Bareback Riding

Ive been riding western for a long time and I started bareback pretty recently, my walks and trots are just fine..but the canter bareback scares me to be honest lol. Now, me and my horse do barrel racing and all sorts of fast events..so its not the speed that bothers me..i just don't know how to hold on!
Anybody have any idea's or tips for me?

Try riding without stirrups in your saddle. You shouldn't have to hang on, it's all about balance :)

I can ride without the stirrups....its just when im bareback.. :(

Lean back a bit, & grab onto that mane!

You can try wrapping your legs around your horse. I have the same probalem. I used to love cantering bareback and even jumping but then one day I fell off and it kinda scared me so now I just am slowly getting used to bareback. And you have to be careful about wrapping your legs around a sensitive horse because when I did it with Doc it helped my balance but it made him think he had to go faster so he went off in a gallop and I slowed him down and once we got to the trot the bounciness was to much and I fell off. But I laugh at myself now about it so I'm fine. The worst part is the transitions from trot to canter and canter to trot. But anyways just grab mane and go with the horse. Good luck!

I went to a demo on bareback riding..... what you don't want to do is grip with your legs really tight.... if you lose your balance PUSH on the withers..... it will actually be pushing you onto your balance point.... be sure to sit on your but and not your crotch... guys do this naturally to protect themselves, but girls tend to sit on their crotch because saddles were designed for men more then women and that's what stirrups do to you.....

When you're balanced you can actually see light between your knees and your horse and still not fall off

Ya, do not grip with your legs. It could make your horse confused and throw you off balance easier in my opinion. I started out bareback for four months before I could ride in a saddle. I hated this saddle. After I got Blu I didn't ride bareback as often, and now I am afraid to. Hopefully, I can take Blu to the roundpen and work on riding bareback with him.

Anyhow, keep your legs loose but balance with your knees and your seat. Being centered is very important. Balance is one of the greatest things you can learn. Don't be afraid to grab the mane and maybe pull out a few hairs. It's ok.

When you find your bareback skills, cantering will seem much easier than trotting! Lol. Just move with the horse. Not flopping everywhere. :roll: Just move your body rhythmically with the horse.

Practice... (lol)... Hold onto the mane if you have to and just practice. I love to canter and gallop bareback, but I can't with my girl (she bucks)... i'm trying to get her out of that habit... but it's so fun!

This is not actually the same, its just what I do for practice balance.

When my husband and I are riding the 4wheeler together, I pretend that I'm on a horse. I ride behind him with no foot support and I put my hand in front of me near my waist and close my eyes. I try to fully sit on my butt and not roll my hip too far forward. Then I just try to ride as balanced as possible. He won't let me fall off..I hope!

Its really good when we go up and down hills and turn corners. I seem to really find my core muscles. You don't get the same bump as when a horse trots or canters but you get faster speeds and quicker respond times without over correcting. I seem to have the problem of over correcting my balance then fall off the opposite side.

Don't know if this will help, its just what I do for practice.

Just go for it one time and it just becomes natural.