Help with trotting bareback please :)

T

Tonty Tont

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I've started riding tont bareback, but everytime we trot I grip with my legs and lose my balance. Does anyone have any ideas how I can stop this?

Thanks, nicole :)
 
Try with a saddle but no stirrups and get used to having nothing there. See how your legs react with a saddle.
 
It sounds as though you might be leaning forwards a bit too much. Try leaning back ever so slightly, just a tiny bit, so that you are just a little bit behind the rythm of the trot, and try and let your legs fall into a natural position. Gripping with your legs will make you tense up if your leaning forward and will make you more unbalanced. So lean back a bit and grip with your legs but very lightly.

Also see if you can find some nice you tube type vids of experienced people riding bareback. Klaus Hempfling would be a good one to watch.
 
If you concentrate on getting a 'deep' relaxed seat, the weight of your legs in the right position will help you more than gripping. Remember where you're looking, your head is so heavy it dictates the rest of your core muscles, and if they're out, your balance/seat will be out.
 
You need to sit further forwards when riding bareback with your legs further forwards than when riding in saddle. As another poster said, lean back a tad pushing your weight down through your bottom and don't grip with your inner thighs . Your legs will feel like they are moving about more, thats good, look up and power on! (I hope your horse hasn't got a too spiny backbone:D)
 
As others have said, you'll find you want to sit quite far forwards. The trick is to relax and go with it. If you can practice riding without stirrups in a saddle and get really confident with doing that it'll help alot.
 
This thread ius just what I was looking for. I have been away for a week to find the girl has put on weight (I assume) so the saddle is going forwards and can't get the fitter out until 24th. Was just going to lunge, but decided to be brave today and jumped on bareback. I didn't have the nerve to trot (I only really backed her this spring, and while she is a very calm arab, she does have the occassional tendancy to levitate 5m side ways before you can blink an eye).

My question is - when riding in the saddle, I usually try to keep my legs in contact with her sides. Bareback they want to hang loose and if I try to wrap them round a bit she shoots forward.

What should your legs be doing - hanging or wrapping?

B
 
BB - I would say hanging - if you try to wrap them around her you'll end up gripping and unbalancing yourself. unless your legs are flapping about, in which case you need to try to control them a bit! :D

I love riding Ron bareback, he's soooo responsive and much softer in the hand as he's working from behind properly. I've had the saddle checked a few times recently and it is fine, instructor thinks he has a mental block about schooling and bareback seems to catch him out!
 
Rode bareback again today - sometimes it there is a silver lining when your saddle doesn't fit! Another week and a half till the WOW lady comes out and gets me back in the saddle.

Today was much better than yesterday. I felt more secure and my legs seemed to hang more naturally and be closer without wrapping. Hoping I can fit in time again tomorrow. I might even try a trot. As she is young she isn't the most balanced, but might as well give it a go.

Thanks for your comments.
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