The most important part of horse back riding is balance, without it you won’t stay on for very long (I speak from experience). I am constantly being asked, especially by beginning riders, “What is the best way to improve my balance?”
The best answer I have found to this question, is to ride bareback! This might seem daunting, especially to the beginner, but when done properly it is perfectly safe, and very enjoyable.
Once you have ridden your equine friend bareback, you will seldom want to use a saddle again.
I believe that bareback is the best way to start a beginning rider out. That’s right. The first time a person ever gets on a horse, they should do it without a saddle.
It does wonders for the rider’s balance as well as confidence. Riding with a saddle allows the rider to get too sloppy, this is especially true of Western saddles, but true of English as well.
The reason for this is that saddles don’t require as much effort. The rider becomes dependent on the stirrups, the saddle horn, the cantle etc. for their balance rather than proper position and muscle control. When riding bareback, it is just you and the horse, nothing to support you or to get in your way.
The best way to start out is with a gentle smooth gaited horse being lunged by a responsible trainer. You should start out at a slow walk and remain at that gate until they feel comfortable moving faster. You should be sitting up strait, heels down, eyes forward. Your muscles should be in use, but they should be relaxed.
Concentrate on the rhythm of the horse’s gait and should be move with the horse. This will keep your body from tensing up. It is a difficult concept to explain as it is something that must be felt by the rider, but with time and practice it is something that can be easily achieved.
Next, try some of the following fun exercises to help keep the body in proper balanced position: Stick both arms out, one to each side like birds wings. This will prevent the you from slouching and grabbing the horse’s mane or leaning on the horse’s neck. Flap your arms like a bird’s wings, make circles both forward and backward, and swing your arms from side to side.
Next proceed into the trot, and apply all the same exercises at that speed, and when you become comfortable with that, you can proceed to the canter and begin the exercises all over again at that speed.
Once you are comfortable with those exercises at the walk, trot and canter, another fun exercise to try is called “around the world.
” This should always be performed at a stand still the first time. Make sure the horse is standing quietly and is being held by a competent handler before attempting this one.
When everything is safe and ready, you will change from the regular forward position riding position, to a sideways position, to backward, to sideways again, and the back to forward again.
This exercise can also be performed at the walk, jog, and even the canter but should only be done so when the rider has completely mastered the walk and jog.
These exercises will improve your position and balance, and while they might look a little silly they are certainly a lot of fun. When you go back to riding with the saddle, you will won’t look silly at all, and you will be amazed at how effortless it feels!
Author:
Caterina Tadlock
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