[BirdieGirl]

I don't have the best balance when in the saddle. I'm not so bad anymore, I've gotten better thanks to dancer's frequent spooks, kicks, and bolts...so now I can at least stay in the saddle for a severe spook anyway! But I would still like to ask you all if there are any workout, activities, whatever, that I could do to improve.

[tlhaley]

I bought an older book by Sally Swift on centered riding. I also ride bareback to help with my balance. They say if you can ride bareback you can def. ride with a saddle. I ride bareback in the arena and around the barn. Start in a round pen until you get more comfortable to move to more open areas.

Hope that helps some.

[BirdieGirl]

I ain't doin it on dancer! I'd kill myself! if it weren't for stirrups I'd have fallen off for sure! lol, but once I find a more relaxed horse I definatly want to try bareback. Thanks! There won't be any horses at our house or my neighbors this winter though so until next spring I won't have any four-legged, one ton buddies to hang out with...

[AutumnAttic]

no stirrup work, and lots of bareback

[mustang mad]

Chuck your stirrups lol ( not literaly (sp)) its brilliant work for balance just make sure u dont grip with ur legs and remember to breathe. If u dont want to have no stirrups then u can do exercises in the saddle like touching ur toes ur horses ears, tail. alos u can do things like round the world and scissor they all help lol

[horsinaround234]

well i would maybe get a book that might help u such as centered riding by sally swift. also when i ride i like to take my feet out of my stirrups and walk for a while then trot then possibly even canter. my mare spooks sometimes but because i have my saddle i kno if she does i have something to hold on to. it also makes me alot more comfortable in the saddle. i have done it alot with my mare and we have alot of uinity now compared to when i first started riding her!

[Zippy]

how about getting a bareback pad if you aren't comfortable with riding her bareback?You could get used to her with the pad and then go completely bareback~You would be surprised how much better your balance will be if you will ride her bareback~A year ago I couldn't ride Zip at all bareback~now I can trot him all day bareback(not literally) and I even cantered him for the first time bareback~and that was a *wonderful* feeling~How about trying it at the end of your ride when your horse doesn't have as much energy to start with?and just riding for short periods~PS~grab the mane if you feel uncomfortable like you are falling~also if you are riding without stirrups you should be fine riding bareback~just keep your heels down and sit like you are sitting in the saddle~don't let you legs dangle straight down~