At the end of last session my mentor decided to have her kids ride bareback for fun. This is what she did.
Tack:
- Rider 1: Cashel saddle, no stirrups
- Rider 2: surcingle and pad
- (You could have students ride straight bareback, too, if their balance and the horse’s back allow it).
Warm Up (with leader)
- Walk several laps to get used to riding bareback. Feel your hip drop as that hind leg moves forward.
- Stretch as far up the horse’s neck as you can go.
- Stretch down and give your horse a hug!
- Stretch your arms to the left, then to the right.
- Stretch your arms behind you, put them on your horse’s hips.
- Stretch down to touch your toes. Hold on with one hand if you need to.
- Do around the world to backward sit (with assistance as needed). Sit backwards one lap.
- Do around the world to side sit (with assistance as needed). Side sit one lap.
- Do around the world so you’re facing forward again.
Skills
- Steer small circles. Work on not leaning to the outside, try to keep your shoulders over your hips.
- Do “5-5-5” – 5 steps two point, 5 steps posting, 5 steps sitting.
- Weave cones.
- Weave cones posting.
- Go over poles in 2 point.
- Do the above in a pattern like the one below.
Cool Down
- Walk several laps. Chat.
It was a fun and laid back lesson, and a nice way to end the session with something fun. If you consider balance a skill, than I’d say that was the skill taught! This lesson also worked a lot on stretching, and strength with all that bareback posting.
****************
Note: This is not professional advice, this is a blog. I am not liable for what you do with or how you use this information. The activities explained in this blog may not be fit for every rider, riding instructor, or riding center depending on their current condition and resources. Use your best personal judgement!