Riding Bareback

This week was my first time riding bareback, and to tell you the truth, I love it! Its awesome because you can actually feel the horse move instead of feeling the saddle move with the horse, which I would assume would improve your riding incredibly (let me know if i'm wrong).  Before I start with my story, let me help you visualize the setting. I ride in an big indoor arena (but only in half of it because the other half has farming equipment and is sectioned off with barrels). I am usually in the barn by myself when i ride because the owners work during the day so i work their horses when they are gone (for the most part).  

Since this was my first time riding bareback i wasn't quite sure how to get on the horse because i had never gotten on a horse without stirrups or a mounting block (the place i was riding at doesn't have mounting blocks)...I was going to ride Harry so i was really excited :) As i tried numerous ways to get up onto him (he is about 15.3hh tall) he stood there patiently waiting for me to figure out how i was going to get up there, and finally i took him over to a barrel, which i proceeded to climb up onto, then i climbed from the barrel to Harry.

Because i am not accustomed to riding bareback, as soon as i got on i almost fell off the other side, but quickly grabbed onto his mane and as soon as i retained my balance i cued him to move forward. The feeling of riding bareback is like none other; you can feel his spine move back and forth and his skin moving across his muscles.

The next day i also rode without a saddle and was determined to get on the horse from the ground without help.  After a series of gymnastics (putting my leg almost over my head) of trying to get on and failing i placed one hand on his withers and one hand on his hindquarters and jumped up. I lay there straddling the horse with my head hanging down on one side of the horse and my feet hanging down on the other side...i was stuck, i couldn't get the rest of the way up so i slid back down. The second try was successful! I tried getting up the same way, but this time i was able to maneuver myself to get on the horse!! After I finally got on we had a wonderful ride :)

I believe the hardest thing about riding bareback (besides getting on) is keeping your leg in the correct position and not letting it slip down. But anyway overall it was a good experience for me and my horse!

If you have any suggestions about how to get on the horse bareback or any other stories let me know!!!

until next time
it's just me
learning about them

<3 horse_girl