Riding bareback???

BornToRide · 10-11-2006, 09:24 PM

ANY TIPS?!?!?!?!?!?

It's my new goal, but i tell you, I am having one heck of a time getting there. I can sit and post to a trot in a saddle, but you get be bareback and I get sooooo tense. I have all these beautiful vision of me and Bailey galloping off into the sunset (

) , and then I actually ride around bareback and I can't do it. ARGHHHHH, I'm so frustrated it makes me sick!!!!!!!!

Any suggestions????

princesskristin · 10-11-2006, 09:29 PM

I know it can be frustrating. I love to bareback ride also but my horse is a greeny and I'm a bit nervous getting on him bareback because his brakes are not that great and sometimes he will just trot off suddenly, and thats all I need- off I would go. But you will get there, just practice walking- as you are walking lift off of your horse and put your weight into your legs this way if your horse decides he will do a sudden turn on you, you will have your weight to the point where he can't knock you off balance. As you gradually get to the point where you are comfortable walking bareback, you can begin a slow trot. You can either sit, or put your weight into your legs. I find it easier to put my weight into my legs. As you get more advanced, then you can begin a faster trot, and so on. Eventually you will get to wear you can just sit and everything will come natural. Cantering bareback is actually easy than trotting. Good Luck with everything

skipsnightlady81 · 10-12-2006, 09:42 AM

I think the key thing for bareback riding is time doing it. Just relax and get up there. Even if you walk for the first year of doing it, your still up there and your gaining balance without even realizing it. Before you know it honestly you'll be bareback all the time whether your walking on flat ground, or my favorite, going up hills. I love to just grab the mane and let get up there.
Its so good for your body too..... Pain the next day = good workout!

cowgirlmommy · 10-12-2006, 10:03 PM

Practice,practice and more practice! Thank goodness that even though when we start out bareback, it is a workout and takes alot of trying to use and build up our leg muscles, but it will get easier with time and PRACTICE! Just start out slow, with small amounts of time on your horse practicing bareback and working up to a full ride either in an arena or if you like trails(i do!) then a short trail ride! Good luck, stay safe and have fun!

BornToRide · 10-12-2006, 10:14 PM

Thanks for the advice. As of now, I'm walking and jogging a little. Like I said, my goal is to just sit up and the just let my horse run as hard as he can and I can just sit and relax. Now , I KNOW that will take a good couple/few years, but I still want to get there.

cowgirlmommy · 10-12-2006, 10:35 PM

You will get there! Of that, I have no doubt! You have obviously have the drive and determination! Good for you! And I bet you are gonna surprise yourself with how much quicker it comes than you are expecting! All the best!

BornToRide · 10-14-2006, 09:18 AM

Thank you very much. Just hearing something like that makes all this work worthwhile.

gbarmranch · 10-14-2006, 09:23 AM

I agree with cowgirlmommy - practice at a walk,, then build to a trot, etc...ou almost have to retrain your leg muscles to react differently, so it will take a while - but so much fun and so good for your balance in the end!!!

Shalamar · 10-14-2006, 09:36 AM

Try using a bareback pad for the first step. Get the fleece ones without the stirrups. They are almost like riding bareback, except it gives you a little bit more traction on your horse instead of slipping around on their fur. Then when you get used to that, try completely bareback. Where I work, the instructor has all the lessons students ride in these instead of using saddles, I think alot of the kids are better balanced than me and I have been riding for over 15 years!!

princesskristin · 10-14-2006, 01:57 PM

You will get there, trust me, just practice. You can try using a bareback pad.

allison · 10-14-2006, 02:08 PM

Don't forget that even though you don't have stirrups, you still have to ride with your heels down! A lot of people seem to forget that, but to me that's the key to riding bareback. That will help you control your legs better, and it helps put you in the correct position. Also be careful if you tense up, that you don't grip with your legs and send your horse off faster. I don't know if all open shows have bareback classes, but the ones here do. I competed in and won tons of bareback classes, so I have quite a bit of experience in it. It's not easy, but if you stay relaxed, and take it slow you'll do fine. I still remember the first time I rode bareback... What a great feeling it was!

BornToRide · 10-15-2006, 12:13 AM

Thanks everyone!

