BAREBACK DRESSAGE - Candace Clemens uses Mounted Yoga at Intermediare 1

[PaulaEdwina]

That was awesome. Just recently on Chronicle of the Horse we were talking about starting a dressage bareback movement! (Can we start a movement?) There are many reasons for the movement. For most it has to do with developing a real seat and connection with your horse. For me as well it is for developing a better relationship with my horse and giving us both a break from saddle fitting woes that have soured both of us. Brilliant! Thank you.

[xXGlamRiderXx]

How on earth can you sit that horse's trot, let alone the extended trot? I mean, I can sit a working trot, but definitely not extended. Wow, this is really impressive.

[mysocksskilletrocks]

wow you are like amazing. How do you manage to sit your horses trot?! I have a 3rd level dressage holsteiner and I can barely sit his trot. Any tips?

[Walnut28Comms]

@mysocksskilletrocks I could NOT sit this horse's trot to save my soul! I could fake it at a show, but in reality, when he was REALLY REALLY collected, his trot became very smooth! But...getting him really collected w/out him blowing up was difficult. But that is the truth....if they are "walking on their hind legs" (i.e. their balance shifted properly back) the trot become smooth.. Bareback fixed it all. Try it. Just make the horse go as slow as you need to sit. You'll both love it.

[Walnut28Comms]

@mysocksskilletrocks OH...PS -- if you do decide to try bareback, get someone to hold him for you the first time you climb on his back. My boy was a bit startled when i lay over his back the first time with no saddle, and scooted off and I had to wait for someone to come hold him for me. It amazes me that these big warmbloods sometimes seem to lack common sense of your average trail horse.

[mysocksskilletrocks]

@Walnut28Comms haha They arent called dumbbloods for nothing! lol i ride Tybee (my horse) bareback all the time and can sit his canter no problem and his trot fine, but only when he is really slow and collected. thanks for the advice though.

[Walnut28Comms]

@mysocksskilletrocks yes...that's how Watson was. But I just kept asking for medium trot. As soon as he got too bouncy or wiggly or heavy on my hand, I'd half halt, and then ask again. It worked like a charm. Eventually I'd get the "magic carpet trot." With the saddle, we could get a GREAT, smooth extended trot if someone worked him at Piaffe/half-steps on the ground, and then ask for medium trot. Sometimes his incredibly bouncy trot would feel so smooth and powerful, had to believe!

[mysocksskilletrocks]

@Walnut28Comms wow i will have to try it. usually when his trot gets to bouncy for me i just start posting.

[Walnut28Comms]

@mysocksskilletrocks Nope...I'll bet you $5 if, instead of giving in to posting, you half halt and ask again for a good, smooth medium trot, w/in 3 tries, you'll get it! Let me know how it goes. If you bounce, don't give him. Make HIM give in.

[mysocksskilletrocks]

@Walnut28Comms i am definantly going to have to try that, i think i am going to the barn monday so i will work on not posting. lol

[antzarestupid]

@Walnut28comms try for one week, (or one week worth of rideing if you cant ride everyday) take your stirrups off. Not just flip them over the saddle, but off, leathers and all. That way you're forced to sit. (or post without stirrups! really hard to do) I always just start posting too! Lol its hard not to. But with stirrups in the barn..you have no choice.

[1camas]

Glad to find your video. My daughter are training bareback dressage 2 times a week and I can see how our horse enjoy his rider and to work. We have one movie with bareback training galopp work and in the end Change of leg. Wish you all the best and thanks for a lovely moment

[Walnut28Comms]

@1camas So glad you have noticed the way most horses respond so positively. I have had a tremendous success both with a wide range of horses, as well as when teaching riders to go on the bit (best to start w/ a trained horse, though.) Sadly, there are some horses whose back muscles are so messed up, you can hardly sit the walk, let alone any other gaits until you "fix" the muscles under saddle. After that, bareback becomes a GREAT way of testing the back muscles and attitude.

[Heartland4ver]

Totally amazing horse!!!!!!!

He looks happy doing his work.

Lovely

I always find most of the horses i ride like it more when i ride them bareback. Although i am only a novice, nowhere near how amazing you and your horses are!!!!

