Cantering bareback?

Question

okay, so i've only tired once, and im not afraid to, just like, having trouble, i suppose would be the way to put it..

if im in a walk or trot, im perfectly fine, i have good balance then, but when i try to get into a canter i like start to "fly up"?

like i cant stay on the back, i kind of jump, ge twhat im saying? so uhm anyways i could actually stay "sitting" while im cantering? thank you, i appriciate it :)

Answer 1

Practice sitting really deep when you have your saddle on, then try it when your riding bareback. It may just take some practice.

Maybe a bareback pad will help.

Answer 2

Try pressing your hips forward underneath you whenever your flying up. Leaning back a little bit can also help to rotate your hips forward and open your hip angle.

Answer 3

The horse you are riding,is it used to riding bareback?cantering bareback?  This is not something you can pick up overnight . You must find your center (leaning forward or  back) and leg placement is big. Cantering is dangerous in a saddle. Practice,practice practice......

Answer 4

it sounds like you are tensing up in your thigh muscles which is pushing you up off the horses' back. Although your not scared it's something new and so you are likly to find it harder to relax into. It would be worth trying cantering with a saddle but without stirrups. Once your happy doing this then go back to the bareback.

Also when your cantering bareback then just do a few strides and come back to trot and really work at staying relaxed for those few strides and then build it up.

Answer 5

Ok well if you can trot bareback, you can canter bareback. Try cantering with no stirups when in the saddle, it will help guarenteed!

Answer 6

You're basically saying that you are having trouble controlling a bumpy canter.

It's completely normal with bareback cantering.

You dont have a saddle and stirrups to support you, therefore, it makes you feel less balanced and like you could bounce right off the horse's back.

Try asking your horse for a slower canter, gently pulling on the horse's reins or giving half halts would work.

Be sure to sit on your bottom, my instructors would tell me that if I had jeans on, to sit on the back pockets of your jeans.

This provides more comfort to you, and it will feel slightly less bumpy

Be sure to hold the mane so you dont lose balance from bouncing. That's what the beginner riders would do when they were trotting (with a saddle) And let go of the mane when you feel more balanced and safe

Hold tightly to the horse with your thighs. Not your knees, your thighs. This will help you stay put.

It's the exact same thing as riding a bouncy horse at a canter with your saddle on. You just feel like you have less control or balance, and the bouncing feels a lot more bouncy than with a saddle.

I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 7

i find that cantering english is a good way to learn balance, some people probably wont agree with me and will say it is stupid but after my barrel horse died i stopped riding for about 4 years then i finally bought a new horse and he is really spirited and prefers western, but i love to ride bareback so i found my old english saddle and got used to trotting and cantering so i could regain confidence and balance when i rode bareback

Answer 8

you'll want to lean forward more. Try to start cantering when your horse is going up hill, it helps you get a feel for it

Answer 9

i ride bareback a ton! [i actually placed in a bareback equitation class at my last show] ive done walk/trot/canter/gallop.. its very possible to stay sitting.. its just like riding with a saddle without a saddle to keep you where you are.. alot of people bounce just cantering in a saddle.. you really have to sit deep and rock with your horse's movement through your hips.. it takes alot of ab muscle and control to get it just right, and if you dont have the muscle it can be tiring and sore but it is alot easier once your used to it but it will hurt your butt and actually scratch skin off if you canter bareback alot..

Answer 10

I have a Quarter pony who has a very bumpy canter.

Do you get tense when cantering bareback? It almost sounds to me like you do. Remember to take deep breathes and let your body sink into the horse. Wrap your legs around your horses belly, but grip with your thighs. You also need to lean back, not forward, because that helps push your weight down and puts you in proper alignment from heels up.

Be careful though. If you can't get the hang of it and keep bumping around, you're hurting your horse.

Answer 11

well, try withough stirrups alot first so it becomes like walking with no stirrups!

what i did was ride him out in the field (in the winter) with his rug on, got on the rug and it really helps you to grip not only with your knees but with your bum.

so anyway, once your very confident with cantering with no stirrups, take off the saddle and really go with the movement.

dont sit there like a stuffes duck - but really lean foward, it helps alot with bareback. lean so your on his neck with your elbows but so its comfortable.

hope this helps.

Answer 12

You can sit bareback while cantering it just takes some practice. It took me 3 months to finally be able to sit. For practice you could try to canter, with a saddle, but put the stirrups up. If you aren't using stirrups it will help your balance, but it won't be so uncomfortable for you or your horse.

Answer 13

you want to move with your horse just like in the saddle. one leg will move further then the other at canter. On that side of the horse your hip should move a little further then your other hip. try sitting on your back pockets to start.

i hope this helps have fun i love to ride bareback!!!

micheala

Answer 14

Well, Ive cantered bare back and without a halter and its alot of fun. idk how to explain to you how to do it. i just hold on tight with my legs and hold on to the hair.