Bareback Riding on roads?

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Troyseph

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Would you do it? If you had a non spooky safe horse, and not on main roads just town roads etc??
I know the highway code advises against but it's not illegal

What are your views?
 
My views? Each to their own.

We have very little roads around us and lots of tracks but I still wouldn't ride bareback. My girls back is very wobbley and so am I. Result ; me on the floor I think!
 
when I was "a lot younger" used to work on a yard that had horses on the A25 in Surrey. We used to go and catch five at a time ride the slightly danerous one bareback and lead the other four - never had an accident - would I do it now? Hell no!!!!!
 
Troyseph said:
Would you do it? If you had a non spooky safe horse, and not on main roads just town roads etc??
I know the highway code advises against but it's not illegal

What are your views?
Click to expand...

There are so many situations out of your control on the roads, however good the horse is, personally I would not take the risk!
 
I have and will do again. I can trust my mare not to do anything naughty, Although I would only do this in company as she can muck about when alone.

She had a little spook at a bike wheeling past her, but that was it. Was very proud of her.

I wouldn't go on main roads though.
 
When I had no winter turn out and an unbacked youngster plus Lottie needing to get out and stretch her legs, plus Beau to keep fit and a long commute to work, I used to hop on Beau bareback in under rug and bridle, lead youngster up the track off road for 1/4 mile, put her back in box, put bridle on Lottie and ride and lead on Beau into the local village for 25 min hack.

Saved precious tacking up time, kept Beau warm while I messed about with the others and got all 3 out and about. Not sure about legalities but we were happy and no one ever said anything negative. I feel as secure bareback on B as I do in a saddle to be honest, apart from in gallop as I like a foward seat, or jumping as she explodes a little and has a big jump!

There was a lady near my old house who hacked her arab bareback all the time in a bitless bridle and barefoot (horse not her).
 
No! No matter how good your horse, you can't account for the traffic these days and you need all the help you can get to stay on top when the idiot driver comes your way.
 
I have done, on my old and trustworthy girl who I knew inside and out... I love to ride bareback.

But the parts on roads were usually just to get to the off road riding, wouldn't have chosen to do much roadwork bareback.
 
Yes have and still do. One of mine I always ride bareback and happily hack her out. I have had her 15 yrs though, might not do so on something I don't know that well etc etc.
 
I have, but only on quiet country lanes, I wouldn't fancy it on a busy road but then I very rarely venture near busy roads.

Two things are important before considering this in my opinion...

A. How good is you balance bareback (could you sit a big spook)

B. What kind of roads you are considering riding along and what percentage of your hack will be on those roads.
 
As Team Barney says " How good is your balance bareback"? I ride bareback just as much as I do in the saddle and to be honest, if you can do a good sitting trot, canter and sit a spook you are just as safe if you were sitting in a saddle.

I love riding bareback and love feeling the warmth on my bum! Also, the warmer they get the stickier my bum becomes.

(Ooops.....the last comment reads terrible but I think you know what I mean!) :D:D:D
 
debsey1 said:
I love riding bareback and love feeling the warmth on my bum! Also, the warmer they get the stickier my bum becomes.
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I don't think THAT is the type of barebacking the OP meant ;)

I used to ride my friends cob out bareback, infact I only rode him in a saddle twice I think. He used to p*ss off home too. However that was a good 6 years ago :rolleyes:

I wouldn't do it now because my yard is on a quiet road but seems to attract massive logging wagons :eek: I would rather stay on :rolleyes:
 
I have and will do again, its good to ride bareback for both rider and horse, the roads that i hack on are very quiet and only on roads untill i get to the off road hacking, i prefer riding bareback on a hack than in the school going round in circles
 
I can walk trot canter, jump gallop and sit to spooks well ;) that's why I ride bareback plus being very difficult to find a fitting saddle doesn't help!!
He's not wide or hairy and am considering a bareback pad(without stirrups ofc) I'm sure one of them would help a little as well?
 
Troyseph said:
Would you do it? If you had a non spooky safe horse, and not on main roads just town roads etc??
I know the highway code advises against but it's not illegal

What are your views?
Click to expand...


I do quite regularly, on all three of mine. Never had any problems *touches all available wood*!!!
 
i have and still do. However i dont on main roads and if i thought horse was getting a bit silly i would get off and lead. 90% of my hacks are roadwork (quiet country lanes) and i can easily walk, trot and sit to her spooks. Shes not a big horse (barely 15hh) and is as wide as she is tall so a slip wouldn't be the end of the world lol. i dont have any choice as ive no saddle for this lass so bareback is the only way :D its great for toning up your bum and leg muscles too, does wonders for your seat and balance so id defo give it a shot but make sure you do it in an enclosed area first incase you do slide off the side :p

Oh and some horses hate being ridden bareback so id still err on the side of caution lol
 
Some (not all, or even in my limited experience the majority, but some) horses take more direction and confidence from a person riding than on the ground. Those I'd rather ride bareback than lead in hand on a road. (Assuming I was confident riding them bareback in an enclosed area first.)
 
Nope - to dangerous. And what happens if you have an accident and someone tries to claim on your public liability insurance - bet insurance wont pay out if your not in a saddle!
 
I didnt have a saddle for 6 months on my old cob as it was getting a new one then somthing wrong so i went and hacked him out in a bridle every few days as well as schooling to keep him fit and in work. I say go for it if your happy enuff
 
I have and do, I ride bareback a lot and I'm reasonably balanced at it (as in, have sat it when I stupidly decided to get on the mini-knobber in the field tackless in a thunder storm and he went tearing up the field broncing and skidded to a halt at the fence, spun round and sodded off back to the others)... I take the cob out bareback a lot, never taken the highland on the roads bareback yet, but I reckon he'd be alright :)
 
I have when my pony didn't have a saddle that fitted him. For a cob if you don't work him he gets fed up with being in the field all the time, and finds new ways to come in by himself!! I did have the OH with me and he put a hand on his sholder, more for me as King is really good on roads.
I got brave off the road on a bridle path and the little bugger did his rocking horse impression and both me and OH thought I was going to end up on the floor. I didn't but I've done it since.
 
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