Lovely video, I hope you and your horse go amazing places!

:)

[Walnut28Comms]

@Heartland4ver thank you so much for your encouraging words! Watson has since gone to a new home, but I am still riding FEI level bareback on another horse...she's not quite as spectacular, but loves her work and gives her all. Glad you have discovered the relaxation of riding bareback.

[julespony]

This is amazing! Wow! Your seat is fabulous! I have been doing a bit of bareback riding this week as my horse had a minor injury, and we are only riding lightly. I have gotten a little better every time, but I am still having trouble staying balance and deep, not moving so much up and down. He is 16 hands and very high withered with an average barrel, and I am very tall. Any tips on how to really hold with my seat and legs without squeezing? Thanks for the great video!

[Walnut28Comms]

@julespony My main suggestion is to lean back. If you lean back too far, you'll know it...it's really impossible to do bareback. So if you lean back as far as is comfortable, you'll find your balance and it will also help you sit the gaits effortlessly. Let your legs be noodles except to give cues. Thanks for your kind remarks and keep up the good work!

[HappyHorseFan]

What a fantastic video! I am doing my first ever bareback dressage test for charity in a couple of weeks and your video has been very helpful! It will also be my first time doing a dressage test, so any tips you can offer would be much appreciated!

[Walnut28Comms]

@HappyHorseFan what level are you doing?

[OCHD101]

beautiful horse! it's great that you get to ride again after your injury!

[barnrat334]

Hello, I wanted to share something with you...earlier this morning, I was riding my mare, Dixie (we are going to do the entry level dressage this upcoming spring!) bareback in dressage and wow!! a huge difference between saddle and bareback. With the saddle, I feel like having to use my legs to communicate...but when I went bareback this morning...I don't even have to use my legs..I feel like we have bonded SO well using our bodies. Thank you so much for inspiring me and my horse! :)

[Walnut28Comms]

@barnrat334 great description. And the cool thing about it is...now you know how light she can be, and you know what to expect when you go back under saddle! It's always good to remember that most upper level dressage movements were developed by cavalry riders who needed mounts that obeyed their thoughts, and were light and quick enough that they could lead troops w/ a sword in one hand.

[GraniaMhaol]

Wow- lovely mover, and beautifully done test! I'm working on doing this with my young Arab mare-- she's not this advanced yet, but has lots of potential. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Walnut28Comms]

@GraniaMhaol

thanks so much. Good luck and Keep me posted on any differences you note while you go back and forth between saddle and bareback.

[bcbeaupied]

Wow! Beautifully ridden test, and gorgeous horse!

[hollipod]

wow how stunning i love dressage and compete at it i wish i could do that well done you

[Walnut28Comms]

@hollipod

thanks for the comment. Keep riding bareback, and then fool around with some simple leg yields. If you get off balance or if the horse gets wiggly and/or not forward, you will know. You will fix it or fall of! :-) to quote Jane Savoie, a great dressage instructor with lots of how to lessons on YouTube: "Live your dreams."

[vangoghpato]

congratulations!

What breed of horse is this? English thoroughbred or Hannover?

[Walnut28Comms]

Thank you. Watson is a Hanoverian. Very well-bred -- by Wonderful. (you can find him on Wonderful's web site).

[horsecrazieneigh]

he moved with such grace stunning!!!!

and bareback is a fantastic way to help you recover from injury also you did a great job with him!!! i couldnt help but watch his extended trot over and over hes knees just flick and his hocks snap right up beautifullly!!!

[Walnut28Comms]

Thank you so much. He is a magnificent horse. I just recently sold him and miss him very much. But I think his new owner was as seduced as was I, and everyone who met this personable, handsome, big moving guy.

[cynch1]

Candace, you are a beautiful rider! You have inspired me to keep working on myself to get stronger in my riding.  Big hugs to you and your lovely boy.

[Walnut28Comms]

thank you so much. Nice to hear encouraging words on a rainy day :-)

[horsymad100]

lol, i know, hes gorgeous.

[horsymad100]

wow he is so big! and very pretty, how big is he?

[walnut28]

16.3, very handsome and he knows it, too!

