Comments on How to Ride Bareback

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!

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.

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.

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!

In lessons at my stable, I teach my students to dismount as their horses are walking, trotting and eventually cantering. It's easier to do bareback because there is less equipment to get caught up in. We tie the ends of the reins in a knot so that they won't loop down and get caught in the horses legs. The riders get very comfortable jumping off as the horse is moving. Eventually when they fall off a horse for real they don't get so tense and they can think through the fall. I do this exercise in the winter when their is a good covering of snow. This cushions the kids if they fall by accident.

In lessons at my stable, I teach my students to dismount as their horses are walking, trotting and eventually cantering. It's easier to do bareback because there is less equipment to get caught up in. We tie the ends of the reins in a knot so that they won't loop down and get caught in the horses legs. The riders get very comfortable jumping off as the horse is moving. Eventually when they fall off a horse for real they don't get so tense and they can think through the fall. I do this exercise in the winter when their is a good covering of snow. This cushions the kids if they fall by accident.

I always ride bareback to improve my riding. Bareback, as mentioned before, is an awesome way to create balance and improve position. The riding position is, however, a bit different from riding in the saddle. Make sure your legs are a bit longer than in the saddle-heels down toes up as always, and try to keep your calf and below a bit looser. Also, if you have a good seat and can handle a green or bad horse (fairly, I mean) then go ahead and give it a try. You don't need a quiet horse, just some skill. My horse isn't exactly the quietest, but I ride him bareback all the time and I have yet to fall off.

I always ride bareback to improve my riding. Bareback, as mentioned before, is an awesome way to create balance and improve position. The riding position is, however, a bit different from riding in the saddle. Make sure your legs are a bit longer than in the saddle-heels down toes up as always, and try to keep your calf and below a bit looser. Also, if you have a good seat and can handle a green or bad horse (fairly, I mean) then go ahead and give it a try. You don't need a quiet horse, just some skill. My horse isn't exactly the quietest, but I ride him bareback all the time and I have yet to fall off.

If you fall off, always get straight back on. The horse will try and get away with that same technique again!

Riding bareback can be a good step in calming and training a green-broke horse. Without the extra weight of a saddle the horse can focus more on you. For some horses the saddle is a scary thing, and by eliminating it the horse can adapt to being ridden in preparation for saddle training. It also allows the horse to feel your cues and movement more easily. This is not to be attempted by a novice rider! As stressed before, if you (the rider) are learning to ride bareback then a bomb-proof horse is key. If you feel comfortable at all gates (including an all out gallop), then bareback training can be a good method. I'm using it with my Mustang and it does wonders.

Always pick a good horse to start riding bareback on (perferably a shorter one). Get your confidence at a halt, then work up through all of the other gaits. Pick a horse that is not easily spooked, and has solid, fluid movements (so you don't get unseated). A bareback pad will keep you off sweaty fur.

For more stability and comfort for both you and the horse while riding with no saddle, consider using a pad and lounging/vaulting roller.

If your horse is rather tall (usually 14 hands and up), and you have a hard time getting on without a mounting post, use this tip. Tie your horse up with the reins or a lead rope. Have someone calm your horse (do not try this with a horse that is easily spooked). Walk away from the left side of the horse about 5 feet, then run up to the horse and vault yourself up onto its back. Once your stomach is over its back, swing your right leg over, and sit up. This is very easy, and if you need extra assistance, have someone push your right leg up as soon as you jump up. I have tried this many times, and it works.

This is an excellent exercise for improving balance! When you go back to the saddle, you are more aware of your leg, seat, and balance. However, regardless of how tame your horse may be, there are little things that you can do to make your horse uncomfortable or annoyed. For example, I rode bareback, and when I cantered and trotted, I subconsciously tucked my toes underneath his elbow, which then caused him to buck! So, don't grip with your feet!

When riding, don't let your legs scootch up under you (as if you're sitting on a chair). Keep legs long. If you sit with your legs up, you'll have no balance! DON'T GRIP with the knees! Keep your weight in your lower leg, not gripped on the horse's sides.

When riding bareback, don't be afraid of holding on to the mane if you feel a little unbalanced. Better to be safe than sorry and falling off.

When riding your horse bareback, if you feel a little unbalanced, it is OK to hold on to the horses mane. Horses don't have as many nerves in their neck as we do. It won't hurt them to grab onto their mane.

When you are cantering bareback, it is much more comfortable for the horse and the rider (and safer to lean forward and hold the reins close to the neck of the horse. When you have to turn a corner you are more balanced and in charge of the horses mouth, also grip you legs firmly but not tightly.

While trotting bareback, I find it easier to stay balanced if the lower parts of my legs aren't on the horse, especially when I'm making turns.

If your horse starts bucking while you are riding, sit back, hold on, and pull gently on the reins. If you fall off and are not seriously hurt, get back on to show your horse that he is not the boss!

Be sure not to spray silicone-based products on your horse where any part of you will be touching before riding bareback. If you do, it will be very slippery. Also, be sure the pants or jeans you wear are of a non-slippery material.

when riding bareback, use a stirrup leather around the neck to hold on to, as it will stop you leaning forward, which sometimes happens if you hold onto the mane. pay attention to your hand position, as bareback riding is all about BALANCE. keep hands level, back straight, and legs long. do not grip, or you will tense the whole of your body and unbalance yourself. practice LOTS OF CIRCLING before trotting etc. as this will help you to lengthen legs and keep your balance. A 10metre circle is harder than trotting in a straight line. If you are not confident at trot, do it very slowly to get used to the horses movement.

When you first learn to ride bareback get used to the feeling over time work yourself up through the walk, trot, and sooner or later the canter.This is what I did and I ride bareback EVERYWHERE!!

A good seat is acheived with a lax posture. A western slouch is often more effective than an English seat due to the fact that there are no stirrups to stabilize the side-to-side motion. Keep a relaxed back and your weight in your tailbone/lower legs.

If you first get a horse, don't ride it bareback. Take time to get used to the horse and how it feels. I didn't start to ride my first horse bareback until about the second year I had her. Try not to ride a horse that has a bumpy trot or doesn't have smooth gaits. You should use a bit if your horse is used to one. If the horse spooks, you will be able to pull it back.