Horse questions?

Question

1. Does it hurt a horse to trot/canter uphill?

2. When riding bareback, is it necessary to have a bareback pad, or can I just ride with nothing between myself & the horse?

3. If I'm riding in a dressage saddle, will it hurt the horse or the saddle to jump small fences (I know an all-purpose saddle or hunter-seat saddle would be better, but I don't have one)

4. How often should I switch my stirrup leathers to ensure that the near side leathers don't get stretched out?

Answer 1

1. No,, They Just Tend To Go Faster Because Its Harder,,

2. Its Your Choice,, If You Think You Bounce Around Alot Then I Would Ride With The Bareback Pad,, But If You Good And Can Keep Your Butt Down Then Its Okk,,

3. No Not Nessecarely,, But It Would Be Good To Get A Jumping Saddle,,

4. About Once A Month

Answer 2

1.  It doesn't hurt a horse to trot/canter uphill.  As a matter of fact, that exercise can help strengthen the hind quarters.  My friends horse had stifle problems a while back and the vet said to do hill work with her...slowly at first and short periods of time working up to faster and longer.

2.  It isn't necessary to have a saddle pad when riding bareback, but if you are going to ride for a while, I would suggest one for your sake and your horses' sake.  Also, if you are riding hard (trotting or cantering) I would recommend using one as well.  (And if your horse doesn't have a nice round back.)

3.  You should be okay for now using a dressage saddle for small jumps.  

4.  I don't know the answer to this question, sorry.  But, you could always check for light wear and then switch them.

Hope this helps and have fun riding!

Answer 3

1. No, it actually helps your horse.

2. Nope, but your pants will have a funny pattern!

3. It should be fine for small fences, but if you can borrow a saddle, that would be better. It's more for you than your horse. The dressage saddle keeps your leg in a different position.

4. Whenever. Not that big a deal, but when you clean your saddle, it's a convenient time to switch.

Answer 4

If the horse is not really fit, this hill work can hurt it. Better to go up in a zig zag, same with down. You don't need a thing between the horse and your butt for bareback. Jeans or britches may add to your comfort..and a horse that is unused to being ridden bareback or that is highly sensitive will benefit from a well fitted pad. You can jump small fences in any saddle. If you get serious about jumping, you will want a jumping saddle as it will put you into the proper position to improve you and your horse's performance. I use Webbers and they haven't stretched in 30 years... I would have to guess as to when to switch for leather, but it would depend on how much work you do. When I rode, I rode a lot and my horse would get really sweaty, so the leathers might need to be switched monthly. I think I would base my schedule on visual cues. If the one was getting longer, I'd switch them then.

Answer 5

If you have a mature horse with sturdy knees and clean hocks and in condition, the hills are no problem.  If any of these circumstances are not true, then you need to be careful when doing hill work and may want to clear it with your vet.

You don't need a pad to ride bareback...if the horse is sensitive, a pad won;t matter, and for you it's more a matter of keeping your tushe clean.