What I like most about my little site are the comments. Don got in touch on the subject of bareback riding, and look at all the comments.
Some of them are absolute gold.
Every wondered about riding bareback? This post from Don paints a superb picture:
“I ride bareback, the place where I ride and take lessons there are only 4 people who ride with saddles, the owner of the stable maintains that part of anyones horsemanship training should be riding bareback to learn proper balance, your horse will love you for it.
And for those of you who think you can’t post during the trot, sit on a hard floor with your legs straight in front of you and walk across the floor with your butt cheeks this is the same motion you use when your horse trots.
Don”
And here’s what Michele has to say on bareback riding (taken from the comments below):
“It is great being able to ride bareback, as you can just walk out into the field, and jump on at the spur of the moment.
I broke my 2 yr old mare this spring, bareback and only a rope on her halter. I was expecting to get tossed on my head, as she is very hot on the ground, but she was amazing.
She is very cautious with me on her back. I haven’t owned or trained a horse in 13 yrs, so am very rusty, and I think she knows it, so will not go past a trot with me yet(I am still a bit sloppy on her back…lol). I have saddled her also, but am most comfortable bareback.
It is great being able to do bareback riding, as you can just walk out into the field, and jump on at the spur of the moment.
Michele”
And what about this one, from Ellie, on Treeless saddles:
“I ride treeless now and have to say its much more comfy and my horses seem to be happier with it. i would say though if you are a bad rider then it probably makes it worse for your horse, as if you can feel them better, they can also feel you more, but treed is not the answer! all treeless saddles are different so shop around. Bev i dont like the sound of your stunni, my saddle has fixed stirrups and does not move on my horses unlike my old treed saddles. im converted! and am going to try bittless nxt”
Please do leave a comment below – I’d love to hear your thoughts on bareback riding.
And don’t forget there are hundreds of posts just like this on the blog – but the only way you can see them all is on the newsletter.
And now onto Zac.
“Bareback riding is a whole new experience! Imagine hopping on your horse without a saddle and feeling every movement beneath you. Riding bareback gives you a much closer connection to your horse—you can feel their muscles shift, every step they take, and even the warmth of their body. There’s no barrier between you and the horse, so it’s like you’re riding as one. Zac”
“For some, riding without a saddle can feel a bit wobbly at first. You don’t have stirrups or the saddle to rely on for balance, so bareback riding is a fantastic core workout! It’s all about finding your center and moving with the horse. And it’s amazing how quickly you pick up on their subtle cues when there’s nothing between you but a layer of horse hair. Plus, many riders say they actually feel safer without the saddle once they get used to it, as you’re more in tune with any shifts or sudden movements. Zac”
“Starting slow is key. Walking and trotting bareback are great for building up confidence, both yours and your horse’s. If your horse is calm and steady, it’s easier to learn to balance and relax. As you build confidence, you can try more advanced moves, even cantering bareback if you’re comfortable. But don’t worry—lots of riders love staying at the walk or trot. It’s about enjoying the experience, not rushing to the next level. Zac”
“And yes, you might slide off a couple of times, but that’s all part of the fun! Many riders find bareback riding brings them closer to their horses emotionally too. It’s just you, your balance, and your trust in each other. So, if you haven’t tried it yet, hop on bareback—it’s one of the simplest, most rewarding ways to ride! Zac”
Next up
I think everyone who wants to be serious about horseback riding should at least try bareback. It’s actually really fun!
-Kinz
Amen!
I learned bareback and prefer it over a saddle 😛
i LIKE A WELL WORN PAD SADDLE! I NEED A LITTLE PADDING FOR LONG TERM COMFORT!ANGIE
I lernt to ride bareback when I was six years old and I would not even consider ridding with a saddle. I have not ridden for more than fifteen years ago till last December when I rode in a monte trot race back here in Sydney and ran third not bad .
Amen…Bareback is fun and I do think my horse liked it better especially as he got older…RIP he lived to be 30….my soul mate..in search of another after 8 years…
Awe so sweet! I understand it takes time to heal from your loss & find a replacement.I had a similar situation. There is no replacement for a soul mate. After 8 years, I wish you good luck in your search for your next soul mate. I saw a 30 yr old horse it was so sad, this horse was so thin and could barely walk, but the owner was so deeply in love and didn’t think it was time to say goodbye. When is it time to say goodbye? I wanted to know how long were you able to ride?