Like I said, I can do it in a saddle and once I starting doing a bit of English my seat got better. But I am still awful at the trot. Well, not awful, just not good. My problem is that I'm sitting up perfectly straight on my. . .you know. . . .instead of rocked back on my butt. It'll take time, but I'm prepared to give it a go.

SweetPea&Sage · 10-17-2006, 07:10 PM

one of my trainers used to always say sit like a sack of potatoes... so whenever i have trouble i envision that...and as many others say it takes time... most of it is a balance issue... the one thing i like about riding bareback is it is very easy to dismount in an emergency; just lean forward, swing over and slide off... no horn, no stirrups, etc... now i don't like bareback pads, because sometimes they have a tendancy to slip, but don't do what i do and ride in sweat pants..definately use jeans

another good practice to work on your balance, at least what i have found in a controlled situation like a fenced in arena with a horse you trust is close your eyes, even with the saddle on while dropping your stirrups... then progress to bareback... but by closing your eyes you less on visual cues to balance... more on what you feel.. the more second nature it becomes, the better...

what is really great is finding a horse you can trust as well... and nice big round lazy buddy..to learn on... your seat is different to an extent, you are using more muscles... but the more you can trust it.. the quicker you learn because the more you can let yourself go..and they are right about keeping your heels down....otherwise your legs moves in the wrong direction...

i used to lease this horse i could ride bareback, no saddle, no bridle, no halter.. just used my legs... he was awesome.. now I would only do that in an arena... outside was out of the question... 7 year old palamino QH gelding...unfornately he passed away due to complications from impaction colic...i was going to buy that boy one day...

- marisa

BornToRide · 10-19-2006, 08:51 PM

Thanks for the tips! Hmm.. . .my horse is a big round lazy thing. . . but he also has the tendency to run me into panels if I'm not paying attention. . .hmm, lol

.

10-11-2006, 09:24 PM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	Riding bareback??? ANY TIPS?!?!?!?!?!? It's my new goal, but i tell you, I am having one heck of a time getting there. I can sit and post to a trot in a saddle, but you get be bareback and I get sooooo tense. I have all these beautiful vision of me and Bailey galloping off into the sunset ( ) , and then I actually ride around bareback and I can't do it. ARGHHHHH, I'm so frustrated it makes me sick!!!!!!!! Any suggestions???? __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

10-11-2006, 09:29 PM
princesskristin Coming two Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,646	I know it can be frustrating. I love to bareback ride also but my horse is a greeny and I'm a bit nervous getting on him bareback because his brakes are not that great and sometimes he will just trot off suddenly, and thats all I need- off I would go. But you will get there, just practice walking- as you are walking lift off of your horse and put your weight into your legs this way if your horse decides he will do a sudden turn on you, you will have your weight to the point where he can't knock you off balance. As you gradually get to the point where you are comfortable walking bareback, you can begin a slow trot. You can either sit, or put your weight into your legs. I find it easier to put my weight into my legs. As you get more advanced, then you can begin a faster trot, and so on. Eventually you will get to wear you can just sit and everything will come natural. Cantering bareback is actually easy than trotting. Good Luck with everything __________________ Sometimes you just got to take a ride of faith.

10-12-2006, 09:42 AM
skipsnightlady81 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 530	I think the key thing for bareback riding is time doing it. Just relax and get up there. Even if you walk for the first year of doing it, your still up there and your gaining balance without even realizing it. Before you know it honestly you'll be bareback all the time whether your walking on flat ground, or my favorite, going up hills. I love to just grab the mane and let get up there. Its so good for your body too..... Pain the next day = good workout!

10-12-2006, 10:03 PM
cowgirlmommy Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Rocky Mountains of British Columbia! Posts: 1,469	Practice,practice and more practice! Thank goodness that even though when we start out bareback, it is a workout and takes alot of trying to use and build up our leg muscles, but it will get easier with time and PRACTICE! Just start out slow, with small amounts of time on your horse practicing bareback and working up to a full ride either in an arena or if you like trails(i do!) then a short trail ride! Good luck, stay safe and have fun! __________________ "There is no seceret closer than the one shared between rider and horse." www.rockymountainridingservices.webs.com

10-12-2006, 10:14 PM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	Thanks for the advice. As of now, I'm walking and jogging a little. Like I said, my goal is to just sit up and the just let my horse run as hard as he can and I can just sit and relax. Now , I KNOW that will take a good couple/few years, but I still want to get there. __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

