Bareback Riding

[jazzy's girl]

Ok, so went out for an hours hack on Saturday and it rained for 58 minutes. first minute and last minute were in the dry. When I say rained ... I mean RAINED, torrential downpour!!!:(
My barefoot saddle is still not dry, so am thinking about riding bareback tonight..... 6 year old pony, never ridden her bareback before.
So the question is how many of you more mature riders go bareback and does your horse love it or hate it? (more to the point do you love it or hate it?) Does your horse play up any more than usual "just for fun":eek:. I used to ride bareback 10 years or so ago, but have lost confidence over the years.

[Yummymummy]

I would ride bareback, just stick a numnah and a cirsingle (sp) on and jump on you will love it and it really improves your seat

[Iron Maiden]

It's great fun, go on, get back in touch with your inner crazy teenager :D

[Joyscarer]

Not something I would contemplate on JOy unless sticking to walk or being able to go straight from walk to canter and back again as her trot if awful.

Even if the trot was good I would still be a wuss and use my bareback pad :o

[horseygal90]

I did this a couple of weeks ago, didn't come out of trot (kept nearly falling off when SodCob decided to take the bit between his teeth) but OMG - I ached for about four days afterwards!

[Trundlecat]

Did you do it Jazzy? I love riding bareback, that's how it's meant to be! :-)

[Mehitabel]

i do it on a fairly regular basis, both hacking and schooling. in winter it keeps your bum warm and in summer it means you don't have to change out of shorts into jods!

[lolahutt]

I do! Sometimes when I am feeling crazy I go for a hack bareback. I do have a bareback pad which is kind of cheating though.
But it is fun and makes you a better rider:D

[Mehitabel]

i mostly do it because i cna't be bothered puttinga saddle on (and will ride in headcolalr as well if i am too lazy to go tothe tackroom altogether!) so no bareback pad here.

[Clava]

I used to ride a lot bareback...I went on one fast gallopy ride over part of the south downs (Butser Hill) on my arab x welsh and after 26 years it still sticks in my mind as a fantastic memory. I don't have the muscles for that any more or the horse as I wouldn't do it on Belle (narrow TB).

[laceyfreckle]

i mostly do it because i cna't be bothered puttinga saddle on (and will ride in headcolalr as well if i am too lazy to go tothe tackroom altogether!) so no bareback pad here.

same as me:) I find riding bareback as easy as riding with a saddle so yes i enjoy it as well. It is normally when i;m too lazy to tack up:o my 9yr old daughter doesn't share the same enthusiasm though:p but that may be because she had to 'earn' her saddle, stirrups and reins :p horrid mum i am.

[jazzy's girl]

Well I did it !!!
Must say I didn't feel very secure, and Star decided to spook at the cat who was sat in the school watching us.... she normally totally ignores him and expects him to move out of her way. I did stay on though and I think we both enjoyed ourselves:)

Going to do this more often.. will look out for a pad to ride on though, it may give me more confidence. Will let you all know when I build up the courage to canter. Star is still quite young and doesn't yet know the difference between controlled canter and racing round the school as fast as she can!!!!