The other day I rode Hemie bareback. We started with a bit-up and then did what I call a property tour: going into various arenas, working for a few minutes, then hacking around to the next arena, and adding in some work in the open spaces, etc. I kept it mostly walk-trot since Mr. Withers is not the most comfortable pony. At the end of the ride I watched a friend get a lesson and leisurely strolled around the arena. My trainer said she got a hoot out of our barebackness, to which I replied: “I pay too much money in board for him to just be a show horse!”
And while riding bareback is my telltale sign of a personal pleasure horse, to be honest I think bareback riding makes Hemie a better mount overall.
A day or two later I came across this article about riding stirrup-less. I’d read it before, but it struck home with me more this time. My gut is telling me that I really need to drop my stirrups more often, but I keep chickening out. Stirrup-less is so much harder than bareback for some reason. Maybe I need to print out some George Morris inspiration.
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I find the opposite! Bareback seems so much harder than no stirrups to me… though I do both frequently.
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I ride without stirrups (for short periods) much more often than I ride bareback. My guy isn't used to being ridden bareback, so he gets super spooky (I need to work on this).
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Drop your stirrups with us in November :)
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Oh gawd, how the hell do you trot a TB bareback? Give me a nice fat pony any day!
This post is perfect timing, I must re-institute my no-stirrup Mondays…
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I'm much more comfortable stirrupless than bareback with Alex, TB backs were just not meant for bareback riding!
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I totally feel you. I am great bareback, but can't do stirrup less!! I guess it's all about how you get good at what you practice too… :)
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