tackless riding

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chilledoutpony

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What do you guys think about tackless riding? Like with a neckrope? I like it, like I've done walk, trot, canter and jump. But it seems to be a trend now and people are getting braver and braver by jumping higher than them tackless.

What do you think?
 
I mean that if people want to do this, good for them. I can see benefits, better balance, building a bond with you horse. However from the point of view of an over weight nearly 50year old woman ,who's horse danced, pranced, shied and generally misbehaved ,all the way around his ride yesterday, I was very much glad of a saddle, so not for me! :)
 
If it's done safely then I think it's great. I think because of instagram and youtube more people, especially young teens, are tempted to try tackless without necessarily building up to it and teaching the horse to respond to body weight etc. I myself have wanted to try it but I'm not going to rush into it, I would just end up on the floor! If I ever do ride tackless I certainly won't be jumping anything more than baby jumps, but as said above, to each their own.
 
I recently watched someone doing a "display" riding a perfectly behaved horse (saddle & bridle). They then leaned forward and removed the bridle whereupon the delighted horse proceeded to buck, run around, lie down and roll on her. Horse seemed happy ;-)
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I mean that if people want to do this, good for them. I can see benefits, better balance, building a bond with you horse. However from the point of view of an over weight nearly 50year old woman ,who's horse danced, pranced, shied and generally misbehaved ,all the way around his ride yesterday, I was very much glad of a saddle, so not for me! :)
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I'm with you on this one!!! There may be a time, and a place, but I can see the fun everyone would have at my expense, if I did it with Trad-Lad in our ten acre field!!! Hee hee hee...... nope, not for me.

When I was a kid I'd hop up on my little pony and ride him in from the field in just a headcollar and rope: he was a rock-steady little chap and wouldn't have hurt a fly. That's about as close to "adventurous" as I'd ever be prepared to go TBH!!! Now, its a nice comfy saddle and "sensible" bit for me thanks!
 
Cortez said:
I recently watched someone doing a "display" riding a perfectly behaved horse (saddle & bridle). They then leaned forward and removed the bridle whereupon the delighted horse proceeded to buck, run around, lie down and roll on her. Horse seemed happy ;-)
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Haha, love it!

I'm done a little bit, not lately, in my lessons - just w, t, c, school figures and a little bit of lateral work on a well schooled horse in a nice safe arena - having not done it since I was a kid, and that was with a headcollar and a rope, that was enough for me! Somewhere I have a video clip of me not looked 100% relaxed about it ;) I am aware it's supposed to be good for me - maybe I'll do some more when I know the new boy better!
 
I often ride my boy in just a head collar. During the week its dark when I ride so I have to school. To do a day in a head collar makes it a bit more fun for him! I haven't braved jumping yet though!
 
I haven't ridden bareback for a very long time, but after having ridden bitless for years, riding with just a rope around the neck was the next challenge. It was just a fun "training" exercise more than anything else. However, I have to say that giving up my reins was hard especially on a horse that likes to put his head down and is quite happy to trot and canter with his nose on the ground.

Unfortunately I ended up having to retire him from ridden work before we really got into it and am not so sure of the little mare I am currently riding.
 
Years ago I was very happy bareback, and in a head collar. I would do bareback jumping, whatever.

These days I need a saddle, or at least a bareback pad as I have dodgy hips. It is only in the last few years though that I have taken the bridle off. My boy is happy to jump a course of SJ, or canter in the stubble with no bridle, just a bit of string or neck strap round his neck.

To me they are 2 different things. The bareback challenged my balance and the no bridle challenges the communication. Both challenge trust between the two of us.

I am most pleased at the no bridle, as the trust and communication is what I am now working on, although "no-thing" would be cooler. I do no saddle or bridle, but only at walk / trot as I am now a lot stiffer and weaker.

It does not bother me when other people do it, at least the horse has a say in what is or is not acceptable, there is far less likelihood of the horse suffering as if it is uncomfortable it can just drop a shoulder and zoom off unencumbered by a rider!
 
Cortez said:
I recently watched someone doing a "display" riding a perfectly behaved horse (saddle & bridle). They then leaned forward and removed the bridle whereupon the delighted horse proceeded to buck, run around, lie down and roll on her. Horse seemed happy ;-)
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Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!:)

Sorry, I do hope she was ok but........
 
Years ago, I rode my naughty little pony bareback often, and around jumps with just a halter and rope on occasion.

I still ride bareback from time to time, and will often kick off stirrups and drop reins for long periods out hacking, to work on seat communication at all paces - pony likes the challenge as much as I do.

On a safety note - there are times you might be glad you don't need the saddle. I had to ride a hackney horse back following a carriage accident a few years ago. Horse was on his toes for 5 miles, wearing a full collar and 15ft reins. I had rein terrets cutting into my thighs as he pranced, and had to keep his head up the whole way (which didn't help him to relax any), because otherwise the collar would have fallen down his neck. :)
 
I try to ride bareback at least once a week to help my position - I did notice a difference in my general riding too and a much more secure seat.
I did take his bridle off too once which was hilarious in it's own right.
 
I really want to try it properly with Ned. I can get him to turn off my leg 90% of the time now, it's just working on stopping :P He doesn't run off, but walk to halt is proving tricky. I've let go of the reins and jumped on bareback a few times and he was really good :D
 
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