Re: RC: Bareback effects on the horse

["Bonita B. Young" <corky@foothill.net>]

April,
As far as I know it is not illegal to ride bareback in an endurance ride, as I
recall there was a fellow about 20 years ago that road with just a bareback pad
out here on the west coast.  He did a lot of running also at a time when that
was a new thing to do.  The only problem I could find with riding with out a
saddle would be where to put all the things I like to carry on a ride but if you
can figure out how to take with you what you need with out a saddle I say why
not.

Corky Young

April Lee wrote:

> Hi, all,
>
>   This message is directed specifically at vets and experienced bareback
> riders (experienced means many, many hours riding bareback, not just a few
> 15 min rides to somewhere).  However, any input is welcome.
>
> Some of you may have picked up that I am a bareback rider.  I rarely use a
> saddle and I never did before buying Apache 6 months ago.  In fact, I never
> even saw a saddle used on any of my friends' horses until I'd been riding
> for 3 or 4 years.  I ride in a barebacking community.   Now saddles are a
> bit more common to me, but I'm still getting used to riding in a saddle.
>
> My training rides are done about 60% bareback.  Most of my training rides
> are 10-20 miles in length depending on the day and the time I have to ride.
> Any non-training rides (less than 10 miles, as I define it) are done
> bareback with little exception.
>
> I would like to ride Apache bareback for at least 25 milers and maybe even
> 50s down the road.  I'm quite sure if I ever do more than 50s, I'll have a
> saddle for at least part of the time!  I haven't found any mention of this
> being illegal; if anybody knows of a rule against it, I'd like to hear it.
> I'm quite sure my body can handle the barebacking to a point...when that
> point is reached, I know.  I already got a number of e-mails from my last
> related post telling me that I would switch to a saddle for my sake.  Ok,
> I'm a new person and I might.  I'm prepared for that.  I'm not totally
> opposed to saddles, just would like to ride bareback in the rides if I'm
> allowed to, feel like it, and it doesn't hurt my horse.
>
> Finally, we come to my question.  Is barebacking for long hours/miles
> detrimental to the horse?  I haven't noticed Pache being sore (in the
> back...his back legs will be a little stiff after a particularly hard uphill
> ride, but...) after any of our rides, but I know that we are just getting
> into this sport and I would like to know what the risks are for him to be
> ridden bareback for 25-50 miles at a time.  I would also like to what to
> look for to make sure he's ok and I'm not hurting him.  I will not ride
> bareback just because I'm stubborn and want to.   On the other hand, I won't
> ride in a saddle that kills him and throws me off balance just because it's
> the "accepted" thing to do.  (I know, I know, you'll say, buy a saddle that
> fits and ride more in it and you'll solve both problems...)
>
> I read the archives on this topic and came up with a lot of "you'll switch
> to a saddle" posts (not very helpful, IMO), a few "more power to you" posts,
> and only one or two that referred to the effects on the horse.  The
> mentioned effect was soreness where the human sat.  How do I check for that
> soreness?  Just press down on his back while I'm on the ground and see how
> he reacts?  Any other thoughts on what else to look for and how to test for
> it?
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> April
> Apache (whew, no girth strap today)
> Chattanooga, TN
>
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.    
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/RideCamp   
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=