Bad idea?

[Footlights]

This might be a silly question, but would it be a bad idea to ride an ex racerhorse bareback?

Would it remind them of their racing days?

 

[Patterdale]

I wouldn't worry too much, you probably wouldn't be on too long to cause any problems!

 

[Footlights]

Lol Are you saying I would be off soon from him bolting around the arena thinking he is racing again, or from his boney spine and high withers!? lol

 

[ThePony]

Can't see it would do your horse any harm (unless he is poorly muscled in which case the tree of a saddle would help spread the riders weight over a larger area), though if he is a narrow high withered chap then I wouldn't imagine he would be the comfiest lol!

 

[forestfantasy]

I wouldn't worry too much, you probably wouldn't be on too long to cause any problems!

Lmao

I'm more interested in where bareback racing occurs?!

 

[Slightlyconfused]

A friends loaner rides her ex racer bareback.....he actually goes better without the saddle.....and i think you will get used to the boney spine and high withers.....but maybe some padding might help

 

[Patterdale]

Youd probably get bucked off!
Don't think it would remind them of racing as they tend not to race bareback.....

 

[Footlights]

Lol haha have you not seen bareback racing before?

 

[pixie]

They do bareback racing in Siena, looks fooking mad!!

 

[Footlights]

Why would I get bucked off!!?

 

[Patterdale]

Most tbs are quite thin skinned and they will not like you on their back with no saddle.
That's the reaction I would have had with any of mine if I'd tried it!

 

[forestfantasy]

Lol haha have you not seen bareback racing before?

Of course!
However my point was that racehorses in the uk still wear tack so i'm confused as to why it would remind him of his racing days.

He will most likely be fine bareback but as Patterdale says, Tb's are sensitive so may object.

 

[Footlights]

Because racing saddles are light and obviously not the same as conventional english saddles. I did say that it might be a silly question! Lol

 

[Arniebear]

im really tempted to try this with my ex racer ill think ill wait for a day where i can rope a friend in to help!!!!

 

[Footlights]

Yeah if I try it, there will be someone on the ground to lead us around to start with!!

 

[vicky_sut]

Try it I used to get on my exracer bareback with just a headcollar on when I was bringing her in from the field. She didn't mind at all, I think it is more down to the individual horse rather than it being an exracer.

 

[Dippy Zippy]

If your horse has enough muscle on their back and isn't to bony or sensitive, go for it. My dad always used to lead me to and from the field on the thoroughbreds, and they were the ones in training! just get some one to be with you the first time and only walk, so he/she can decide if they mind or not would be my suggestion

 

[zaminda]

Shouldn't be a problem,mine might be an arab, but it used to race, and is fine bareback, she is also very thin skinned, much worse than a tb!

 

[Irishbabygirl]

If you don't try you won't know...go for it, its your horse, you know it best.

 

[LynH]

I've ridden my ex racer without a saddle lots of times to and from the field and also rode her and led my other horse. She raced then p2p until she was 9 so had a proper racing career. She's pretty bony but it saved me a long walk every day.