Who said their horse...

K

Kate260881

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 February 2008
Messages
802
Location
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Visit site
... freaked out when you try to get on bareback?

I was due to have a lesson minus saddle today on the lunge, got a leg up on and Penny completely freaked out. Shot backwards, sat on her ass and then fell over, catapulting me out sideways. Thought she was going to land on me at one point. Tried it once more and here is the vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyXfYo4jVMc

Anyone any ideas why? She's totally fine with the saddle on so we think its something to do with her background which unfortunately I know very little about.
 
my daughters horse does big time, dont know why,but he is ex kings troop so might have something to do with that. when saddled you cannot mount him from the ground until he has warmed up , he will allow you to mount using a block or by leg up.
 
I did post the other day that Merlin freaks out when ridden bareback..... he gets really uptight and goes faster and faster.......
frown.gif
 
Perhaps try and be lifted fully onto the back, rather than half on, as to be much more lighter than hanging off one side.

Also, try and have someone other than the person holding her giving you the leg up- Have some solely at her head reassuring her.

Have you tried doing it from a mounting block? Allowing you step over her, without your full weight, and being able to get off if you see her wanting to pull back?
smile.gif
 
You may well find it is your weight distribution as you are getting on,my lad was suspicious first time i tried it!!They are not used to you leaning over and throwing leg over as they are used to the mounting with saddle!!They are funny creatures arnt they!!
If you use a mounting block you still stand tall as you get on!!
smile.gif
 
If you are going to try it again (brave you), then do it with a mounting block...lean on her first, and don't do it next to a metal gate in case you get squished - intestines are hard to get out of a school surface.
S
grin.gif
 
Can I ask why you're using a roller? Personally I'd literally go bareback with a neck strap to grab hold of. With the roller on, you're sitting further back than you need to. When I ride bareback my bum would be pretty much where your roller is going. Also you'd be best to use a mounting block so you can lean over without being on the horse. Less bruises that way!! Good luck.
 
She seems very worried before you get on, so i think the 2nd time she was anticipating it even more.

How strange, i never gave much thought to riding bareback on either of my two, i know my older one will let me do anything, the younger one however is another story!!

It was as soon as you began to swing your leg over her, so perhaps it was in her blind spot and she was concerned your leg had gone out of view.
 
Gyp hates it too. He tenses up and refuses to move, if you make him, he jumps and shoots off. He was rescued so I guess something happened to him then.
 
Mine also got very worried first time. So I rode her bareback to the field twice a week, and because she was so eager to get to the field she very quickly forgot I was there and got on with it. Tried it in the school again and she was fine.
 
Some very interesting points. I do think she was anticipating it more this time as she fell over the first time. The first time we got on I did it without leaning over and she was even worse. Next time I think a mounting block will be used..... if I decide I'm brave enough to try it again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top