Tips for getting a horse used to bareback riding?

[fattylumpkin]

Just as a fun thing yesterday evening I took my girl out to the paddock to try some bareback riding with her. I hopped up, got settled and she started to panic and tried to bolt! I've never had that happen with any other horse I've ridden bareback! The YO says it's entirely likely she's never been ridden without a saddle before. Anyway we managed to get her used to just walking and she learned to do that without fuss, but every time I asked her for a trot she'd take off with me again at high speed, lol.

I don't have to ride her bareback, but now that I know she has this little hang-up I want to get it sorted out. Any tips on acclimatising a horse to being ridden bareback? has anybody else ever had a horse that panics with no saddle? It's entirely new to me!

 

[Abacus]

I was wondering the same thing, as I often ride my older horse bareback and he is very well behaved, but was considering the younger one and I don't know how he will react (and I'm not sure that I would be very sticky if he did buck or take off!). I was considering asking someone to lead me in walk and trot until we both got the feel of each other. With my old boy, if I get him in a nice balanced walk and he is going softly in an outline, he goes into a nicer trot and then I am less liable to bounce about, which would probably unsettle a horse not used to it.

Otherwise, I guess the thing is to make sure you are stable, not hanging on her mouth and not causing her any pain - use a neckstrap if not already, and get a little handful of mane. You can also get bareback pads that might give you some more stability, not sure I like the look of those though, especially the ones that come with stirrups - seems to defeat the object and will probably just cause pressure points.

 

[pennyturner]

Ooh, this is a new one. I've ridden plenty of mine bareback, and never had one run. If anything it's more normal that they refuse to go up a pace if they're not sure about the new feeling. Bless, I think they're looking after me!

Perhaps you could try an old fashioned 'pony pad' - that gives you a half-way house between saddle and blanket, with the advantage of stirrups. Once she's settled you can move on to just a blanket.

 

[fattylumpkin]

Thanks guys! That's a good idea on the neck strap, I might try looping a lead rope around her neck and just let her reins falls slack if she gets anxious. We actually have an old wool/leather shetland pad stashed somewhere too, I might see if I can dig it out and make it fit somehow somthing the dampen the feeling for her slightly?

 

[putasocinit]

My cob did similar when i first got on him he was so, oh my gosh whats happening but now we are like honey on a spoon wont take long and she will enjoy it. In fact i can honestly say my cob is much more gentle in his exercise when i am bare back i wonder if he is being careful i dont fall off

 

[Alphamare]

Maybe your balance without a saddle isn't as good as you think? Often young horses dashing off as above is caused by unbalance.

 

[fattylumpkin]

It's entirely possible my balance isn't great but I'm pretty sure my YO would've mentioned something if my balance was so horrible it was likely to be causing the problem, as she was watching at the time.

 

[Pigeon]

Haha mine is quite excited by bareback, possibly because we always do this:

But maybe it's just the difference in sensation on their back? What about trying it with a numnah or a bareback pad?

 

[fattylumpkin]

Thanks Pigeon, I'll definitely give that a try and what a smashing horse, you two look lovely together! And speedy!

 

[BBP]

I started on my panicy horse with just a sit on, scratch of the neck and then hop off, or sit on, feed a treat and hop off. Then a few steps of walk, hop off. i didn't ask for trot until totally relaxed with me clambering on and off and shifting about. then it was a few steps and walk, keeping it slow so he didn't bounce me off balance. If he does start to tense up, I ask for walk, give him a scratch and a treat for slowing down, and then start again. I have no doubt that if I properly lost my balance he would probably still take off and try to ditch me! I also only ever do bareback on nice sunny days as he gets nice and sleepy when it's sunny, whereas in cooler temps he is pretty hyper. he did let me do this the other day, so it is do-able to get one who panics about it to accept it.