Ridecamp: RE: [RC] "I can't see how bareback would help"

Another trick for learning how to feel balance, and ride straight is to ride
with only one stirrup - try each one. I was totally blown away by how much I
depended more on one leg than the other (probably due to knee injury
several years ago). I could ride easily with just my left foot in the
stirrup, but had an awful time with just my right. Since then I'm much more
aware of weight distribution, and try to use both legs evenly.

Steph

p.s. at the same clinic we did bareback stuff too - walk/trot/canter - but
used a surcingle for grip. This was also an eye opener to me - helped me
figure out where the center of balance was. I tend to lean too far forward,
this helped me find a better center of gravity.

-----Original Message-----
From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Tara Wheeler
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 9:32 AM
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [RC] "I can't see how bareback would help"


> The point is, if you are having problems with your saddle moving to the
side,
> riding bareback will help you FEEL the middle of the horse, without those
> stirrups to lean on.  If your seat is not great, it will improve your
overall
> riding skills.  If your horse has crooked development, it MAY help the
horse
> straighten out too (no promises, horses can be crooked for other reasons
than
> rider crookedness).  You don't have to ride bareback all the time, maybe
do
> it for a couple of weeks when you ride in the arena, then do it once a
week
> or a couple times a month in the arena after, just to keep what you found.
I
> really think it makes a big difference.   jeri

Jeri, thanks for having the cojones to say this.

I'm going to take it one step further.

I had massive saddle problems when I first got started riding seriously.

I bought and sold saddles like I was doing it for a living.  Nothing worked.
I spent big money on equine chiropractors and custom made saddles.

No one would come up and tell me to my face, but it finally came down to the
ugly fact that there wasn't a saddle made that would fit my horse WITH ME
RIDING UNBALANCED ON TOP OF IT.

I took some balanced riding lessons and surprise, surprise, my horse stopped
having saddling problems (not a thing wrong with that car but the nut behind
the wheel).  Now I try to ride bareback on a regular basis and take centered
riding lessons when I can afford them.  I'm far from perfect, but I'm
working on it.  :)

Ride bareback, ride without stirrups, take vaulting lessons, take centered
riding lessons, but please learn to balance in the saddle without gripping.

Both you and your horse will be the happier for it.

I've also noticed that once you learn how to be balanced in the saddle,
you'll stand a much greater chance of not coming off in a wreck.

Not tensing up is the key.  Gripping with your legs raises your center of
gravity and can sling you out of the saddle.  I'm still working on this part
especially.    Zen and the art of riding the horse.  :)


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