Bitless Horse Association
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

bareback riding

5 posters

Go down

bareback riding Empty bareback riding

Post by renoo Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:55 am

I was not sure where to put this question, but I believe that this would be the right place...

I love riding bareback, but I'm pretty convinced that riding this way is worse to the horse than riding with a saddle..

...unless you have a correct seat and are truly balanced, you can do more harm to the horses back - because when you sit bareback on a horse, the pressure from your weight is directly on the horses back, not dispersed [correct term?] with the help of a saddle (more pressure per square), especially detrimental for younger horses who are still growing...

so I try to keep my time on my horse bareback to minimum - like coming home from the pasture, cooling-off...

Agree, or not, and why?
renoo
renoo

Posts : 9
Join date : 2009-09-16
Age : 38
Location : Latvia

Back to top Go down

bareback riding Empty Re: bareback riding

Post by lightertouch Fri Sep 25, 2009 7:33 am

You Make some great points though I think its worth remembering that saddles add to the weight focussed on the saddle area, as do the weight of stirrups . Also girths can cause damage to the girth area . on the plus side. as you say saddles may distribute the weight better and be more comfortable for the horse.

the positives of bareback are warmth is shared, keeping the muscles of both parties loose, and the connection emotionally and physically tends to be better, closer allowing for more subtle communication . And of course its jolly good practice for us riders!

I think a bit of both is probably a good idea.
lightertouch
lightertouch

Posts : 249
Join date : 2008-08-10

Back to top Go down

bareback riding Empty Re: bareback riding

Post by Jo Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:28 pm

I do a lot of bareback riding - I love the warmth and the connection - but I do see your point and recently invested in a Barefoot ride on pad - and I have to say that Trelawny loves and its very comfortable for me too - I think he's happier because I am more secure - generally I have a good seat - but have recently had back problems so my balance probably hasnt been at its best.
Jo
Jo

Posts : 110
Join date : 2008-08-11
Location : UK

http://www.walksfarphotography.co.uk

Back to top Go down

bareback riding Empty Re: bareback riding

Post by Sydney Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:09 pm

My main point about bareback riding. It teaches you independent balance and to feel what the horse is doing. However seat bones create a smaller pressure point where your weight is distributed. Here is where a simple bareback pad is useful. It will cusion your seat bone on the horses back. So long as theres some sort of barrier between your horse and your butt it's fine. I have a natural ride bareback pad and I absolutely love it for bareback riding. I take the stirrups off. I do it often, bareback and bridless. It's great fun.

Bareback riding is great. I would say stay away from it if: your horse has muscular of skeletal problems with his back and you are not using a pad. Long, loooong rides without first conditioning your horses back to being ridden bareback should be avoided too.
Sometimes a saddle with certain conformation, treeless or treed hurts a horse far more than hours and hours of bareback riding. It would be wise to get your horses back assessed by an equine massage therapist or chiropractor to make sure there are no skelletal muscular problems before you embark on long bareback rides.

When I teach each and every student of mine rides bareback for quite the wile once they have learned the basics. No better way to balance yourself and feel how your horse is balancing than bareback.
Sydney
Sydney

Posts : 292
Join date : 2008-08-10
Age : 35
Location : Harrow Ontario Canada

http://www.nurturalhorse.com

Back to top Go down

bareback riding Empty Re: bareback riding

Post by FlorayG Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:19 pm

NO, I think everyone should ride bareback loads.
Unless you are very heavy and your horse has a prominent spine - but then you just wouldn't do it much would you! If your backside is comfortable then I think the horse's back is comfortable too
FlorayG
FlorayG

Posts : 296
Join date : 2008-08-09

Back to top Go down

bareback riding Empty Re: bareback riding

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum