Troubles with bareback?

Question

Ok so my horse is a former trail horse, whos never been riden bareback, and i tried once but when i was on him he kept shifting sideways, and i ended up falling off the side, and now im afraid to try it again, ive been working alot with him in the saddle but now i want to try bareback, anyway to make it easier on him or me?

Answer 1

Most problems like this happen because you are putting leg pressure on the horse. Work at keeping your legs "off" of his sides, and completely relaxed. Just walk around like that until you are comfortable, and when you trot, don't grip with your legs....get a helper at first if you need one to lead him while you adjust to balancing on your seat....no legs. Do it every day, so he gets used to it, and so you can develop the balance you need. When you can figure eight at the trot, with virtually no leg contact, then you can try to canter....again, a helper wouldn't hurt at first.

Answer 2

The bareback pad would be the best option. Although being ridden bareback is rarely an issue with horses. Mine seem to prefer it to having saddles on. I would get a bareback pad with stirrups. Go to horse.com they have them and they're decently priced. This will help you get used to not holding on to a horn or the saddle. Horses can feel everything you do when you ride them so riding bareback intensifies this more. If you're nervous your horse knows it and that could possibly be the reason as to why he's side stepping. Get comfortable at a walk, trot and canter or however fast or slow you are wanting to ride bareback. I would probably practice with the bareback pad a couple times a week for a few weeks until youre 100% comfortable without a saddle. Then try taking off the pad and riding completely bareback and just take it slow. Work up until you and your horse are used to the adjustment. Doing things like this fast ends up in accidents. Believe me I got thrown from a horse at the beginning of June and have a fractured pelvis.

Answer 3

It sounds like your horse is very in tune to your weight distribution. I've always told people that 90 % of what your horse does wrong is the riders fault. You may be shifting your weight in a way he's not been able to feel before and it's confusing him. A bareback pad is a great idea and so is having someone lunging you while you ride him bareback. It will help you find your center of gravity, and will help him get used to how it feels to be ridden that way.

Answer 4

Start out on a bareback pad, and if you can, have somebody lunge you while you're on the horse bareback (with the pad). Start at the walk and once you and your horse feel comfortable, go to the trot, then canter, etc. This way your horse can't shift sideways, and you can build your confidence on him while bareback. After you feel comfortable, try riding an arena if you have that access (again, with the bareback pad). This way if you fall, you have that deep sand to fall into. Keep working with him at the walk, trot, canter, etc. After you feel good with this, remove the pad and try it from there. You may want to be lunged without the pad first and then move onto going bareback in the arena, your choice.



Good luck!



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Pony Potato is right, I suggest NOT getting one with stirrups. They can pretty dangerous, and it would be better to work with one without stirrups to simulate more of the bareback experience and be prepared for it ;)

Answer 5

I know how you feel, I got on my horse last weekend bareback and all she would do is go backwards! This went on for 30 min and all the aids I had went to use and she'd only go a few steps. So I just got a Toklat bareback pad that has micro suede on the top. (I recommend one w/o stirrups.)I got this b/c I think maybe she can feel me shifting a lot more than when I am in the saddle. I'm tying it out tomorrow! hope it works out, but he is probably just responding to your unbalance.

Answer 6

He's just not used to it. My horse hates being ridden bareback, but I really like it. My horse always puts his head down and backs up really fast. I just have to sit there until he decides he's done. Just keep your eyes up and maybe give a squeeze with your leg on the side he's shifting to. A tap with a crop on that side probably wouldn't hurt either.

Answer 7

Get a bareback pad with a girth, I wouldn't get one with stirrups though

Answer 8

i would try getting him used to it by getting a simple bareback pad with a girth then once he is used to that try bareback again

Answer 9

try getting a bareback pad its a cushion with a girth and stirrups then after a while take the girth off