I know how you feel Susan. I lost my soulmate horse after 30 yrs of loving him, and he was my best friend. It has been 6 yrs, and I have just got a yearling colt, and and he is wonderful. I’m hoping he will become my friend, which he is already. The only worry I have is I have to keep reminding myself he is NOT my old horse and he has a personality of his own, which I am growing to love.
I agree. I had a mare for 16 years. She passed away at only 19 years of age during delivery of a foal from an accidental breeding. She’d gone into labor while I was at work and the foal’s head was turned and hung up, unble to pass. Terrible way to go, I know, but I was unable to be there for her and it breaks my heart still to this day. That was 12 years ago. I had tried numerous times since then to get another one like her to no avail. I wasn’t ready to give up on having a horse. Well, I finally did just that about 3 years ago (gave my last horses away). That was until just two weeks ago. Nearly 13 years after losing my best friend of 16 years, I found a gelding who is EXACTLY like her from looks to personality. Even the look in his eyes when he looks at me is the same. The similarity is so much so that we have toyed with the idea that he is her reincarnated. LOL. As she was when I got her, he is timid but he’s coming around and I’m sure it won’t be long before we’re bonded like I was with my mare. We have already come a long way. Heck, we made a good start the day I picked him up. His previous owner couldn’t even get close enough to touch him let alone put a halter on him. She’d spent two hours trying to catch him. When she finally gave up and wondered if I’d be taking him home, I went out with the little bit of feed she had and within 10 minutes had a halter on him and was leading him to the trailer. The womans daughter came up and pet him and said that was the first she’d gotten to touch him even though they’d had him about 6 months. He needs a lot of desensitising work before I get on him though as he is extremely spooky. I do not want to be riding him when he jumps at something, leaving me behind. I thought about sending him to someone I know who works with horses, but decided against it. I want to do with him what I’d done with my mare. I know it’s going to take more work than just gaining his trust in me but I also know that much will help a lot with the jumping at everything when I’m around. I want that bond I once had with her and I know I will have it someday. I can already feel it with him. That’s something I haven’t felt from any other horse in the past 12 (almost 13) years. I absolutely LOVE having that feeling again.
I am happy to hear that you found your new love. The reason why it took so long was simple, you two were meant to be together. Otherwise you would have not been able to get him to follow you within 10 min. I don’t ride; I work with animals, horses by bringing their energy back in balance. That helps them to forget in many cases the way people would abuse them verbally, or physically. Horses are the most miss understood creatures in this world at peoples will. I wish people would remember to respect their horse like they expect to be respected. The transformation once their system is back in balance, is amazing. Kizmet if you like, send me your horses name, and I help him.
…Don, I love the E-book ,I do healings for people and animals…
the “difficult” horse I got a year and a half ago just got me through(and helped me decide to end) 3 years of an abusive marriage. The mutual respect, trust, and partnership I built with him helped me regain my confidence and remember what a REAL relationship is about. Thank you beautiful difficult horse, you will never know how much you did for me.
hi i got a horse from someone that rescued him . he is a beautiful chestnut with a few white paint spots on his back. the problem is he was a roper and the person that had him kept hitting him side his right side . he is is very jumpy. sometimes he will let me touch him a little but not much of the time.he hasnt been ridden in years but he is only 6 years old. i love him very much and i would love to be able to touch him and show my love to him.is there any advice you may be able to help me with to try to get him where i can touch and love him. his name is cutter. thanks
The best seat on a person I ever saw was Paul. His father made he and his brother ride bareback for 6 months, then a saddle without stirrups for 6 months, then they could have stirrups.
I went to a riding school where there were a lot of riding without stirrups, and bareback,,
Including jumping bareback with your hand behind your back! That really taught you balance!
I was pulled in to take a Pony Club riding class one morning – I got the kids to ride without stirrups – of which all were terrified of, and 2 were scared to canter. At the end they were all cantering happy and confident.
The biggest compliment is when all the children asked the Chief instructor if I could teach them again!
I have just been cleared to ride again after breaking my back and pelvis in an accident 2 yrs ago – I will be riding bareback and without stirrups to retrain myself.
I used to ride bareback as a young girl when I owned a horse. She would hold perfectly still so I could run up from behind her and push myself up onto her Indian style. My question is~ how do you get onto a horse bareback? I would never and probably could not do it now at 55. Thank you and please forgive my ignorance.
We also have a very small advance riding school. The kids are not allowed to ride with saddles untill they can canter bareback. At showjumping they are the only ones who stay on when they loose the stirrups!
