Sitting on youngster for first time: bareback or tacked up?

Kallibear

Kallibear

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I've started a fair few young horses (albeit mostly short fat ones) and have always done the leaning over and first sit bareback. After the initial sit I then incorporate it into the daily grooming (still bareback) so being sat on is nothing special. They also take their first few steps (led) bareback. Once they're being ridden properly they have a saddle but that's not introduced until they're perfectly happy being scrabbled on and off bareback

They're introduced to tack early on, and long lined a fair bit, but long lining is also started initially with reins on the headcollar, not bit Both my own have then been ridden bitless for a couple of months until they can do everything, before swapping reins onto the bit.

But now Im thinking about sitting on Roo (a much bigger, flashier model) and was chatting about it with friends. They said they'd NEVER back a horse bareback: there's nothing to hold onto if they start broncing! :eek: Ditto bit, not headcollar. Thought I was mad. I however feel less safe with a saddle :o Too easy for it to slip sideways (I do have a 'thing' about saddles slipping though after a previous barrel shaped horse). Not easy for you to slip off if the horse gets upset. You can feel what they're doing underneath you. And it's more of just an extention of the hopping up and down and standing on big blocks to lean over whilst grooming that I've been doing. I also firmly believe that if they start to panic and bronc , you've not done your homework properly!

So how do you/ would you sit on a horse for the first few times? And why?
 
I tend to also do the leaning over and then scrabbling on bareback to start with. As you say if you progress slowly so that each stage is not a complete surprise for the horse (no matter what model it is) it gives them a chance to get used to a human moving around them and then on and off their backs.

In my experience problems arise if you try to progress before the horse is ready to move onto the next stage.
 
I'd always back with a saddle. Mainly because bareback is quite slippery and it can be tempting to grip with knees etc which can put too much pressure on a horse which isn't used to it.
If the horse spooks or is a bit skittish it is too easy to slide around and make the problem worse IMO
 
Always done all of my breaking with a saddle on.

Leaping up and down and leaning over I will do bareback but as soon as it comes to swinging the leg across I want a saddle!

I totally agree that if they buck and bronc, generally you have missed something...
BUT if I am already on board it's a bit late to be wondering that in hindsight while the horse has it's head between it's knees and the last thing I want to do is fall off a horse on one of it's first rides- not fair on the poor horse.
Thankfully never happened to me (probably because I repeat all of the leaping about and leaning over again with the saddle) but if it did explode, I would want a saddle and stirrups!

Never had a problem with a slipping saddle?

I don't ride off the bit for the first few rides though, reins on headcollar and then I use split reins to headcollar and bit- so important to protect the mouth.
 
We always have them lunging and long reining happily with tack on and then they're used to the saddle when I get on. I personally prefer to get on with a saddle than bareback (I'm old so have more chance of staying on than if I was bareback)

I wouldn't say there's a right or wrong way, just what suits you and the horse :)
 
Go with your gut instinct. I've personally never got on without a saddle. I don't think any way is right/wrong. Just go with which way you'll feel the most confident, that will be the best way for you both!
 
im planning on backing mine in a saddle/sitting on in a saddle!


im starting to long rein atm (shes 2 and a bit) - i have started her in with a bit which hes 100% fine with but without hi-jacking - do you all do that off a headcollar or a bit??

i plan to sit on/ride in a headcollar (with bridle on but not off the bit!) for the first few times but shes a strong little ****** and not sensible at all unless theres a bit in its gob....its rude without a bit! :o
 
We back bareback because it is so easy to slip quietly off before anything goes wrong. Not that anything has ever gone wrong! I also feel it's one less thing for a young horse to have to cope with, they all get lunged in saddles and are used to them, but we back without and then re-introduce it very soon after.
 
I broke mine in bareback doing exactly the same as you, its a case of personal prefereance as with most things people will always disagree just do what you thinks best you know your horses and obviously trust them enough to do it safely bareback so just do it! :D
 
Always done mine bareback intially as i feel you can slide off alot easier should thay get upset.Personal choice tho' & whatever works for you.x
 
Bareback by choice, because that's how I learnt to ride. Done it with a saddle either when it was in a work capacity, or if its something with no shoulders & highly strung. Even then though I don't use stirrups if I've had a choice.
 
I always back my youngsters bareback. They are all used to wearing saddles in-hand prior to backing but for me the first handful of rides are always bareback. I find it gives a better feel of the horse and the horse can feel you so helps them understand what you're asking of them. It doesn't matter which way you do it, it's personal preference is all.
 
I like to have a sit on first bareback and maybe a short walk round being led but after that will move to using a saddle.

Also, if I'm the one who's done all the ground work with the horse then I won't be the first one to sit on as I like to stay at the head to make sure they stay calm, I'm the one they trust and have built the bond with so it makes complete sense for them to continue to see me at their side while they adjust to the added weight and height of someone on their back. I've never experienced this initial sitting on going wrong so I wouldnt worry about it being different with your bigger horse, still to what you prefer so you're most relaxed. Being relaxed and calm is the number one most important thing to me, horses are a herd animal so if they sense another herd member (you) being nervous then they'll start to panic and feel like they should be nervous too.
 
