Can't ride - what to do in meantime?

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EdYouKateShaun

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So I have a new-ish share horse who I adore. We've just been having so far as the weather has been too nice to waste.

Due to a saddle issue I can't ride (well I could bareback) for 2 weeks. I don't want to do nothing with him though so what can I do that doesn't involve a saddle?

I haven't lunged a horse for over 15 years so not sure how confident I'd be doing that.
 
How about an in-hand obstacle course? Some cones or crates/boxes in a row for weaving in and out of, jump wings placed quite closely together to go through, poles on the ground to make a corridor, etc. And add anything mildly scary for spook training. To keep my mare entertained last year (while we were stuck in school as fields were flooded) I tied lots of tinsel to jump wings.

I haven't done it yet, but plan to add to spook training with balloons, umbrellas and any other random things I can think of!

Even if your horse isn't spooky, you can still end up having fun seeing what ridiculous ideas you can come up with :)

I would also be tempted to do a little bit bareback for fun (pretending to be young and playing Red Indians!) - assuming the horse is game...

ETA when I say pretending to be young, I meant me. I wasn't assuming you were old, OP!
 
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Ask the owner. I'd be absolutely furious if anyone rode mine bareback, I just don't want that.

Lunge-get a lesson, I think it's important to do it right. Longline if you have a lunge roller. Do inhand practise, trot him up, get him to stand square. Do some loose jumping, pole work etc. Do join up if you have a decent school. There's loads you can do, but so ask the owner what is ok and what is not first.
 
My horse is very sensitive, he does not appreciate bareback! As an owner, I was horrified to see a sharer riding bareback for no good reason and using a martingale, which he certainly doesn't need. I think you should check whatever you do outside of riding with an owner. I didn't imagine anyone would stick a martingale on, so it never occurred to mention it til I saw it on my tack. He's my baby, I don't want new stuff on him or done to him without my knowledge.
 
The ADDING of tack i can see, but the taking off of it?

As long as the horse is looked after and happy then whats the issue?
 
I am from back in ye olden days, when riding bareback was something you did quite often, for all sorts of reasons. Is that now a frowned upon thing, too? How is it worse than riding in a saddle? Will now shuffle back into my yesteryear cabinet.
 
I do in hand work regularly with my mare. I put her in a headcollar and we do turns on the forehand, courses over poles, practicing lateral work etc. Its a great way to bond but also to teach them things like lateral work and even how to carry themselves without the added weight of a rider.

You could also do loose schooling but if it's been that long since you've lunged you might want someone to give you a hand setting up jump chutes :)
 
madmav said:
I am from back in ye olden days, when riding bareback was something you did quite often, for all sorts of reasons. Is that now a frowned upon thing, too? How is it worse than riding in a saddle? Will now shuffle back into my yesteryear cabinet.
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I'm really confused about this too, I never imagined that anyone would have a problem with someone riding their horse bareback. I'm really shocked to read that comment CT!
 
I assume that riding bareback is not what OP wants to do anyway. If I were her I would get a BHSII to teach me how to lunge, or long rein, which is much better, but I would expect to discuss with owner what to do.
I was astounded to find that when someone offered to look after my horse one weekend I was away [funeral], it was because she had arranged for an instructor. I got a call to say he was lame! and they had wasted their time and money so could not look after him.
As it happened I had hacked him up the road not two hours before, so he was sound then! The yard looked after him, but I was obviously worried and drove back as soon as I could.
 
JennBags said:
I'm really confused about this too, I never imagined that anyone would have a problem with someone riding their horse bareback. I'm really shocked to read that comment CT!
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Well she said her horse doesn't like being ridden bareback so that would be why she has a problem with it. I am not sure I would be happy if someone rode my horse bareback either really as he is still growing and lacks muscle on his back so doubt it would be comfortable for him. Wouldn't be comfortable for the rider either he has powerful movement so is bouncy.

I think its just rude to change how the owner rides the horse anyway, I wouldn't change the tack at all without permission.
 
In the circumstances I'm not changing tack without the owner's knowledge. There is no suitable saddle for 2 weeks. I've mentioned riding bareback before and owner was fine.

I don't make it out of walk but find it's great for my balance, for feeling his movement, for working on flexibility.

I think getting someone to re- teach me to lunge would be a great idea but I can see that it is always a good idea to run these things past the owner.
 
madmav said:
I am from back in ye olden days, when riding bareback was something you did quite often, for all sorts of reasons. Is that now a frowned upon thing, too? How is it worse than riding in a saddle? Will now shuffle back into my yesteryear cabinet.
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Me too - bareback is good for your seat and for your trust in your horse IMHO.
OP you could do some leading over/around, under "scary" obstacles, or do some clicker type training, teach him to lower his head on cue, step back with the lightest of touches, anything else you can think of (Youtube is a useful source of ideas)
 
I would get some lessons on how to lunge, and also long rein, and some good ground work exercises too.

To me it would not matter about it being a BHS II, tbh I am one, but that is not where I learned those skills. I would look for someone skilled in those areas. As an II I sought the help of a great pony producer to up my game in long lining, and have been to western trainers for ground work.

A good trainer will not think learning to lunge is a strange request, I often give those lessons to new owner, as then they can more easily exercise their horses (especially in winter) in bad weather and also if the horses have been short of work and are a bit frisky. It is just another skill.
 
madmav said:
I am from back in ye olden days, when riding bareback was something you did quite often, for all sorts of reasons. Is that now a frowned upon thing, too? How is it worse than riding in a saddle? Will now shuffle back into my yesteryear cabinet.
Click to expand...

I also used to ride bareback lots as a kid. My objection to it these days is about the pressure exerted through the rider's seatbones which is far higher, on a small area, than the pressure spread by a saddle.

The pliance testing research is interesting, here's just one article http://www.researchgate.net/publica...es_on_the_horse's_back_during_bareback_riding

I think you can get benefits to your seat by work without stirrups though I agree nothing beats the feeling of warmth underneath you on a cold day than riding bareback ;)

Not relevant to the OP, sorry, but just saying I'm with CT on this one :lol:

Sounds like some lessons in lunging, long reining etc would be useful as it's a handy skill to have :)
 
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