sitting closer to the withers. Another way to get balanced is to have someone lead you, and once the horse is trotting hold your arms out to the side - like a plane.
I think bareback riding is better than in the saddle because you can feel what the horse's next move is going to be.
Anonymous said
on 9/10/2006 I learned to canter bareback before I cantered in the saddle. I found it a lot easier to balance. Bareback cantering is like being on a rocking horse, my first time in the saddle was very bumpy. If you want to try cantering bareback but you are scared, I suggest that you attach a lead rope to the halter and have someone to run beside you, and if you start to slip, just ask the person to stop running and the horse will too. Bareback riding is fun!
Anonymous said
on 9/4/2006 Someone said to grip with your knees. This is one of the worst things you can do if you're trying to stay on the horse.
It may feel safer at first, but gripping with your knees (or any part of your leg for that matter) actually makes your position a lot less secure and you are a lot more likely to fall off.
Instead of gripping with your knees, sit deeply with your legs long, and gently wrapped around the side of the horse. You should be relying on your seat, your weight, rather than your legs to stay on the horse. When you grip with your knees, you push your seat up off of the horse's back, if only slightly.
The point of bareback riding (apart from having a great time and bonding with your horse) is to improve your seat and balance. And gripping with the knees will worsen both.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 When I was younger (5-15) my mum used to force me to ride bareback. I was forever complaining of cramps while she continued to nag about it improving my riding. Now I'm older and I have a lovely position. I even back some horses bareback.
I learned that if you're imbalanced, hold on to your horses mane with one hand rather than just bouncing up and down.
Anonymous said
on 8/8/2006 Galloping bareback is amazing, it's next to flying. Don't be fooled, it's not always comfy, especially if you're on a horse with a bony spine. I recommend a bareback pad. Also, gaited horses can be easier for a first timer because they're so smooth.
Anonymous said
on 7/24/2006 I have been riding horses for about thirteen years now. Riding bareback is a great way to learn how to keep your balance on a horse. One of the tips that I always tell my students is that whenever you ride bareback always try to keep relaxed. Remember to breath. Believe it or not, a lot of people hold their breath when they ride and that tenses up your muscles. Tensing up your muscles is going to make your whole body bounce around. Just keep relaxed and take deep breaths and try to feel the horses movements under you.
Anonymous said
on 3/16/2006 Bareback riding is amazing. You are able to feel the power of the horse under you and how they move. It is a wonderful experience, but take some precautions. For a first bareback ride I would suggest a calmer horse, it doesn't matter how long you have been riding. Bareback riding is something different, a different way to balance and to stay on. Though it is fine to ride a green or energetic horse, just make sure you have the experience under your belt.
I myself have a spaz of a horse, he can get impatient easily and tends to always be fresh and ready for a fight. Yet I still ride him bareback 75% of the time. There is nothing more exciting than galloping all out bareback. Be careful, I know my horse pretty well, but he still has been able to get me off once.
Anonymous said
on 3/11/2006 When you ride bareback, always sit directly behind the whithers. If you sit back too far on the loins your horse will probably buck you off! When you mount, lean on the horse so your stomach is where you are going to sit (behind the whithers), then swing your right leg over. Wiggle around a little until you find a comfortable spot to sit. When choosing your mount, pick a horse that is calm, has smooth gaits, and a horse with a fat back. That will make your ride more enjoyable. If you feel like you are going to fall off, do not pull on the reins to steady yourself! Just put your heels down farther and grab the mane. If you pull on the reins all your weight will be on the horse's sensitive mouth. And remember, if you fall off - get right back on!
Anonymous said
on 3/21/2006 Relax! The whole point of riding bareback is to become closer to your horse and form a bond with him/her to improve your riding together. Learning to ride in an English all-purpose saddle is the best way to develop early balance, then work your way up to riding bareback. Remember to sit deep and keep your legs under you. That's the only way your butt will keep contact with the horse. And have fun!