Always in a saddle.
I will sit on bareback for a play in the stable as you have described, but the crucial point for me is when you take the first few steps. Some horses will spook as they feel your weight move for the first time, however well you have prepared them. You need to be able to put your weight in your, stirrups and be super well balanced. A shift in your weight as might happen when you are bareback, could really spook a horse.
 
siennamum said:
Always in a saddle.
I will sit on bareback for a play in the stable as you have described, but the crucial point for me is when you take the first few steps.
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This, for me. I do all the jumping about and leaning etc both with and without a saddle but I like to have the first proper walk about with a saddle on just in case they get anxious - it's yet to happen to me, but if a youngster has a bronc in surprise I would passively endeavour not to get/fall off so I'd prefer to have my saddle and a neck strap, and stay on top while the ground helper regains control!
However, I think it's very much each to their own.
 
i think we all do the bareback thing without thinking about it with youngsters. we all jump on them in the field or stable when they are lying down or when they are being groomed. Don't we????
the Head collar thing is nuts. I never lunge or long rein from a bit to start with always a cavesson. When you start long reining use a person on each rein if they're a bit bigger and bouncier that way you can always get control if it goes pear shaped. teach them with side pressure to begin with helps their brains to process bending a bit better. It will also train them to go in a bitless bridle.
As for riding without a bit this is fine but it does mean you need to teach them everything twice. also sometimes bigger horses like a bit for balance and security especially if they are one that doesn't have it's legs attached to it's spinal cord.
I have often backed a horse bare back. Ones with fine skin especially get them past the stress point before they sweat alot and get girth sores, at the same time teaching them that the saddle will happen.
I hope this makes sense. if you bit him properly riding him in a bit from the start should not be a problem.
i think what I'm trying to say is you need to be confident and the horse needs to be happy so go with the flow.
 
I 'backed' bareback. I got on, walked a few circles whilst being led/someone near by, a couple of times without a saddle. Only in walk though.

Then she had some time off, and when I 're-backed' her we used bridle and saddle.
 
Slow and gradual here. They'll be handled, touched on the back, then have a coat or bag draped over them, then an old coat on a long stick dragged all over them, then saddle, etc. so leaning over them when saddled is just part of a natural progression over possibly weeks. Head collared when weaned, pressure-and-release to get them leading, lunging, long reining, bridle on -- whatever they will accept without protest. But I do think there needs to be a gradual progression, gently pushing the boundaries at each stage. Just going from, say, leading in a head collar to leaning over seems a bit abrupt and tempting fate to me. "Something to hold on to?". I don't think we've had a single buck or protest doing it the slowly-slowly way.;) The actual backing, from leaning over to riding away, consequently happens quite quickly and without protest.

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Always bareback. More normal and natural and you don stress or excite horse before hand by waving saddles and tack in his face. Also, easier to slip off it horse goes mad, dont have to take feet out of stirrups or worry about saddle slipping. I always backed in a just a headcollar, that way if anything goes wrong you dont end up hanging onto reins and your horses mouth, and if horse runs off in field/school you dont have to worry about him treading on reins, just follow and retrieve headcollar.
There is no right or wrong way, just what works for you. I enjoy riding bareback and hack out and jump bareback. Personally prefer it to riding with a saddle and so it would be my first choice when backing :)
 
The direct quote button won't work?! Maybe it's my phone.

Noodle : if she's a rude and inattentive brat in a head collar she's going to become a rude and strong brat in a bit very quickly :eek: I've never started bitting or even long reigning Im a headcollar until they're light and sensitive lo lead. Can't stand rude babies!

Half cow half pony : entirely agree: Id much rather be holding him to re assure him and borrow a jockey, but for some strange reason there's a distinct lack of volunteers to be first to sit on the large orange scatbag. Very odd. Almost all my friends have natives and cob so Roo is farrrrrrr to big apparently ;)

i think we all do the bareback thing without thinking about it with youngsters. we all jump on them in the field or stable when they are lying down or when they are being groomed. Don't we????
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Eh, nope. With the short fat ponies, yes. But Roo would turn himself inside out if you tried that without preparation! It's maybe different with horses that have been pets since birth but Roo (and quite a dew others) were unhandled until they were older.

the Head collar thing is nuts. I never lunge or long rein from a bit to start with always a cavesson. When you start long reining use a person on each rein if they're a bit bigger and bouncier that way you can always get control if it goes pear shaped. teach them with side pressure to begin with helps their brains to process bending a bit better. It will also train them to go in a bitless bridle. As for riding without a bit this is fine but it does mean you need to teach them everything twice.
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Huh? Nuts to use a headcollar? Really? All of my horses (inc the ones I didn't break myself) ride just as well in a headcollar as a bit. In fact, if they were strong or unresponsive in a bit they would be put back in a head collar and trained until they were light and sensitive. Roo wears a bit happily but he already understands what the pressure in a headcollar means so that's what I used to teach him to long rein and will to ride initially too. Don't see it as learning twice as they should already know how to respond to a headcollar. If they don't they're not ready to break!?

