Yesterday, a well-meaning friend, who saw the picture above, lectured me on Facebook about the dangers of riding bareback. It kind of went back and forth, but her last statement was this:
Riding on your property bareback is great, but you never know what you’ll encounter on a trail. Your horse isn’t going to worry about your comfort, only about his flight instinct to get away fast from danger.I ended the exchange saying that I can handle whatever he dishes out.
It got me thinking, how many other people think that trail riding bareback is just beyond dangerous--and borders on irresponsible. I googled it and found this interesting thread, where most of the commenters simply LOVE riding bareback on the trails. Horse Forum: Riding Bareback on the Trails.
Here are my thoughts on "Riding Bareback on the Trail." And by the way, these are only suggestions--each rider needs to determine for themselves what they feel comfortable riding.
1. The same rule of thumb for trail riding, in general, applies to riding bareback on the trails--you need to be confident on your horse at every gait--walk, trot, lope, and canter. You have to be ready to handle whatever comes your way out on the trail. If your horse goes into flight mode, you need to be able to sit whatever its response is. In other words, if you can do this--
You're probably safe on the trails, my well-meaning friend!
2. Do it at home first. I rode with a friend two weeks ago who had never ridden her, otherwise solid, horse bareback. She was aware that it might spook him, so she got on in the arena. Indeed, it did spook him, and he bucked her off into the sand. We moved him to the round-pen and I held him as she got on again, and he was perfectly fine. For some reason, the feel of bareback initially unsettled him. But we rode for miles that day and he was golden. Also, she rides her other horses bareback a lot, and can sit almost anything.
3. Bareback riding will improve your core balance--and FAST. When I first started bareback riding, and those who follow my blog know it has been recent, I was initially fearful. Part of that was because I was using muscles I hadn't used before, and it was demanding more core strength and balance. But my body learned very fast and soon I was able to balance and ride all gaits. I started gripping less and less and balancing more and more. That core balance is good for me. When I get done with a bareback trail ride, I actually feel like I've gotten a work out.
4. Bareback riding in the heat is going to make your pants sweaty. (No explanation needed.)
5. Bareback riding in the winter is going to help keep you WARM! (applause here)
6. It's easier to slip off bareback than get thrown off in saddle, and getting off and on your horse bareback is good practice for slipping off, in an emergency. How many of us actually know how far it is from the back of our horse to the ground without stirrups or mounting blocks? Well, you find out pretty quick when you dismount bareback. And that information is not lost on your brain. You can actually feel your brain calculating the length of fall, the impact to the feet and legs and joints, and adjusting the body to accommodate it all.
7. Riding long distances will not be kind to your "bare" seat. (If you know what I mean.) Wednesday I rode miles with no padding, and suffered the consequences. Yesterday, I rode with a semi-diaper, and it was much better. All of this is to say, SOMEONE needs to invent bareback riding pants!! They need some padding in the seat, and they need a full leather seat to grip the horse. I rode in my Kerrits winter riding pants on Wednesday, and when I was going up steep hills, I was slipping and had to grab onto Cowboy's mane. Yesterday, I rode in jeans, and there was much better grip. But if I had a leather seat in my pants--I'd stick even better, and it would withstand sweat. So please, someone invent BAREBACK RIDING PANTS.
8. Every new (and even experienced) rider should get lessons riding bareback. When I went full-on bareback, my riding improved in saddle. Shocker! Now, I'm a believer in starting bareback. When I was a kid, my friend's parents would let us ride their horses, but NOT use their saddles. Thus, all I knew was bareback riding, and I hated it. When I finally got my own horse, and a saddle, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Stirrups. Yay! But I've come full circle. Looking back, I realize they did us a favor, and every young person learning to ride should first ride bareback--on a well-trained horse.
9. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will make you feel more at ONE with your horse, than riding bareback. I swear, you will feel the slightest thought in your horse's brain trickle down its back and into its feet. Likewise, your horse will feel your slightest thought. You'll find that the saddle is a barrier between your communication with your horse, and you will be surprised at what they're trying to say, but for the most part hide. Yesterday, we rode in a group of four. Cowboy hates groups more than 2 or 3. He was giving me signs, all through the ride, that he was uncomfortable in this larger group. They were subtle, but I felt them every time a horse would get too close to his bubble.
Today, I'm going to go shopping for full-seat winter pants. I have already found some online, but I don't know what size to buy. I'm thinking that I'll start using them for these bareback rides through winter. They don't have padding, but I may be able to sew something in and invent my own bareback riding pants. Maybe a little memory foam--or who knows--I'll just need a trip out to Hobby Lobby.
One final thought: I'm not advocating that everyone ride bareback. I think it's easier and more fun than we give it credit for, but it's not without risk. Nothing with horses is without risk. In the end, you have to do what you feel comfortable doing with the horse you have. I only wrote this post to get off my mind what my well-meaning friend brought up--but that I didn't think was Facebook length. Therefore, I've subjected you all to it! Sorry 'bout that.
And happy bareback trails (or just trails--whatever!), my friends!
