What to do while riding bareback

Question

Ok I have this new thing for riding my horse bareback.. I've done it a billion times and want to try new stuff. Maybe games, exercises, anything! What do you do when you ride bareback? I walk, trot, canter, gallop. No i do not jump because of an accident in the past. Thank you for all the help!

Answer 1

if you have the nerve, you can do anything without a saddle that you can do in a saddle - except rope. How about vaulting? riding sidesaddle? reining? mounted shooting (you can use a squirt gun with cool aid). An obstacle course with tarps and stringers and stuff. Of course, I check cows and fences and stop at waterholes for a swim when I'm riding bareback.

Answer 2

You could go in and out of poles, stuff like that. There is always racing. Did you know you can play soccer on horseback with a very large ball (assuming your horse is dead broke)?

Answer 3

When i was 12-13ish i would ride my horse bareback EVERYWHERE, the only time i saddled up, was when i had a show to go to.

Here are some of the things i did bareback.

Trails (we walk trot canter and race on the trail, lol)

Swimming on horseback (we would go to this big river and the horse would swim while we are on its back, really good thing to do with your horse as it builds a LOT of muscle for the horse)

Barrel Race (its been my favorite thing to do for a LONG time, so you know i couldn't miss that one!)

Bareback is really a good way to make you a better rider, i would recommend doing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING bareback!!

Good Luck!

Answer 4

games like little obsticle courses and stepping over logs but not so u r jumping or stuff like that  

Answer 5

well if you get a chance to ride with friends.. do little games.

my version of the down and back.. where you're bareback, you have to mount, gallop around the cone, and pass the starting line before your opponent. (two separate cones.)

egg and spoon bareback style

if you dont have ppl you can ride with. teach yourself to mount bareback. earn your horses trust, ride sideways, sit backwards, maybe teach a trick or two.

there are many games, search games on horseback (all of them can be done bareback.. or most all of them)

its just the matter of having friends to do them with

and if you have a place, SWIMMING

Answer 6

try to fall gracefully...

Answer 7

Ahh! Riding bareback is amazing! I don't have a saddle, and I never need one! What I like to do is get one barrel, and trot the horse, but right as you're turning make him gallop full speed it's so much fun! Also, turn around on him and lay down on his behind while he walks ( I wouldn't recommend you run him ) it's comfortable and relaxing. Just do anything you can, bareback is great, and its also a great excercize and it makes you gain a better sense of balance.

Answer 8

my horse is a 13yr retired barrel horse (due to a leg injury) and he is quite a large horse, very big muscles and tall

i love to ride him bareback with just a halter on him, cause he has such an attitude it makes it fun and daring.. he is really spunky to and constantly has to be held back from crow-hoping and running off with you

very fun horse to ride, esp. bareback

helps to build the skills

Answer 9

Do you ride without a bridle?  Try riding with just a halter and lead rope.  Things you could work on are dressage movements without a bit.  Try turns on the forehand and haunches, counter canter, leg yields and half-passes.   I would warn you against riding bare back too much, because it is actually not great for your horse's back.  Its great for bonding and just messing around, but a saddle gives you weight distribution that you can't get without one.  If you really love bareback riding, you might want to consider investing in a treeless saddle.  They give you the feel of a bareback pad with much more weight distribution and security, so you could even try some jumping!  

Also, it would be fun to work on ground work with your horse.  I love working on the ground with my horse, and considering that I am recovering from surgery more often than not, it is a great way to keep both their bodies and minds in shape when you can't ride!