Bareback

I have been told that riding bareback, even on a very young horse will help you develop a better seat and help you establish better communication between you and your horse.

My horse is young, just 5 and was started only late last fall.  Is it appropriate that I try this with him?  He is quite clumsy with a rider.

If he's quiet, I'd give it a try.

I agree with Nightmare, too, however. Some horses just aren't meant for bareback. My old QH gelding was perfect for it - his spine didn't protrude and cause discomfort, but then my Appendix has pointy withers and he isn't very comfortable

Bareback really does improve your seat! I love it - it makes you feel "in tune" with the horse - something the saddle can disrupt.

Maggie

Riding bareback really does help your seat because if you don't want to fall off you really have to sit.  In fact I recently rode my horse bareback and found out that at the canter I was sitting alot deeper on my horses' back than I do with the saddle on.  If your horse has a spiney withers just get a bareback pad.  Bareback can be fun but takes alot of balance, but it can help gain balance too.  Before you go straight to bareback practice riding without stirrups so you get used to the feel on your horse. Hope this helps!!!

In my opinion, riding bareback is one if the best things you could possibly do do gain balance and grace in both horse and rider. I love riding bareback. It is one of the biggest things I do in my training. I ride bareback very frequently, in fact the first time I got on my horse (an OTTB I trained myself) I got on him bareback and bitless. The less force you use on your horse, the more you both will get out of the deal. I defiantely tink u should give it a try! Good luck  

Thanks everyone!  I have been riding Wilson bareback with just a halter and rope for bridle.  Our training was going quite well...bareback, once you get past the "nothing keeping me on his back" thing, is great.  I love being able to feel every move he makes and I sit much better at a trot bareback than I do in a saddle!  Haven't tried it at a canter yet...he was injured, I fell off (with a saddle) and broke my tailbone (and lost my confidence), and then he had a barbed wire accident...on the good side, after several months, both of us are fine and working towards building our confidence up again!

those pictures are great!  and the area I live in definately has snow!  We live in Calgary!  Haven't been doing much bareback lately but it sure is nice to be on a warm furry back when it's cold out!  Wilson lives outside year round.

deffinetly ride bareback! i ride my mare bareback a ton, especially when i jump. I usually put her cooler on though because her hair and sweat really bothers my legs. it's helped my balance so much and my legs are alot stronger!

um, as far as barback goes it is great for balance and tightining up your legs, Just MAKE SURE you do NOT use TO MUCH REIN, and MAKE YOUR HORSE HARD IN THE MOUTH! trust me my app. was so hard mouthed when i got her it took like 2 years to soften it back up! it was not cool made me so angry, but any way off topic yes i think BARBACK is GOOD, but you horse is only 5 and he will not be quit filled out yet un less he is a quarter horse or some other quickly maturing horse so he will BE NARROW which will make it harder to ride and if you have NEVER riden barback before and he hasnt either you may want to ride an older more mature horse barback a few times before you ride your 5 year old