[jessicanejay91]

I think bareback is way better(personally). You can really feel the horse move and round their back(easier to tell if they have the right lead and what-not. And (lol) you dont have to worry about catching on something if per chance you come off.

[Walnut28Comms]

Actually, that is how I started using dressage. I used to start young horses under saddle. My buck-proof method involved grouind driving with tack. Then I'd remove the saddle and slide on their backs. If they were frightened, I could feel their back muscles tighten and just slide off before they blew up, and then try again. It was only much later that I discovered that bareback gave my such insights into back relaxation, straighteness, and impulsion for upper level horses.

[walnut28]

he is 16.3, but quite wide and big boned. He is indeed one of the most handsome and charismatic horses I have ever met. Unfortunately, I had to sell him, but he has a wonderful new home with a woman who will be able to continue bringing him along and showing him FEI.

[Heartland4ver]

I totally agree!!!

I love the feel of a horse beneath me, you can feel their muscles moving.

Its amazing!

Thanks for the video Walnut28Comms, a horse I ride at a riding school is called Watson, although wouldnt be as good as your guy! :)

[horsechick100]

haha my horse lovessssssssssssss trouting thats all he wasnt to do its so funny my whole class was posting but he is the best horse everrrrrrr....................­im scared to ride bareback idk y??????

[SpotsRule98]

nice, I never knew you had to go off ques. Thats cool.

[Walnut28Comms]

Thank you. The upper level tests (F.E.I. = Prix St. Georges, Intermediare and Grand Prix) required the rider to do the tests from memory. I asked the clinician to read this informal test so that viewers not familiar with the tests could understand what is going on. Unlike musical freestyles, formal dressage tests are very detailed and dictate compulsary movements in a specific pattern.

[110cowgirl]

This is great! Too many people (dressage riders espcially) rely on the saddle to keep them balanced when if they just tried bareback once in a while their seat would improve so much. I acually find my balance is better bareback haha.

[sierravegas]

I'm a Western rider, but Dressage still amazes me. Bareback is the way to go. Haha. I'm not very good on other horses but my mare and I have a great time.

Superb riding, AMAZING horse (How BIG is it?! haha) You look fantastic. The idea of bareback Dressage is amazing. =D Keep up the good work.

[xXxGemxXx0312]

This is amazing, so beautiful to watch, the horse is very expressive and the riding is really gd! I like to ride my horse bareback cos you can feel all the muscles working beneath you and i find it more responsive than having a saddle. x

[Walnut28Comms]

I agree. I, too, can feel so much more and I find it is a great way to "test" my upper level dressage horse, and make sure his back muscles are relaxed, his balance is correct both at collected and extended gaits, and he is light, soft and happy.

[milliesos]

My mare finds it so much better schooling bareback,we are no where near as good as you but the 3 of us will get there.

I find it a lot harder to ride my smaller horse bareback then my bigger one but i love the smaller horses.

[milliesos]

this is amazing and what a stunning horse.

I love schooling bareback and have done it a few times with no head collar and it was amazing.

Iv never had a dressage lesson in my life and i teaching both my 4 years olds on my own. When i school bareback i can sit really still (better than in a saddle) with my seat but find my legs moving a lot in trot, and coming forwards, is there a way to help keep them still?

[Walnut28Comms]

It is great that you find your seat more stable while bareback. The main thing is to stay completely relaxed. If you are relaxed and your legs are bouncing "too much" it is because something is stiff in the horse. You might try some bending exercises as well as some leg yielding and shoulder in and other lateral movements. Start at the walk. Then, when the horse is super obedient and light, try it at trot.

[milliesos]

ok thanks that is great. xx

[babeandbaron]

Beautiful riding and a beautiful horse. Dressage requires a lot of skill from horse and rider. I love the way the horses are taught to be so responsive to the aids. In some of the movements they seem to be dancing. Beautiful! When I learned to ride, I rode a lot bareback to learn balance, without hanging on with my heels or by the reins.

I never did dressage, but using the aids to train the horse I raised from a foal, I always appreciated the advanced training dressage requires.

[spottie524]

fabulous!

[Walnut28Comms]

thank you. I am having trouble going back to the saddle! ;-)

[REUCinLA]

Wow Amazing Balance!