Riding bareback?

Question

So when/if I get a horse (don't worry, years from now when I'm a more suitable owner), I might possibly want to focus on bareback riding and quite possibly neck reining, and hopefully, steering the horse with my legs.

How was your experience riding/teaching?

Isn't going to be difficult to train that, isn't it?

Do horses dislike that more than riding with saddles and whatnot? Why or why not?

Oh also, how is it for the rider?

Answer 1

Before getting a horse, why dont you take lessons. its the best thing you could do before getting a horse.

But then again i lerned on my own.

Answer 2

No, i think it is more easy to teach them bareback because they respond better.

just manage to stay on and he should learn fast.

good luck.

Answer 3

well when you ride trying to steer with your legs you need to put pressure on the outside of your leg of the direction you are turning, but at first your hores will not know what your doing so light ly pull your reins the direction you want your horse to go and hopefully he is well neck-reined and knows to go to that side without get pressure on their nose (if you use a hacamore) or you might use a bit which will turn them also, so jsut work on them in the arena and put some barrels out and guide your  horse through those and then try doing it with JUST your legs until your horse has it down

Answer 4

I know some horses that don't like being rode bareback. They've never experienced some one on their back (no saddle or pad).

Sometimes when you have a older and more experienced horse, they like bareback a lot more than a saddle. I think its because it doesn't put a lot of weight on their back.

Answer 5

I love riding bareback, it is great to be in such close contact with your horse. I suggest that you d a LOT of under saddle work first. Bareback is great, but only if you have a solid understanding of the basics of riding before you do it.

My experience varied depending on which horse I was riding, high withers make it uncomfortable, but a horse that is too round doesn't give you much to hold on to.

It actually is pretty difficult, because you can't really grip with your legs, you need a really, really steady seat and calm hands. If you grip with your legs your horse will most likely misunderstand you and go faster, you in turn will grip tighter ... You see where I'm going with this.

My horse loves bareback, but there are other horses I know that cannot stand it. Make sure you massage your horse before and after and if your horse has back problems, I suggest you don't do bareback. Horses with back problems can usually be corrected with a saddle using different types of pads that evenly distribute the weight, but bareback doesn't really afford the horse the opportunity. Most horses also won't enjoy it if you're bouncing all over.

Depending on your seat and the shape of the horse, bareback can be a wonderful opportunity to learn from, the movements of the horses are much more exaggerated and therefore much easier to experience, like the swaying walk, the diagonals of the trot, and the leads of the canter and gallop. Jumping bareback is also tons of fun =].

Just make sure that you have a good seat and quiet hands before you try bareback, it can be great, but it can also be difficult and painful if you don't know what you're doing. And if your horse ever seems unhappy with the situation, be aware of that and go back to your  saddle, or get a bareback pad. Good luck, and happy trails.

Answer 6

it's going to be diffecuilt to train that way in so many other ways! thanks by

Answer 7

I would  suggest lessons in western barn. Well trained horses isn't hard at all  but you need to know what your doing.

Answer 8

Well If you watch this video, This famous lady Stacy westfall teaches her to do leg motions and stuff on saddle then on bareback.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NManWT3eFkE

My experience I was taught by my dad on bareback first then moved into a saddle.

It might take some time to train but all you really need to know is how to balance.

Unless a horse decieds to talk one day we will never know if they like saddles or not.

Well that depends on the rider some like bareback some like saddle.

For me I like saddle.