[lilkitty90]

ok i've only ridden bareback all of 6 times. and i have already gotten into a gallop just not for long as it starts getting bouncy lol so my question is WHERE on their back are you suposed to sit while bareback?? where is it most comfortable for them? i have been told to sit like right at the withers. and one girl even told me to sit back toward her rear. and one told me toward the middle? does it matter? and do you just decided where to sit for each horse? so where do you sit?

 

[1dog3cats17rodents]

Most horses have "dip" where you naturally fit. Just like the saddle, you should slide into the proper place. Usually it is right behind the withers, with your legs behind the shoulders (about where you would sit with a saddle)

 

[luvmyqh]

just keep going you'll eventually get the flow and used to it!!

 

[riccil0ve]

Most horses have "dip" where you naturally fit. Just like the saddle, you should slide into the proper place. Usually it is right behind the withers, with your legs behind the shoulders (about where you would sit with a saddle)

Exactly. You would sit bareback on the same spot you'd sit in the saddle. For a horse with a super long back, like my mare, I find myself sliding back pretty far if I'm not careful, so I ride with a breastplate on my saddle, and ride closer to her withers when bareback.

 

[mom2pride]

Actually you are really slightly further forward than you would be with a saddle, because you are right behind the withers essentially; with a saddle you're going to be a bit further back...not much, but I couldn't see myself sitting where I sit when I'm riding with a saddle, when I'm bareback.

 

[TwisterRush]

I usually sit exactly where i would be when i am in a saddle, sometime's i will slide back alittle bit because i am to far into their shoulder and it does get rather uncomfortable.. for me that i have noticed and if somethat should happen, such as a buck and i am not used to the horse i am riding's gait well i find myself FALLING down their neck. *Pepper, Because i mostly ride Marshy Bareback etc*

 

[smrobs]

I have found the perfect place for me to ride is just behind the withers where their back kinda flattens out (no withers to poke your area).

 

[lilkitty90]

thanks for all the replies guys!! i'll definatly be paying attention to where i am seated now! and i'm ordering one of those bareback pads that gypsy tally makes for better grip then once i can get the hang of it in a bareback pad i am gonna go fully bareback again. because i went about going bareback the wrong way lol instead of riding in the saddle without stirrups first i just put a saddle pad (haha BAD idea!!!) on my horse and rode that way but i wasn't thinking and of course the saddlepad is gonna slip off and so did i! then i got on bareback using a bucket... and the bucket fell... but eventually i got it lol.

so another question HOW do you get on bareback? lol i'm awfully short and my horse is VERY patient lol i tried hoping on her bareback but i ended up slighlt kneeing her in the stomache. she just grunted and stood there and i was like ohh crap. i've tried standing her next to a hill to get on but that doesn't work either lol apparently i can't jump high.... so how do you get on bareback??

 

[StormyBlues]

First question- the niche is right behind the withers and it's pretty comfy. If you are to far back, you are sitting on the kidneys and that is REALLY painful for the horse.

Second Question- I get on the second rung of our 5' fence and jump and swing my leg at the same time. It's acctually pretty cool, but hard to do.

 

[paintluver]

This is where I sit, right behind the withers.

(My legs are a bit far forward though in this pic I think.)

 

[smrobs]

Some people can vault onto the back of a horse. I used to do it easily but got out of practice and now I can only do it with a fight on shorter horses. I will usually lead them up beside something to climb on just because it is easier (on me and them). You might try teaching them to bow or lay down on command or get them comfortable enough so that they are confident enough to stand beside whatever you want to climb up (including wire fencing if the need arises).

 

[lilkitty90]

yeah i usually use someone to get a leg up, or the bed of a truck, a tire or a stool, depending on where i am at lol but id love to be able to just hop on bareback and go but i guess i'll have to keep practicing lol

 

[tscowgirl]

i wind my hind into my horses mane really low so i have a grip on the mane and even some if the neck then stretch out so your back is to the horse and your other hand is stretched by the horses head, when you are ready it will only be one or two quick steps and a leap make sure u use your right hand (the one not in the mane) to push urself into the air instead of just trying to flop your leg up. it takes a lot of practice but its great when you can get it and once you can get up this way you can be confident riding places where there are no stools, such as trail riding enjoy

the horse in the pic has been taught to be mounted this way and even to take a couple of steps forward when im getting on so when his front left leg is forward i can use it to lever myself up if im struggling, like when ive got a million layers of winter clothes on

 

[dashygirl]

Most horses have "dip" where you naturally fit. Just like the saddle, you should slide into the proper place. Usually it is right behind the withers, with your legs behind the shoulders (about where you would sit with a saddle)

And when you sit this far up you can grip with your legs basically where the cinch is. Esp. when you're galloping. Like this:

 

[StormyBlues]

GAlloping bareback is the best!