My Top Ten Bareback Riding Tips
Monday, December 29th, 2008 | Horseback Riding Lesson
It’s that time of the year again when I want to shed the extra layer of a saddle. I have decided to not put a saddle on any horse that I am riding until spring. Being married to “Fredi the Bareback Guru” makes me want to join the challenge of saddle-less riding.
Everyone can benefit from bareback riding. With the close contact of riding bareback, you will feel if your horse is out of balance much quicker than if you were using a saddle. The new year is upon us and I have been really into lists, so here is a list of My Top Ten Bareback Riding Tips.
- Don’t grip with your legs, but you can wrap them around the horse at times to help you stabilize. If your horse begins to pick up speed, lighten up on your leg contact.
- Grab onto the horse’s mane if you lose your balance. Horses manes are tough, hold onto the mane and the “neck fat” that will give you more stabilization.
- Never ever balance on your horses mouth, see tip #2
- Get comfortable at the halt before you begin to walk.
- Practice lengthening your leg and reaching down the horse’s sides with your heels down.
- If you ride bareback you get the benefit of a warm bodied horse. Winter is cold, and a horse’s body is warm. Unlike summer, your horse probably won’t sweat through your jeans.
- When riding bareback keep your cues and correction lighter than normal. There is no bulky saddle between you and your horse so all of your cues are amplified.
- Practice mounting and dismounting bareback repeatedly. Practice it until it becomes easy. Practice it until you will be able to dismount quickly in an emergency.
- Look in the direction that you want to go. It’s always important to look in the direction that you are going when riding, but it is even more important when you ride bareback. When you turn your head to look, you will deepen your seat and unlock your legs allowing your horse to turn.
- Dismount in a soft place. In the winter, you probably notice that when you dismount after a work out that it hurts the muscles in your feet. That is because your muscles get cold, and it’s very jarring when you get to the ground.
We keep a sawdust pile in one corner of the arena, I dismount on the sawdust. It’s much easier on the ankles and feet. You can always place a wheelbarrow full of sawdust somewhere in your arena, or just pile up the footing in one area for your bareback dismount. It definitely is a good idea to practice without the extra cushion too because you never know when and where you will need to do an emergency dismount.
9 Comments to My Top Ten Bareback Riding Tips
GREAT list!! I absolutely LOVE riding bareback!! Diago and I did a bunch of that after our first “under saddle” lessons…LOVED it…and so did he! Other boarders think I’m crazy but I feel more comfortable riding bareback and feel like I’m LESS likely to fall! I’ve only ever fallen off when riding in a saddle…LOL!
erikaDecember 30, 2008
awesome tips! i seem to be able to do all of this, just not very well with MY horse! i would love to hear more tips, you have got a lot of miles and knowledge under you!
Thanks Sabrina.
Fredi is the same way. He won’t train a horse that bucks or rears in a saddle. He has to ride bareback. I think bareback is safer because if you do fall, there is nothing to get hung up on. Keep up the bareback!
Thanks Erika! I post new training articles every Monday, be sure and check back. If you or anyone else have any topics you would like to see on the blog, feel free to let me know.
Brittany IrwinDecember 31, 2008
I love bareback riding, especially during the winter. When my mare was in training, we worked throughout the week, but Sunday was our “day of rest” and we would ride bareback on our favorite trails. A lot of people think I’m crazy, but I always feel so much more connected with my horses when I’m riding bareback and I don’t have a hunk of leather seperating me from my horse.
TinaJanuary 1, 2009
Hi. I’ve been wondering about riding bareback. I’ve only owned my horse for 2 1/2 months, but she’s so much more knowledgeable than me. Everytime I try something new that I’ve read about in mags or online, she already knows it. I want to try bareback with her, and she’s probably already been rode that way, but is there anything to watch for the first time? Anything I should make sure I pay attention to?
THanks,
Tina
Hi Tina,
Usually, when a horse that may have a problem with being ridden bareback will not like it when you mount. I would say, take your time and mount and dismount multiple times until you and your mare are both comfortable with it.
I would also make sure that she’s not having a “spooky day” before you begin your journey with bareback. It takes a little time in the beginning to acclimate yourself to not having a saddle. Also, make sure when you do lose your balance, you don’t squeeze the horse with your legs too much or she will go fast instead of stop. Other than that, you will have a great time!
Deanna
Michele EnglishMay 19, 2010
I am 47 years old and as a teen I had horses and rode bare back daily. My children are grown up now and I now have a horse (for the last 8 mo) again. I am rusty but my horse is very patient. I rode in a saddle the first couple of times and that didn’t last. I HATE it, I am riding bare back and I am happy. How do I know if he likes it or not?
Michele
Hi Michele, If your horse doesn’t pin his ears or act annoyed I’m sure he is happy! It’s easier carrying a rider without a saddle so have no worries and enjoy.
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December 29, 2008