For those that have never had the childhood experience of riding bareback, I am sorry.
I look back at how many wonderful rides I had bareback and the incredible sense of balance I developed. I also developed some bad habits too, but still, there's something great about that keen sense of knowing where the horse is underneath you while he is galloping in a group or going down the side of a hill or over an obstacle.
I look back at how many wonderful rides I had bareback and the incredible sense of balance I developed. I also developed some bad habits too, but still, there's something great about that keen sense of knowing where the horse is underneath you while he is galloping in a group or going down the side of a hill or over an obstacle.
Even better are the memories of trying to get on said horses!
In my experience, there are generally two ways to mount a horse bareback. One is what I would call swinging up, where you grab some mane in the left hand and swing, using your momentum to get up and onto the horse. Generally the graceful way in which people get up and it enables you to get on taller horses.
In my experience, there are generally two ways to mount a horse bareback. One is what I would call swinging up, where you grab some mane in the left hand and swing, using your momentum to get up and onto the horse. Generally the graceful way in which people get up and it enables you to get on taller horses.
Then there is what I call bellying up. I don't know what other people call it.
It's like doing a giant pushup on the side of the horse, flopping and pushing yourself up, onto, and over the horse. Unfortunately, since physical strength is required to push your own mass up onto the horse, it is often delegated to the smaller animals. In my experience, fatter horses are also harder to get onto using this method.
But once upon a time, I wanted to prove that I could belly up onto an even bigger horse. This horse was 16.2 1/2 hands.
The first time, I tried I ran flat into his side.
The second time that also happened.
Here was the third try.
It's like doing a giant pushup on the side of the horse, flopping and pushing yourself up, onto, and over the horse. Unfortunately, since physical strength is required to push your own mass up onto the horse, it is often delegated to the smaller animals. In my experience, fatter horses are also harder to get onto using this method.
But once upon a time, I wanted to prove that I could belly up onto an even bigger horse. This horse was 16.2 1/2 hands.
The first time, I tried I ran flat into his side.
The second time that also happened.
Here was the third try.
Not sure why I did that weird dolphin kick.
But here you go. Blog proof that I have been on a horse before.
But here you go. Blog proof that I have been on a horse before.
And I am also (not so) secretly congratulating myself on figuring how to download old video I had and then make it into that animation.
Small victories, you know. That's the life of a semi feral rider. Can't get too tame or overly ambitious.
How about you guys? Anyone enjoy riding bareback? How do/did you mount your willing steed?
I grew up only riding bareback, and rode that way for many years. Red and I are riding bareback right now, as we don't have a saddle that fits. I get on using a high mounting block - I used to be able to easily get on from the ground bareback, but not any more . . .
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