riding bareback

[drewpoo22]

Are there any benefits to riding bareback? Whenever I ride bareback I feel like I have a better position and my horse actually works round. What do y'all think?:confused:

[jumper-4-joy]

well i think maybe he just feels rounder to you because you can feel him better without a saddle. i think riding barreback is great! it gives you a great centered seat. i think it also gives you a better partnership with your horse in a way. I dont know if you want to do it too much though because he might get a little sore maybe?

[fishiz3434]

Bareback is the greatest thing in the world!! it's really good for your balance and getting the feel of the horses movements. It also makes you sit up tall and use your tummie muscles!!:D

[Skib]

I am a bareback fan and my teacher teaches some students bareback.
Who told you it was not a good thing?
It is used to improve balance. You learn to sit upright and central on the horse. And you get a clearer sensation of the horse rounding up and when each limb of the horse moves.
It doesnt mean the horse is rounding more, but that you can feel the movement more easily. So that when you go back to riding with a saddle you can discern it too.
The position riding bareback is NOT the same as with a saddle. And that is why some dressage riders dont approve of it. Bareback one's legs fall naturally into a groove behind the shoulders of the horse - described by Gwana Pony Boy in his book Horse Follow Closely. He says native americans rode that way - though to be honest most used saddles and stirrups when they could get hold of them.
When I rode bareback, I kept forgetting to notice where my legs were and felt somehow I had failed to ride like he described. But my nice teacher said that one didnt have to think. One's legs just fell that way. And equally, she said, when her students return to a saddle their legs easily change back into the correct position for dressage. So she never worried about letting people ride bareback. Provided their horse was suitable and safe and the rider "plump" enough on the seat not to be uncomfortable for the horse.

[cvb]

Are there any benefits to riding bareback? Whenever I ride bareback I feel like I have a better position and my horse actually works round. What do y'all think?:confused:

As Skib has said, it is probably a *different* position, but there may be elements that are better. It does make me wonder about your saddle - if the saddle is not doing your position any favours - you will feel better without it, but would also feel better with a saddle that sits you better !

Plus if the saddle does not fit the horse right, it will affect their movement, relaxation, etc and removing it will help them as well :cool:

But we use saddles because a correctly fitted one helps a rider and horse do different things, and over longer periods of time. So you may struggle to do everything you would do with a saddle, without one.... (Plus you may find you are uninsured).

[TrooperLuver]

there's actaully a girl at my stables (well now it's gonna be my old stables) that refuses to ride with a saddle,she says it messes her up,so now she even jumps without 1, lol i could never do that

[TheHoglet]

i can only canter my pony bareback :p :D so i think there are benifits.
it gives you a better position and you are more in tune with your horses/pony or so to speek and it's great fun too :)

[Sol_Gemma]

i want to ride bareback again. i tried a few years ago on a friends pony it felt great. I ride a 15hh cob atm but shes not very fit and we need to do a bit more schooling, i will give it a go for sure

[billybob]

I love riding bareback billy feels more free and he strides out more.:D i really don`t like it when you go from a canter to a trot it`s really bouncy.:eek:

[horse__obsessed]

i really don`t like it when you go from a canter to a trot it`s really bouncy.:eek:
*shudders*

I KNOW THE FEELING!!!!!!!!!!!!;)

I havent done any bareback recently because Chancer's really bony:rolleyes:

[chapman2006]

riding bare-back really helps you aswell because it helps your balance and its much easier on your horses back and stomach