10-12-2006, 10:35 PM
cowgirlmommy Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Rocky Mountains of British Columbia! Posts: 1,469	You will get there! Of that, I have no doubt! You have obviously have the drive and determination! Good for you! And I bet you are gonna surprise yourself with how much quicker it comes than you are expecting! All the best! __________________ "There is no seceret closer than the one shared between rider and horse." www.rockymountainridingservices.webs.com

10-14-2006, 09:18 AM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	Thank you very much. Just hearing something like that makes all this work worthwhile. __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

10-14-2006, 09:23 AM
gbarmranch Pasture Pet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mayberry Posts: 32,635	I agree with cowgirlmommy - practice at a walk,, then build to a trot, etc...ou almost have to retrain your leg muscles to react differently, so it will take a while - but so much fun and so good for your balance in the end!!! __________________ http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Quality Foundation Quarter Horses If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself." Augustine of Hippo

10-14-2006, 09:36 AM
Shalamar Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NY Posts: 277	Try using a bareback pad for the first step. Get the fleece ones without the stirrups. They are almost like riding bareback, except it gives you a little bit more traction on your horse instead of slipping around on their fur. Then when you get used to that, try completely bareback. Where I work, the instructor has all the lessons students ride in these instead of using saddles, I think alot of the kids are better balanced than me and I have been riding for over 15 years!!

10-14-2006, 01:57 PM
princesskristin Coming two Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,646	You will get there, trust me, just practice. You can try using a bareback pad. __________________ Sometimes you just got to take a ride of faith.

10-14-2006, 02:08 PM
allison Started Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kenosha, WI. Posts: 2,225	Don't forget that even though you don't have stirrups, you still have to ride with your heels down! A lot of people seem to forget that, but to me that's the key to riding bareback. That will help you control your legs better, and it helps put you in the correct position. Also be careful if you tense up, that you don't grip with your legs and send your horse off faster. I don't know if all open shows have bareback classes, but the ones here do. I competed in and won tons of bareback classes, so I have quite a bit of experience in it. It's not easy, but if you stay relaxed, and take it slow you'll do fine. I still remember the first time I rode bareback... What a great feeling it was! __________________ Horses & Horsepower www.freewebs.com/mustangali_/ "...just like computers refuse to understand how I'm feeling today"

10-15-2006, 12:13 AM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	Thanks everyone! Like I said, I can do it in a saddle and once I starting doing a bit of English my seat got better. But I am still awful at the trot. Well, not awful, just not good. My problem is that I'm sitting up perfectly straight on my. . .you know. . . .instead of rocked back on my butt. It'll take time, but I'm prepared to give it a go. __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill

10-17-2006, 07:10 PM
SweetPea&Sage Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: OHIO Posts: 428	one of my trainers used to always say sit like a sack of potatoes... so whenever i have trouble i envision that...and as many others say it takes time... most of it is a balance issue... the one thing i like about riding bareback is it is very easy to dismount in an emergency; just lean forward, swing over and slide off... no horn, no stirrups, etc... now i don't like bareback pads, because sometimes they have a tendancy to slip, but don't do what i do and ride in sweat pants..definately use jeans another good practice to work on your balance, at least what i have found in a controlled situation like a fenced in arena with a horse you trust is close your eyes, even with the saddle on while dropping your stirrups... then progress to bareback... but by closing your eyes you less on visual cues to balance... more on what you feel.. the more second nature it becomes, the better... what is really great is finding a horse you can trust as well... and nice big round lazy buddy..to learn on... your seat is different to an extent, you are using more muscles... but the more you can trust it.. the quicker you learn because the more you can let yourself go..and they are right about keeping your heels down....otherwise your legs moves in the wrong direction... i used to lease this horse i could ride bareback, no saddle, no bridle, no halter.. just used my legs... he was awesome.. now I would only do that in an arena... outside was out of the question... 7 year old palamino QH gelding...unfornately he passed away due to complications from impaction colic...i was going to buy that boy one day... - marisa __________________ "KINDNESS MATTERS" MASTWEILER.COM : Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos and Mastweilers

10-19-2006, 08:51 PM
BornToRide Coming two Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,639	Thanks for the tips! Hmm.. . .my horse is a big round lazy thing. . . but he also has the tendency to run me into panels if I'm not paying attention. . .hmm, lol . __________________ There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man.-Winston Churchill