Your Horse challenges you…
to ride bareback
RIDING BAREBACK IS an excellent way to develop your strength as a rider. Many riders use their saddle and their reins as a crutch. However, with the saddle gone — which normally supports you and helps to hold you in the correct position — you have to rely on the strength in your legs and in your core to keep yourself upright and on your horse.
Removing the saddle can reveal flaws in your riding position that you may not have even realised were there. Removing your stirrups is also a good way to test this. When you ride bareback, without several inches of leather, stuffing and saddle pad in the way, a channel of communication opens up between you and your horse. You will be able to feel his every movement. This means that you can feel your horse’s intentions more clearly and react more quickly. Experiment with using your weight as an aid and learning how your horse responds. The next time you ride in a saddle, try to recall this awareness of how your horse’s body moves to better understand the effects that your own movement and position have on his back.
Secure seat
By riding bareback and improving your core stability you should find that the next time your horse bolts or spooks you’re sitting more securely in the saddle.
You’ll likely discover that you tire more quickly when you ride bareback, especially when working in trot or canter. If you want to improve your strength quickly, then make a point of riding bareback for five or 10 minutes at the end of each schooling session. If you’ve not tried riding bareback with your horse before, make sure that you do it in a safe place, such as an enclosed arena. You could even try it on the lunge or with someone holding/leading your horse. Ensure that you wear a riding hat at all times.
There’s no need to even move off anywhere, though, if you don’t feel comfortable doing so — simply sitting on your horse bareback while he’s standing still can help you to develop an understanding of the sensitivity of his back and the line of communication that exists there. Your horse is the best riding instructor you will ever have.