Loping on a Horse?

Question

Does anyone find it a bit scary to lope on a horse?
How do you learn to not bounce high of the saddle and how do you relax?

I ride western.

Answer 1

The more you ride your horse you will get more relaxed and more confident. start riding with a saddle but don't use your stirrups. This way you will have the security of the saddle under you and the horn to hold if you need it but this will cause you to feel your horse under you and you will get a great balance this way which will result in not bouncing so much at a trot or lope. You will actually feel how to flow with your horse. When you start this process start out at with slow trotting and short turns not using your stirrups. I promise you will be riding like a pro in a couple of weeks. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Do you have an instructor? If you do, ask for a longe line lesson. That takes steering out of the equation and lets you focus on your seat.

As an instructor I find there are many many reasons for being uncomfortable at the lope. You may have a horse that has a bone jarring lope, and is hard to sit - yes it can be that simple! Or perhaps your horse hasn't been to "rate" it's speed and cadence and is uncomfortable loping to begin with.

However, more often it is rider development that causes this. Here is what I would do if you were my student. I would give you homework. Sit in a rocking chair and feel the motion as you rock. Count 1 -2 -3 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3 as this is the tempo the horses feet hit the ground in the lope. Close you eyes get the rhythm and tempo ingrained in your brain. Then when you ride, be sure your saddle is the right size for you. Relax by breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Look ahead where you are going. Sit back shoulders over hips and heels. Tuck your seat underneath you. Relax your toes keep them open. When you cling to the stirrups with your toes it makes your whole body tense. Then cue for the lope. Breathing looking ahead and counting 1 -2 -3 1-2-3 1-2-3 Just like in the rocking chair. Try just three strides first then come back to the walk breathe and try again, increasing to 5 strides. Sit back look up breathe open your toes count 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3 And so on - I hope this helps.

Answer 3

If you've ever watched english then you can see they lift there butt a little off the saddle. If you relax your back that helps a lot too. When you lift your seat up let your heel fall down and lean forward just a little bit. You have to sit your lope in western shows but if you're just learning that will help with the bouncing. sometimes your horse can be naturally bouncy so you might want to use a different horse (if you can) when you lope.

Answer 4

I ride english, but I've loped in western before if I go trail riding. Actually, that was my first time, on the trail, with one stirrup (the other one was broken, and it was a horse rental place, so I couldn't just choose another saddle), and going uphill, and then my horse galloped, and then when we went to flat land he trotted, and then he loped and then jumped! Scary, lol. I learned to sit deeeeep in the saddle, and pretend you're like a sack of potatoes, and just let yourself relax. It really helps/

Answer 5

It would be worth getting one or two lessons with an experienced Western instructor. They can tell you how to move you body to stay in contact with your horse and not bounce out of the saddle. Bouncing all over the place is not only uncomfortable and dangerous for you but could cause damage to your horses back.

I only needed a one hour lesson with a really good instructor to learn the tricks I needed to ride safely for me and my horse. I can't recommend it more highly. It made my rides so much more enjoyable!

Good luck!

Answer 6

Hell no! Actually a flat out gallop with the wind in my hair is my favorite!

If you are bouncing you are not "going with the flow" of the horses motions. You need to take some lessons. Also, make sure that the saddle fits your butt. If a saddle is too small it could cause you to be positioned wrong which could result in bouncing.

Answer 7

Loping is fun! You'll get used to it after you practice more, try to keep your horse slow, and easy, and think about something relaxing. If you stay relaxed, so will your horse. Makie sure to keep upper leg on,this will help you bounce less. Lean slightly back. Ask your trainer how to how to half halt, it will help you ALOT!

Good luck =]

Answer 8

practice makes perfect. the only way to get better is to get out there and do it! i found that gripping the saddle with my thighs helps me not to bounce. once you feel comfortable loping with a saddle try it barebck. my motto is ride bareback to ride better.

dee

Answer 9

I found that if I dig my butt in the saddle kind of arch my back a little bit so it works that I don't bounce around you have to lean back a little bit too not much just like a few inches. Of course I'm sure you know keep your heals down and your thighs tight against the saddle without pressing. Let me know if it works.

Answer 10

particular, I understand your capture 22 problem possibly extra helpful than maximum others: I experienced a racing-blooded Arabian to lope at a tolerable speed :D. It relies upon a lot on the temperment of your horse, if he's a warm blooded TB like i've got been around, then you definitely are in all probability in no way going to get that 4 mile an hour lope that 1 / 4 Horse does needless to say, a minimum of, with out some severe kit and doubtless abuse, which I exceedingly, exceedingly doubt you opt to do, and that i wouldn't in any respect advise. If he's rather calm, you are able to in all probability prepare him to lope, yet in all probability in comparison to a minimum of one / 4 Horse. I propose, in case you needed a QH and that lope, you in all probability might have bought one. particular, loping horses are bred to lope. nicely, perhaps no longer bred, yet can needless to say lope. they are often the lazier, chubbier horse, and can be bombproof. incredibly, how briskly do you opt to lope? Are you prepared to tolerate a canter for Western? there are particular capacity you are able to circulate by way of to rigidity your horse to lope, and that i do no longer know how your final coach did it. oftentimes, a TB will -no longer- needless to say lope like a inventory breed. My verdict is: it incredibly relies upon on the horse. some TBs will needless to say lope at a speed for Western exhilaration, yet extremely a number of them won't. Hmmm... how is it feasible? From what my coach's informed me of warm-blooded horses being taught to do issues no longer organic to them, it incredibly is not any longer a technique sturdy for the horse or rider. it incredibly is not any longer some thing i might ever evaluate doing. in spite of the indisputable fact that it incredibly relies upon on the horse. you are able to no longer assume that TB is warm blooded using fact they seem to be a Thoroughbred. they could be in basic terms as lazy and calm using fact the dullest Quarter Horse and overjoyed to in basic terms lope international, somewhat shifting :D