Dry rot: awww, a nice mouse Highland. We're surrounded by Hipos here! And they're so easy to break. Most people have just scrabbled on and off they went. I have a tacked up picture too:

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Interesting to read different opinions. I was expecting more to say must be with tack. Also interesting to see that it seems to be more those with big gangly athletic things use a saddle rather than bareback.
 
I sat on my youngster the first time bareback as she had her head in a bucket of feed :D Did all the usual jumping up and down and scrambling around her as well. She is a laid back thing the majority of the time :D
 
Interestingly, I prefer to do a lot of the initial riding with a headcollar & leadrope. Given the time, or something reasonably sane, I'd have them out longlining or led off another on hacks prior to backing. Then its just a case of having a rider sat on whilst doing something familiar. And at this point they wouldn't be used to aids via the bit, so while they would be bridled, it would be the actual head collar used to communicate. Because a leadrope in one hand from onboard can be used identically to a lr used by someone leading in hand from the shoulder. Difference would be something highly strung where I might want to have it at a more advanced stage before hacking.
 
I back bareback too. I am the only person I know that teaches them not to be frightened that sometimes people fall off! This is easier to do bareback. I allow my leg to brush their bum getting on and off. Sometimes I even get off by sliding off their quarters. Dismounting normally but landing gently in a heap on the floor - sometimes their faces are so comical! I feel that they need to know that sometimes we don't land on our feet but on our bottoms with our legs in the air! Oh and on the other side too.

I have seen so many horses shy away from rides who have fallen because they are afraid or don't understand. I've even seen one that ran backwards dragging the unseated rider because they were afraid of the rider on the floor. I've never actually had to let go of a horse I have fallen off so I don't know if they would stay with me or run away but I think it helps that they have experienced the non standard dismount!

Of course you can't prepare them for every scenario....
 
First sit-on i do bare back, usually in their box when they're being groomed - just as an extension of 'jump up and down beside', stand on grooming box to brush, leaning over... no fuss or hassle and they take it totally in their stride!

IMO if i don't trust them enough to sit on quietly bareback, then i need to spend more time doing the prep beforehand.

Horse/pony will have worn saddle for long reining etc, and will be ridden on in saddle, but as others have said, it's easier to feel tension bareback, and easier to slip off before a situation develops if really necessary (though I've not had to yet!!)

It is totally personal preference though, and if a saddle would make you feel happier and more relaxed, then that's the best option for you :)
 
First sit was bareback, and the few after that, until I knew he was ok with it all. We then progressed to tack which again he took like a duck to water (of course he'd worn it all previously).

My guy is only 13.3hh though. For anything bigger I would probably use a saddle but that's just personal preference (I'm also picturing my friend's 16.3hh hunter mare and imagining backing her without a saddle :eek: )
 
Haven't done this for a while...
Bareback. With a bit of space around. With their attention on me, head up and tipped slightly towards me, thinking, balanced, focus on what we're doing rather than feed or other people.
Bareback because if the horse objects to the first sit on, how will you know if it was because of you getting on, sitting up etc, or because of how the saddle felt? It is also easier for me to slip off if I've got it wrong and the horse isn't quite ready.
Preparation, bouncing, jumping, getting them alongside fences (I am short and getting older...), hanging over, rubbing far side, waving hats above head height, kneeling sideways on back, sliding off over rump. Horse needs to be solid.
Rope halter, that's what my horses wear on their heads anyway, and what will be used for the first few rides. why? Because if I were to have to take a bit of a hold I don't want it to be on their baby mouth.
When on - let them travel forward. Don't get on a young horse and start straightaway by making it stop. If it gets a bit fast and joggy, rub and soothe if at all possible rather than "bend" to a halt. But bend if I have to.
I love that feeling when you sit up on a horse for the first time. :-))
 
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Tinypony said:
Haven't done this for a while...
Bareback. With a bit of space around. With their attention on me, head up and tipped slightly towards me, thinking, balanced, focus on what we're doing rather than feed or other people.
Bareback because if the horse objects to the first sit on, how will you know if it was because of you getting on, sitting up etc, or because of how the saddle felt? It is also easier for me to slip off if I've got it wrong and the horse isn't quite ready.
Preparation, bouncing, jumping, getting them alongside fences (I am short and getting older...), hanging over, rubbing far side, waving hats above head height, kneeling sideways on back, sliding off over rump. Horse needs to be solid.
Rope halter, that's what my horses wear on their heads anyway, and what will be used for the first few rides. why? Because if I were to have to take a bit of a hold I don't want it to be on their baby mouth.
When on - let them travel forward. Don't get on a young horse and start straightaway by making it stop. If it gets a bit fast and joggy, rub and soothe if at all possible rather than "bend" to a halt. But bend if I have to.
I love that feeling when you sit up on a horse for the first time. :-))
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I'm with you on this Tinypony, we tend to put a lot of work into youngsters years before we are thinking of starting them riding, so they are solid to start with and will come and stand next to the fence to let you get on when asked.
For horses we haven't brought up, obviously they they arn't as solid as our own, but in principle we do exactly the same as you describe.
 
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