Bareback and bridleless - how much control do you have?!

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BBP

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Since I was told to rest the crazy black pony from proper work (his liver enzymes have been raised for some mystery reason) we have been playing around gently bareback in an effort to keep him sane (...judging by the rodeo/wall of death game going when I got to the field this morning it is not quite sufficient, no way was I getting on that!) But when he is in the right frame of mind I have been massively impressed with his behaviour bareback.

We are just walking at the moment because of trying to rest him, but in the last 4 weeks we have progressed from steering with his leadrope, to neck reining with the rope, to me being able to drop the rope all together and use a hand on his neck to neck rein him, and are now working on no hand on the neck at all, just pointing both hands where I want to go. He tries so hard and we are working on obstacle courses with bridges, tarpaulins, gates, s bends, side pass and leg yield, and a variation on walk piroette/western spin all with just a hand on his neck. He will also rein back with just body position and a little tug at the bottom of his mane.

The best part is that even 2 years ago, I never would have dreamt of sitting on him bareback (not without a massive workout first), even with a saddle on there was no guaruntee I would stick with him. I am so so proud of him, life is a game and I'm reminded every day what a smart sensitive little chap he is.
a few piccies:
Go right
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Go left
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Backwards please
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Spanish walk
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And playing with his stick (he is better at giving it to me than my dog was!):
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Just wondered how the rest of you get on, what sort of stuff you get up to and if your ponies are as sensitive to these games as mine seems to be? I'm looking forwards to taking it up in trot and canter once he is allowed to do a bit more.
 
Those pictures of you on him bareback are superb. It says everything to me about true horsemanship, AND a very contented ned. Totally relaxed but still listening. Used to do a lot of it when I was younger (though not the games). I was brought u to ride bareback because my father said "If North American Indians can hunt buffalo bareback, using both hands to fire their bow and arrows" I expect you to be able to ride anywhere in the same style. I and my friends did (minus the bows and arrows) and it gave us such confidence and, in my case, far more balance than I really have naturally. Well done you. Keep it going!!
 
That's a lovely statement from your father. I think for the first few years I had him (from unbacked) I tried a bit too hard to 'ride'. I've been an ok rider but always a bit mechanical with no real feel. I was always a bit tense (not helped by my slipped disc and him panicking and broncing on a regular basis) and did a bit too much. Now I can feel just how sensitive he is, and how little it takes to stop, start, turn and get any response it is helping me to relax, not worry about how it looks or how correct I am, and just to relax and enjoy riding. I hope that he and I will both benefit from it and it will help our dressage and jumping.
 
I love that first pic!

I used to jump on my old girl and ride her around the field bareback in a headcollar, but we didn't do any games. I always left my jumps up, so we used to pop over them. I like how you can feel all the movement that's going on through their back. A decent bareback rider (in headcollar or similar) has far more control than a sack of potatoes bouncing around in the saddle and giving conflicting instructions. I think it's a shame that riders who come up through riding schools alone don't really get the chance to ride bareback, I think it does a world of good. It's a better test of balance!
 
He is lovely, and so clever, i do a lot of bareback and clicker work with my lad too. Can i ask what breeding yours is?
 
This is something I need/want to do with mine if he is still only field sound by the time I have popped a sprog as I think he will really enjoy the stimulation, even if I don't sit on him, I think playing in the school will help - will need to pick your brains nearer the time for inspiration! :)
 
Those pics are fab - sounds like you are having fun with your boy :)

I got my first horse 5 months ago and would never have dreamed of riding bare back but the other month I wanted to try it after seeing some other people on the yard doing it and I LOVED it! We are just playing around in the school but she is so much more responsive with no tack on, its a great feeling.

Would love to get her working as nicely as your boy!
 
Go for it, pony and I play lots of games between pretending to do proper dressage and jumping so I'm always happy to have my brains picked! My sisters horse looks at me like i'm mad if I suggest chasing a stick or a football, or doing tricks, but mine is game for anything as long as there is a treat or a scratch or something fun involved.
 
Tayto said:
Those pics are fab - sounds like you are having fun with your boy :)

I got my first horse 5 months ago and would never have dreamed of riding bare back but the other month I wanted to try it after seeing some other people on the yard doing it and I LOVED it! We are just playing around in the school but she is so much more responsive with no tack on, its a great feeling.

Would love to get her working as nicely as your boy!
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Aw thanks. We were starting to gain confidence in trot and canter before I had to rest him, working on collection and medium transitions, but with a rope, so I am hoping we can carry on the good work once his blood tests give us the all clear. He has a mean buck though and a spin like a cutting horse, so i have to pick my moments. And if there is food around I stand no chance of playing without a rope, he says I starve him way too much to be able to concentrate whilst working on all that lush green grass!
 
