Mounting bareback?

Question

I ride bareback now and again, but I can never get up right. It always takes me at least two tries to get up on my 14 hand POA, and then only with lots of groaning and poking and kicking her. I know there is a better way, but I cannot find it. I am 5' 4", not super athletic but not really lazy either. I really don't want to use a bucket to mount up. I want to ride my 15 hand Quarter Horse bareback, but I know I could never jump the extra 4 inches. Help?

Answer 1

personaly i dont recomend riding bareback, i breed horses and have delt with the difficulties and this can cause them much pain in their later years due to improper riding in which causes a deep arch in the back.

Answer 2

I`m 5`2`` and my horse is 15.3hands so what i do is grab a strip of his mane step by his neck and swing up by pulling on his mane and jumping hope that helps.

Answer 3

just use a mounting block or master the indian swing. Mounting blocks are easier on their backs and are safer though.

Answer 4

get a leg up or grap her mane and pull your self up. or just put your hands on her back and push your self up.

Answer 5

I have the same problem. For some reason I could mount onto a 16 h horse but I couldent mount onto my 14.2 hand pony. I started practising. Here are some different techniques

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRPQIIZky...

Answer 6

just use a stool it will help

Answer 7

DaisyKJ has the perfect video for you to watch. I find that the best way to learn to mount from the ground is to start by having someone hold your horse so they don't move off while your trying to learn to mount. (I usually mount from the front)Then go to your normal mounting side (drivers side) and grab a hold of the mane (near the withers) with your left hand. Then turn your body so your back is facing the horse's neck with your left arm stretched out but still holding a good size chunk of your horses mane. When your ready turn and take about one step (almost like your a spring that's been unwound and is curling back up) and  leap up (using your left arm with all your strenght) with the right side of your body coming as close to the horse without touching. You want to try and throw yourself over the horse at first to make sure you get high enough. Its almost like mounting in a western saddle, throwing yourself up and over, while only using the horn. When you go to throw your right right leg up and over the horses back make sure to bend your knee or you'll end up kicking your horse. When you first start out practicing you are bound to make mistakes and possibly knee/kick your horse and that's why you want someone to hold your horses head for you to keep them in place and not have your horse take off on you by accident. Practice somewhere with soft ground! When I learned years ago if you do happen to fall you don't want to fall on a hard surface or rocks! Its hard to explain how to mount bareback without being able to show the person how its done. You need a good amount of arm muscle to do it and might need to build up your muscle first. However once you get it you'll never forget it. I'm 5'2 and can mount my 17.2hh TB gelding bareback with no problem! Practice definantly makes perfect with this exercise but you will eventually get it! Best of luck !

Answer 8

I'd guess practice is the only way to go with this.. without using a stool you can still try to position yourself uphill from the horse if possible.

Answer 9

You should practice! Just try to stand as high up as you can and swing your leg over with your other leg on your tippy toes. Or, just use something simple to help you, like sticks or something to raise you up. Just practice so you can get the hang of it!

Answer 10

Here is a youtube video that is extremely helpful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHpK9F1SC...

EDIT: this video is 100% better than the other one posted before. I watched the other one many times, but never could get it. This new one i found is very helpful.

Answer 11

get a stool of ask some one too help you up for the first few times..and then you'll get use to ut

Answer 12

Use a mounting block.

Answer 13

Here are some videos that might help:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VlhGHnBJKj...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=O6WUIy9Jmz...

Hope this helps!

Answer 14

Lets see if I can explain my trick...I hope you'll understand maybe Ill get creative and film it. Ok so this works for my 16.2 hand horse. I stand up almost by his head(left side) I take a hold of his mane with the left hand about half way up his mane and my right hand is lower on his mane. My feet are as far back as I can get them and then all in one motion I step my left foot forward and swing my right foot over his back. Dont do this with spurs, your heel might catch him in the flank on the other side. I think you can do it. Im only 5'6" (so Im not much taller then you). You'll have to practice and maybe try different hand positions that might help. It does take a lot of upper body strength

Answer 15

4 ways to mount a horse bareback:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRPQIIZky...

My sisters always got on using the 2nd way.  I could only do it the 1st way.  They could swing their leg over the horse's back and kind of hook their foot over the horse's off-side hip.  Then pull themselves upright on the horse.  

Takes practice and a gentle horse.  Good luck!