Bareback help

It is my goal to ride and jump bareback on my Arab. We are working on the jumping part, as she is inexperienced right now, but whenever I try to ride her bareback, even just at a walk on the flat, she seemed....uncertain. If I ask her to trot and end up using my legs as I would in saddle to stay on, she is taking that as a sign to go faster. She listens perfectly under saddle, but bareback she is....less than ideal to ride. Any ideas on how I can get her to listen to me without a saddle? She just doesn't seem to get that she is suppose to listen the same and not speed up. I'm not sure how to fix this.

I'm thinking its a rider issue.

Are you tense? Tension causes poor balance and can make the horse more ready to move forward due to that tension they feel.
To counteract this, I would say just walk for now. Don't focus on anything but breathing in, and breathing out. Like doing some mini meditation on horseback. Sing a four beat song, or hum it. While you are doing that, you can relax more, and feel the horses movement more readily.

Your relying on your legs to balance yourself could also be what's giving her muddled cues. Again, balance comes from relaxation and your core. And trust me, sometimes when I'm riding bareback my abs ache quite a bit.

When asking for a trot, sing a two beat song, or a song in half time, rather. If not that, think "1,2" in the speed you want to help your body move into that speed. It helped me a lot with my seat when riding bareback.

Are you truly bareback or do you have a bareback pad? If you don't have a pad on, I would advise starting with one. It will give you a little more to grip on without squeezing your horses sides and once she gets used to that amount of pressure than you can take the pad off. I also agree that you are probably a bit tenser and Arabians are very sensitive animals. Good luck

I wouldn't recommend a pad at all, really. Especially those with stirrups.

If unless for health reasons for the animal, then bareback pads give a false sense of security. I never started with a pad, and part of me doesn't even want to because of the poissibility my seat won't be as good.
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I think you may be tensing as well. Remember that its not about your legs keeping you on its your seat and pelvis. I remind myself of this by thinking about a story I once heard. There was a rider who was a double amputee and did not have legs. This person was able to ride quite well. The rider was able to do this because weight shifts within their seat bones (pelvis). They were riding exclusively on seat cues and not on leg cues.

I would suggest getting a nice slow trot under saddle and a unbeatable stop. Working on walk and relaxation then asking for that nice slow trot bareback. That way when you feel off balance you can ask for that stop and rebalance instead of tensing.

Good advice so far!

Imagine your legs as really long and touching the ground, like you are standing while mounted. Think long legs.
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I'm thinking maybe I am tensing. She is really good under saddle and luckily hhas an amazing "woah". (Actually when I first started training her, no matter what came out of your mouth meant "woah." It didn't matter if you were saying hi to a fellow barn mate or simply saying "good girl". She's come a long way since then. ;) ) I'm going to have to try her bareback again and see. Maybe if I can relax she will relax.

And no, I never use a pad. My trainer tried to get me to use one whenever I do bareback jumping in a lesson (with another horse) or just riding for fun. I prefer not to use them as I agree it gives a false sense of security. And I feel less connected to whoever I'm riding. If Dreamer persists on acting like that even when I can confirm I am relaxed, I will def consider using one. But it is true, I'm probably a major part of the problem. I'll give it a-go and see how she responds! Thanks!

I don't know if this would help, but I frequently do my post-ride cool downs bareback (tossing my saddle over the gate or something) and it helps both me and my horse become more relaxed without a saddle.

I also talk a lot when I ride (ha) and when I am asking for a slooow, eaaasy trot my movements and leg pressure are slow, my words are slooooow and drawn out, and I exhale. It prevents me from tensing up!

This is obviously rider tension.

When you are starting to rode bareback forget about the correct position and learn to be secure with a balanced seat. To do this lean back and let your legs go forward. This stops you gripping with your lower leg and telling the horse to go forward/faster.
When you are sitting deep without gripping with your legs you can bring your leg under you and sit more upright.

I did a lot of bareback riding and on a rough trotting horse would sit so I was leaning way back with my feet stuck by the horses shoulder and remain sitting deep. It was easy to just sit on the butt and just stay there! Gave me a very secure and independent seat.