I wish riding schools would be a bit more encouraging about going bareback!
Lovely pics, you really look like you have a bond! :)
 
Cortez said:
Nice horse; what height is he?
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He is just 14hh, maybe 14.1hh if he stands right on the tips of his bare toes (or 15hh when he met the new small welshie this morning!). He is mad as a box of frogs, beautiful, athletic, feisty, friendly, utterly imperfect but totally perfect for me.
 
A couple of the gorgeous lad for those interested in the cross. He is quite a little mover when he fires up!
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Cracking little horse :) You look very happy and relaxed together.

In answer to your question, on my two mares? Minimal if any :(

They are both firecrackers, and opinionated ones at that.
The Arabian thinks clicker training is beneath her and will not do it, she just looks at me as if I am stupid.
Although she is responsive to the leg and weight aids, if she wanted to go, she would.

The Paso is rocket fuelled and does everything at warp speed, she is more receptive to clicker training but really only does it to humour me, I wouldn't trust her not to do the wall of death without a bridle, oh and she likes to buck ;)


I do ride both of them in a basic jaquima though.
 
Your horse is lovely :) In answer to your question - a fair bit. I have never tried the pointing thing. I ride her with a neck rope in the school and she is fine. We did a clear round jumping like that at my old yard. I wouldn't hack out like that obviously but I would in the rope halter.
I try to avoid riding bareback because she has bony withers and I am a coward. We went to the South Downs a few weeks ago and she got a girth gall on the last day so I did have to man up - put my neckstrap on (this was with a bridle, there were roads and stubble fields in company involved) and I DIDN"T FALL OFF probably more because my pony is a hero than because I can ride. She is the kind sort that stops when you lose your balance, but also hollows when she gets tired so I had to get off and walk as she is just so bony!
 
What an absolutely gorgeous horse :) Beautiful AND clever, eh?

In answer to the question - bareback and bridleless, I can do walk and a little trot. I reckon steering is at about 70 to 80% :D Some days, it's perfect (I point, the same way you do). Walk on, trot on, halt and back up are all fine and consistent. I would love steering to be a little better! I have also done a small jump (I measured it and it was 60cm). My main achievement has been mounting, as horse is 17hh and we ride in the field (no arena) so he needs to come willingly to whatever I have handy to scramble up off! We do lots of horse agility style games during the winter when riding is less possible, and he will put a ball in a bucket, and pick up a hula hoop and flick it over his head. I do enjoy it - he makes me laugh a lot! - and know that when the time comes to retire him from riding we will still have a ball :)
 
Don't blame you there, I'm lucky mine is super comfy. He is however the sort who would certainly think nothing of ditching me if I got a little off balance! I certainly wouldn't hack bareback, i dont have a good enough seat yet, but if I had no roads I'd ride in the halter.
 
You both look great together. I think every rider should start out like this. I've learnt more about riding effectively in this way than I ever did with a bit in the mouth and reins in my hands. I ride my girl out in a rope all the time now and use my seat or her Cordeo to manoeuvre her and this is on open moor as I don't hav a school. I dont touch the reins if i can help her and i get no issues with her leaning on the reins as she learns to carry herself. We are constantly learning but she's much more settled riding the way we do now. Before it was a constant battle and she was just stressed. keep going!
 
Thank you. I'm always inspired by watching people who can ride so well bareback and bridleless, it always looks like magic. I have a lot of work to do! I will have to see if someone can video our learner efforts so that I can track our progress. I can't see us practicing that much in the winter as he is way more hyper when its cold and Im not good enough to cope with that yet, so will have to make the most of the warm weather on my week off this week.
 
My mare was so fantastic bare back, I started hacking like it when it was hot we could do anywhere and she was so comfi, I only slid off once when a motor bike when past a junction (he couldnt see me) at 80 mph. I also rode her out in a dually, not that I needed it, we usually went eveywhere on the buckle end. I never tried any games as I have very little patience. The horse I get next has a lot to live up to!!
 
I love bareback, and i ride bitless anyway, always have with him ... i do daft stuff too like horse agility as my lad can be unpredictable at times, so it gives us "options" if he`s being spooky i don`t get on and ride, we do ground work instead. I`m getting older now and i don`t bounce like i used to LOL
 
LOL

His mane had been hogged here .. it`s long again now:

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We do daft stuff like this:

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