Hi guys,
Not sure if this is a question for advice or just to see what you think (maybe both) but what are your thoughts on bareback?
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Woods and I ride in the dually and bareback have done for a while now. He is so much more relaxed, responsive and I guess happier this way.(also he tends to stop if I'm unbalanced which, touch wood, is helping when his back end gets a bit frisky!) I feel we work so much better as we can feel each other more and I can really tell when I'm in the right position for him -i.e he goes better and relaxed and it's these subtle changes that have helped sooo much! We've even started cantering again! only a few paces at a time as we are both getting used to the feel of it but it's happening!
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Everyone at the yard thinks I'm weird, haha, but it works for us. However, I don't know if I should start putting a saddle back on , mainly to hack out with and jump with. I don't know if I think this is a good idea because it's the norm and I should, or because maybe in these situations a saddle is the better option. to be fair if im going to fall off, doesn't matter what I have on or not, I'll fall off but what do you guys think?
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Cheers Jess x
Hi Jess. If you've followed my contributions you'll know Humphrey is being ridden bareback by Stan - the man who doesn't ride sitting, safely, on the back of the now very happy pony who was so frightend by a professional & is, as far as I can tell, still extremely girthy - I've not bothered to address that yet. Who cares if some people think you're weird. If you & your horse are happy without a saddle then go with it. You only need a saddle to compete, unless you can't ride bareback! I think the basic point which is most often missed is, most of us have horses/ponies for fun. Now some folk only really have fun when they are totally in control - irrespective of whether that is control of their animal, other people or whatever. The rest of us are happy to just do our own thing & take life as it comes. There is no need for you to apologise or feel put upon if you want to use a different approach, so long as it is safe to you, others & your horse. Cheers, Jo.
Hi Jess
Love bare back, wouldn't have it any other way. When I get my own bit of land and teach rides, it will all be bare back. Starting off slow till the rider gains balance and communication. Children that come to our pony clinic are all taught from the ground up that they will be riding bare back.
When it comes to matter of safety in bare back, go slow as you are doing till you're balanced in walk trot canter and gallop, then you'll find jumping will just become a natural process for you.
Remember people criticise because they don't understand or they are jealous of what you are achieving. Their critical opinion should never alter the bond you are creating with your horse. Communication and trust whether in saddle or not is all about what you and your horse do together :)
Remember Monty says "slow is fast"
Mel x
Hi Jess,
Nothing wrong or weird with riding bareback! Apparently it suits you perfectly , so just smile at those who find it weird. :)
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I am going to raise one small finger, though, just as a heads up. (Scientific) research on pressure points on horses' backs, comparing riders in saddle, riders in treeless saddles, and riders bareback, concludes that the less you have between rider and the horse, the less distribution you have of pressure across the horse's back. Ergo, it is more likely to develop soreness in the back without than with a saddle.
(We are not factoring in riders' weight, balance problems, or ill fitting saddles here - just going with the basics.)
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So, what I mean to say is; just be sure to keep an extra eye on the dorsal muscles in case of soreness, so you can catch it sooner rather than later.
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Have fun riding bareback!!!!
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PS. I am using a treeless saddle on the younger of my two horses and a lot of his first training under rider was done bareback. We have encountered no problems thus far!) :)
All good advice/thoughts - do what feels great, protect his muscles :-)
Fab thanks guys!! It's good to know so many people ride bareback! Mel if only other people taught bareback from scratch!- on that note are there any lessons, either on here or elsewhere that are good regarding positions ect?
I have started having lessons and the instructor (who does dressage) says I sit too far forward on his back so he doesn't move through his body so am working on sitting a little further back but go on how he feels and acts if im in the right spot or not.-also interestingly, using just my seat he will put himself in an outline when we do 'little trot'-just goes to prove you don't need all these fancy gadgets to get them there!! as long as he's happy I don't care what he looks like!
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And yes Kicki I will watch his back. We moved from a treed saddle to a treeless a few years ago which made a huge difference as he could move through his shoulders more and feel me more so was happier but we still got the osteopath out a few times. Since going bareback, touch wood, he seems more flexible and relaxed and hasn't showed signs of soreness. However I make sure he can stretch down when he needs to and when he shows signs of wanting to stretch a lot we call it a day.
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Mel do you think working through the paces first then going for the jump is the better way round? we have done a few trotting poles so far!
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Thanks again guys!
The idea is to teach bareback first it to help youngsters attain proper balance on the horse before using a saddle.
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Yes working through the paces including trotting poles will help you get the feel of your horse and help you maintain control of your legs so when you get to jumping your leg strength and position will be good..
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sitting position, you'll find when you get it right your horse will lift his back. To know where the position is have a look at the horse skeleton... http://img00.deviantart.net/4adc/i/2013/115/a/d/horse_skeleton_by_otvali-d62xni3.png.... you'll see 3 bones back from the base of the withers the back bone is completely upright, this is the strongest point of the back which should take our weight when riding bare back, when you sit there you should be able to roll your pelvis back and forth and notice the difference to the contour of the back, if you've got it right when you roll your pelvis you'll feel comfortable when you center up. If you're not over this bone when you center up you'll feel either slightly forwards in your seat or back. Alter your position until you feel the complete center point in the roll. Once you get that point, remember where you're sitting based on the withers so when you get on next you'll go where you should be.
Mel
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While not everyone (including me!) is a supporter of all that the Parelli's do, Linda Parelli does a wonderful riding DVD which was a real breakthrough for me in understanding flow, not worrying about sitting ramrod straight etc etc. And being an ex-dressage rider she talks about dressage training so you may find it useful. It's a very old DVD now - it's called Riding with Fluidity. I am a great believer in not rubbishing an entire person/philosophy before really looking to see if there is even one useful piece of information in there, and I really liked this.
Remembering too that Pat and Linda learnt much from Monty in the first place ;)
Fab thank you ladies. (sorry been such a long time, been a v.streeful time recently, dog, pony and then my mum have been ill, now relationship breakdown....ffs.. hence not been on here for a while)
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Mel where are you in the counrty and do you travel for lessons?
i feel like i am in the right place and we are now getting canter!! whoop whoop! but want to make sure i am doing things correctly as there is still al lot for us to work on and although the poeple at the ayrd are lovley they are all bhs trained.
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I will add that a friend who fits saddles had a look at woods back and said there were no warm spots and without temping fate, i haven't had need of an osteopath for a long while-since going bare back! so it seems to wokr for him!
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Vicci i too avoid Parelli but will look at this dvd for hints and tips. Since going bareback i am moving better with him, whereas before i was very tight in the back and restricted his movement a lot as we were bith so tense.
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Thaks again and hope all is well with you guys!Jess
Hi Jess
I'm in Ramsgate, Kent and yes I do travel. Where are you?
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Well done with how you're doing ;)
Mel
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I'm in West Sussex by Ardingly? Is that too far? And how much do you charge?
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Thanks, we are doing better and i think I'm figuring out why we can get canter but not keep it- when we walk and trot my legs are long but when i ask for canter, moving my outside leg back tips me forward a bit, my legs come up and when i try and sit back to go with him i think i slip forward so definitely need some pointers! lol.
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Think i will start to introduce a saddle again just so we can do both but will see how he is! He just seems happier bareback and when i sat on a friends horse with a saddle the other day i felt so unbalanced and perched on top! Haha!
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Thank you! x x
Thank you all so much for sharing the bareback tips and info!
Hi Jess
It would be £70 for an afternoon, about 3 hours in all including travel. Did you want to call 07886744113 (note the forum is public so dont put personal details if you don't want the world to see. My mobile is public so it doesnt matter)
Mel x