Riding bareback ?

Shysmum

Shysmum

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Do you ?? I ride my boy about three times a week bareback, just plodding round the private lanes and tracks (no roadwork) and then when I pass his field, I can just whip him in :) Get covered in white fluff tho.

Mind you, I started him bb in the autumn, cos I didn't get my saddle for a while, but atm I use the saddle just for longer occasional hacks..

Good thing is he has a huge mound of mane to hang on to I spose ! :eek: sm x
 
I occasionally ride Rene bareback. I haven't ridden bb for quite a while though, might do some next week. I find it much more comfortable than riding without stirrups. I've done walk, trot, canter and popped over the occasional jump bb. I think it's good fun.
 
I ride my welshie bareback sometimes, but only in the school. He is soooo spooky I'd be taking my life in my hands riding him bb anywhere else...:). I have also used a bb pad which is fab really makes you stick to the back.
 
YES :D I loveeeee it... jump and everything :) often go for hacks in the summer on the polo ponies bareback leading the 2 of them, so lovely :)
 
Im useless bareback! I rode my just backed baby bareback for the first time last week (must post the pics!lol) and i was convinced i was going to fall off, she has BIG paces! I can walk and canter bareback, but not trot lol Its terrible cos i used to ride bareback all the time and loved it, but i seem to have lost my balance somewhat now i've got old....
 
I have only been bb twice but they were amazing! I was on Gwen, who was the slowest pony EVER in the whole world, so trot wasn't too bad :D But as I am a whopping 5'1, getting on was either via the gate or being pushed by someone :D

Come to think of it, I did a bit of vaulting on a percheron, not quite bareback, but so terrifying :eek:
 
I do, once in a while when the mood takes me. But I do cheat and use a bareback pad!

I'll tell you something, my horses' lateral work improves no end when I ride them bareback - really shows how much more connection there is between horse and rider when there's not a saddle in between!
 
oh the joys of bareback riding, at least if you come off its clean and quick fall :D

I used to ride bareback quite a lot in summer, although you do get a sweaty wet bum if you have been for a long ride. :D
 
Faro said:
I'll tell you something, my horses' lateral work improves no end when I ride them bareback - really shows how much more connection there is between horse and rider when there's not a saddle in between!
Click to expand...

A friend does her training with her dressage horse bareback for same reason.

I have a high wither TB so bareback not so good :D
 
I used to love riding and jumping bareback! Although i did use a numnah and surchingle because i couldn't stand the hairs digging through my joddies, or in the summer would ride in shorts :D
 
I walk (and do some withers-cautious trot) bb with share horsey. Intend to try some canter too, but will probs practice w saddle, w/o stirrups first.

Started when his saddle was being re-flocked and just walking him off after free schooling but have been trying to actually 'school' that way too lately. To improve my legs, I've been doing it w/out any rein contact either. We can do circles, serpentines, tear-drops, leg yield etc... most of the time ;-) Great fun!

I discovered when I returned from vaulting lessons all inspired that he really hates people messing around pulling him off balance though (when I first got him last summer he wouldn't even stand to be mounted so I was being optimistic) so I balance an upside down bucket on someone's Parelli platform thing and mount 'downwards'.

Other than that I think he quite likes it now, seems forward and responsive and is very kind/careful of his own back so slows automatically if I get at all unbalanced.
 
I would, but seeing as Danny often takes offense at 'scary things' and rather likes speed, it's probably not a good idea. Did get on him bareback though when he had colic :o He wouldn't walk out in hand so it was easier! Love jumping bareback though and still hack out my 11.1 bareback occasionally (don't think there's a saddle that would fit both of us comfortably now!)
 
I used to ride bare back a lot when i was younger. I use to climb on onto my eventer, who had a high wither, and canter him down from the field with just a headcollar on.

That was about 20 years ago though, and I definetely would not do that now on a similar shaped horse :D. I'm much more decrepid and less flexible now compared to back then.
 
I used to ride better bareback than with a saddle i think :) Used to ride my nutty share mare at least once a week bareback round the lanes. We used to have lots of trots and canters, and she was pretty nifty at impromtu pirouettes lol. I'm a big wimp now though, and a few years out of frequent riding made me lose my good seat. Am going to try it on the daft spooky share arab soon though, because i need to get my good seat back and there's nothing better for it :)
 
I ride Lucy bareback alot. (mainly because i'm to lazy to put a saddle on her :p)
I hack out on the road and in fields. But she's as safe as houses. I also school and jump bareback and even sometimes without a bridle.
I don't fancy doing it on herbie though we would realy look like a rodeo show if i was bareback. LOL
 
Oh the joys of those distant bb jumping lessons! I find trotting is easier if we are going uphill, as it slows him down and it's easier to sit. I was thinking today about one of those bb pads and if they help, but then I thought nah, I just like it as it is. Are they any good btw ?

I have to use a mounting block or gate tho, so if I do come off (which of course I never do :D) I have to have sommit pretty darn handy or I have to walk back.

The other thing is that I have a very bad back, and I find that the rhythm seems to help "loosen" my back better than when I use the saddle. Hmmm. sm x

ps do you think it does actually improve your seat then ?

Laura - don't think I'd go as far as no bridle !!! Need those darned reins as well as the mane for balance..*blush*
 
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I used to gallop bareback when i was younger, wouldnt dare do that now. But in the summer I do jump bareback and sometimes without a bridle and yes said cob does stop did it once round the farm and full gallop up the track we went so bridle next time for out the field.

Its good fun but be prepared to fall off lol, there is only so much to hold on to on a hogged and very round cob :D
 
I wanted to restart my big lad after his injury last year but was frustrated his girth is now too small, so I have been getting on him bareback :) The people at the yard think I am bonkers as he is 17hh and only got sat on half a dozen times 12mths ago, but he is quiet and we were fine (I now have a girth) :D
 
I do on my pony up and down the field in the summer in a head collar. :) Great fun!

However don't do it on the TB, its hard enough to get on with a saddle and mounting block!!!
 
I do not any more, I used to all the time when I was young, think I had a sticky bum!
I have a slipped disc and a general rubbish back so not great for me, I think its wonderful to do though, I used to really enjoy it, not sure I would stay on now! :D
 
Gosh, when I was young (OK so a long time ago) we used to ride bareback all the time. My pony used to be in a huge field (60 acres) with a load of cows and I used to have to walk miles to get him and then would just hop on (ah the agility of youth - I could get a leg over better then); and ride him back home.

We all used to ride bareback and all had mucky marks on our jods to prove it!

Nowadays I don't suppose Elf and Safety would allow children to ride bareback.
 
A very good point raised there - vaulting on....I think there was a thread recently about it, must look it up. I have never,ever been able to vault on and it would save me a lot of gate-hugging, but would probably kill my back forever. If I mention that I came off the other day, while mounting with a saddle on, you'll get the idea. Pony moved, I swung right over and onto my head :D.. sm x
 
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