Riding bareback-is it comfortable for horsey ??

Porkie

Porkie

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Do any / many of you ever ride bareback ?

Just wondered what your horses think of it and in gerneral do horses find it comfortable or not to carry you bareback?

I sometimes school bareback, started doing it last summer when had to wait a few weeks for the saddler to come out and decided I quite enjoy it!! Am I mad ??
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Rode bareback last night (had a thunder storm half way through but he's such a good boy it he didn't take any notice, and we were in the outdoor school too not indoors!!)

He goes just as nice without the saddle, infact he accepts the contact quicker, I just pop on a thick numnah and surcingle to give me something to sit on, and he seems to enjoy it too.
 
I ride bareback at least 50% of my riding time. If you can ride WELL then yes it will be comfy for the horse.....if you CAN'T then it will be awful for the horse!
 
I love riding bareback - especially if they are cobs.
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Popped on my friends horse and it was the comfiest thing I ever cantered and jumped on! I think it's perfectly kind to the horse as long as you don't sit too far back - I saw a little boy on the yard sit on his horse bareback, far too far back, and before I could say anything he was on the floor.
 
Well he goes v nicely when I ride bareback and seems happy to move forward so hopefully that means my riding is OK!!
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yep i think if you are secure and dont bounce around like a mad person it is comfortable for the horse.

i like riding fat cobs bareback - i used to ride bareback all the time at my old riding school, because we had to take about 20 of them to the field everyday! used to gallop across the fields too. i rode mystic, a skinny thoroughbred once and she had a beautiful comfy canter - then she would break into trot and i'd be like "ouch!" xxx
 
My old pony hated it, but then she didnt like sitting trot either. I rode a pony in france that was only ever ridden bareback, it was a dartmoorXshetland and im quite big and it loved it. I used to ride loads of show shetlands on felt pads, which are similar to barebazk with stirrups.

I had a bad accident bareback 3 years ago that i have not fully revovered from so have not done it since.

Haz
 
I rode my boy last summer bare back and swore I would never ride him like that again, not that it was painful for him, but rather it was for me

At this point I will explain that he is a narrow TB, with sharks fin withers

I would have said that it is probably more comfortable for them as there is nothing acting as a straight jacket ( for want of a better term
 
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It depends how boney your arse is.

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Thats not a problem then, I don't have a boney backside - unfortunately !!!
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I think if you distribute your weight evenly and have good balance then i think it is comfy for the horse.

I havent ridden bareback for years though, Unless you count riding my friends pony up the field to bring her in. and were not allowed to do it at the RS any more

Ive never sat on mine bareback but i dont really fancy sitting on his back wqith his huge withers as hes sooo narrow aswell so nothing to grip onto!

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The one time I attempted was when he was in the field and stood by the gat and i thought "I wonder what he'd do if i tried to sit on him" as I hadnt had him long... so proceeded to climb onto the gate... got one leg over and horse calmly walked off que me landing on a heap on the floor left with neddy looking at me as if to say what are you doing down there?
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He actually prefers it when i do sitting trot so he might like bareback... youve inspired me to have a go this week... though think i may need someone to supervise lol
 
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He actually prefers it when i do sitting trot so he might like bareback... youve inspired me to have a go this week... though think i may need someone to supervise lol

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Lol!
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Glad to be of some inspiration!! Let me know how you get on!! I wouldn't do it all the time but its good fun ocassionally and does wonders for your balance - I volunteer with disabled riders and whenever one is having a few problems we pop them back on a sheepskin for a few sessions, helps them rediscover their centre of gravity and balance!
 
I try and do it once a month to regain balance - I find rising trot is the fastest way to get enough balance back to sit to a bouncy horse - though be warned it kills your stomach and thigh muscles! I tend to be more passive when I try sitting trot bareback and lose my balance quickly but if you rise first and get some strength in your legs it is easier in the long run. Got a slight problem with downward transitions from canter to trot though if anyone has any ideas - it really hurts my pelvis! May be I just need to sit up and relax more?
 
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