horseinaround
175 posts
Jun 14, 2009
3:38 AM
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Just a question for anyone who trots bareback. It is getting rather hot here in the daytime so we either wait until evening to ride or we ride bareback. So far I am only comfortable riding bareback at a walk. I would like to work up to the trot bareback and wanted to hear from those of you who do it. Any pointers on how to keep centered, balanced? How did you know you were ready ? Do you hang onto mane ? Thanks in advance !
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PB
814 posts
Jun 14, 2009
6:30 AM
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Do you have a round pen to practice in? That is the easiest way. The horse has to go round and you can concentrate on your form.
Stay relaxed, feel the horse move with you. If you are in the roundpen then close your eyes and concenttrate on the movement of your horse. Get to know exact leg position. If you dont have a roundpen, get someone to help with you on the lungeline.
It depends on how smooth your horse is. You can hold the reins in one hand and mane in the other, or mane and reins in one clump.
While staying relaxed and moving with your horse remember to softly hug horse with your legs and keep heels down. Not too much pressure or jabbing or he will want to go faster.
Have you ever been to a horse show and the english class was told to drop the stirrups and still expected to post? Same principle. You will get stronger legs!!
A friend of mine that was raised on horses was told by her dad that she had to ride bareback until she learned how to ride, then he would get her a saddle. She rode saddlebreds. She jumped bareback too. When Dad got her a saddle he expected them to be cleaned too. She decided it was too much trouble to clean so continued to ride bareback. One summer she and a friend rode so much bareback it wore the hair off of the horses backs!! Can you imagine that? When she felt her balance was off she would ride bareback and get centered again.
It is a lot of fun. You will want to move on to a canter and that is a blast!!
Have fun! Remember too... No coat polish before riding bareback!!! ;0P
PB
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horseinaround
176 posts
Jun 14, 2009
7:43 AM
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Thanks PB, and yes I do have a roundpen. Good Idea. My mare is trustworthy but she has a bouncy trot. I love riding her bareback, she feels like a comfy couch. I like your idea to close my eyes and not worry about steering in the roundpen. Now I just have to get my willpower up and give it a try.
Sherry
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ladyinblack792
334 posts
Jun 15, 2009
6:12 AM
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Hi Horseinaround, one thing that I found worked well was a barebackpad (when I used to ride bareback a lot) It would help with posting with no stirrups and help (me) hold on with my legs a little better. (Most of the horses I used to ride bareback had very slick coats) Riding bareback will help you with your balance and posting. It will strengthen you legs up a lot. :)
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krystle09
83 posts
Jun 15, 2009
3:08 PM
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WHat kind of bareback pad is best. I think that I might like that myself! : ) I always feel trapped in a western saddle, arena not ready so would rather not use the English saddle, and so,..well,..sounds like it might be fun!
I have heard that alot of them slip. We have a horsey yard sale in Ocala 4 times a year at a tack store,..nearly a hundred private parties selling new and used equip, clothes, all kinds of horsey things.
What is thing to look for most and the most important thing to avoid,..and also, how would one measure one to fit the horse? My big girl has a 52" girth and takes a 36 western cinch.
This is kind of uplifting, the thought of the greedom of it all! : ) ( big smile)
Marcy
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krystle09
84 posts
Jun 15, 2009
3:09 PM
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Ummmmmm that was " freedom,..not greedom" .
Queen of typo's here! LOL
Marcy
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ladyinblack792
335 posts
Jun 16, 2009
5:33 AM
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Hi Marcy. I prefer a bareback pad with either a "canvas" type or a suede. (My bareback pad is similar to the Reinsman tacky too bareback pad) One of the reasons I have found a bareback pad will slip is the girth is either too long or not tight enough. Honestly I would measure her girth (total circumference) and take the measurement, and a tape measure, to the tack store. This will help a lot with deciding on the girth size. Most bareback pads are a "one size fits all" for the girth length and seat size. Some of them do have stirrups and/or an interchangeable girth setup. (Mine doesn't have either - it is just the bareback pad and a solid girth strap.) You might want to take a look at these websites:
www.horse.com
www.jeffersequine.com
Hope this helps.
Oriana
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horseinaround
177 posts
Jun 17, 2009
7:52 AM
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I do have a bareback pad which stops the slipping problem. It's the bounce I am trying to overcome ! LOL I have a bareback pad that I stick to like glue. Suede with a western cinch with a VERY long leather latigo. Will fit any horse. Looks like these. Click on miscellaneous once on the website.
http://www.halfcircleranch.com/
I think what I may end up doing at least for the 1st few times is have my trainer hold Willow on a lunge line in the roundpen. This is not because Willow would do anything. It's just for my security. I'm the one with the confidence problems. She's so not deserving of my lack of confidence. My desire to try new things is taking over my fears though so I am excited about that !
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PB
818 posts
Jun 17, 2009
5:45 PM
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Check out the Cashel soft saddle on www.JeffersEquine.com it is a bit pricey, but looks really nice. Comfort of bareback, but security of stirrups.
PB
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Glad2B
115 posts
Jun 27, 2009
12:28 PM
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I am also using bareback to gain confidence and balance...sometimes I think that I am more comfortable with out the saddle. My horse bailey has a very bouncey up right trot...I am concentrating on keeping my heels down and no weight in the reins...now I am thinking that a pad may be a good idea...!
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Holly's Hero
46 posts
Jun 27, 2009
12:47 PM
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Bareback pads help, but only when the horse is bony, in my opinion. I used to ride a pony, VERY bouncy trot, bareback, and I ride Holly bareback all the time. I noticed that a bareback pad only helps if the horse is bony, and it doesn't help balance very much, if at all. The key to trotting bareback is to start out slow, and not get too fast. Sometimes a bareback canter is nicer than a trot, if you're balanced enough.
I never used a roundpen, but used to cool down my horse bareback. I highly recommend that, because the horse is calmer and safer. He won't run away with you as much.Hope that helps!
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Horses come in browns and blacks, reds and pretty whites. But you know it's something special when you walk into the barn, and a blue horse comes into sight.
~Holly's Hero~
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horseinaround
180 posts
Jun 28, 2009
6:43 AM
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My mare has a big bouncy trot as well which is why I am a bit apprehensive. The pad I have is sticky and also has a leather handle to hold. I did trot on my daughter's pony bareback the other day for a short distance but he is so smooth. I agree that the key to learning this is to go at a slow trot in the beginning. Thanks for sharing your experiences with me !
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