Very good Ideal!! It teaches them the balance and also to feel the horse much better!! I’m in the process of teaching my grandkids to ride, and they have been riding bareback mostly, but, they love the saddle!! It makes them feel safer, I think. 😀
My place won’t let us ride bareback untill we can canter in saddle
And I just started cantering ❗ its really irratating 😡
Growing up I was one of the kids who couldn’t afford a saddle. Funny how things work out due to this I was one of the very best riders at that barn & many more. In my 40’s now & I only ride with a bareback pad (no stirrups) this only to keep from getting sweaty. Growing up poor has had several perks over the years.
Amen!!! Right there with you. When I got my first horse, my parents didn’t buy her for me. I worked on the owners farm to pay her off. I was 13 years old. We didn’t have much money. My first experience riding her was with nothing but a halter and lead rope. Later my parents did eventually go to an auction and purchase a box of equipment and a saddle. Even then I’d still go out with just the bridle most the time. Even if I used the saddle, I’d most likely not use the stirrups anyway. The saddle just made it easier for me to get back on the horse if I dismounted. I am short and never was a good jumper. LOL 😆 .
I believe that bareback riding not only helps with balance but is also good for bonding with the horse as well.
Hi, I have ridden horses intermittently my whole life, but just got my own- 2 (big!!!) beautiful Canadian mares. They are trained under saddle and harness,and are very calm and well-behaved. I would like to try bareback as I think I would ride more often and in the heat of Ontario summers, I figure anything that makes my horse cooler is a bonus!! What steps should I take to do this? My biggest problem would be getting on- they are 17.2hh and I am 5’5″, so I am wondering if I would have to build some kind of “launch pad”- lol- to get up there! Any ideas, suggestions, or comments welcome, and pictures ALWAYS appreciated!! I try to soak up ANY information I can get because there is SO much to learn and who better to learn it from than those who experience it all the time!! Love this site Alastair!! Thanks! Patti
Wow Patti you have some huge mares. The only thing you are going to be able to do (unless you can jump and swing up on their backs) is a stepladder. I have a big horse and I use it all the time. It’s just one step up but it gives me the boost I’m needing to get up.
Please don’ t endanger yourself and your mares by using a stepladder. A foot through one of the steps(yours or the horse’) could lead to injury or disaster. A bucket would be safer! There are very inexpensive mounting blocks available these days. Rhey are not too heavy, and are portable. Best of all, if you or the horse bumps it, or stumbles over it, you won’t get hurt, and neither will the block!
When I had this problem, I trained my gelding to lower his head and I sat on his neck, he threw me up on his back, great bareback, not so comfy with a saddle on!
Get a mounting block, and that should take care of the problem nicely for you. They’re not too expensive, and you can get them at about any tack shop. Good luck!
I absolutely love riding bareback! Especially since my horse has such smooth gaits!
I have never galloped my horse, really want to though 😛
If you can stay on at a trot, you can gallop no sweat! 🙂
It’s WAY easier, especially if you have a smooth-gaited horse:)
A lot of people are scared by the idea of galloping because it’s fast, but the TROT is the hardest gait LOL 😛
Ha — people have asked how I can ride a trot so well bareback, well someone tossed me up on old mare, Babe, when I was a kid, bareback, and she would only trot. Also, I never get sore,(I’m 60, just call me old leather butt!)
I’ve NEVER ridden w/a saddle.tried once when I was a teen, didn’t like it as I couldn’t FEEL my horse under me.riding bareback is like being ONE w/your horse.THE ONLY WAY TO RIDE.I have indian ancestors,so that’s how they did it.
When i got my first horse, i rode and learned bareback, and loved it,
i used to do barrels at full gallop bareback and all. It taught me how to find my balance and has helped me over the years, but i find that as i get older im not so comfortable with going fast bareback anymore, but love to walk and trot and canter bare back, and as some of the people have mentioned it feels soo free and in tune with your horse
I love riding bareback, but I don’t really have a lot of balance… riding at a walk is fine, but as soon as my horse takes a sharp turn I feel like I’m gonna fall of. do I just ride bareback more often, or is there something I can try?
I LOVE bareback. It made me a lot better of a rider. It also helped me feel the rhythm of my horse.
Abby- try riding without stirrups to strenghthen your legs and help your balance. If you don’t feel confident on your own without stirrups get someone to lead you while you practice. Also, take things slowly- don’t try to do things that are too advanced for you until you get more confident.
Hope it helps!
Bareback is wonderful on a gentle horse. I love to “feel the movement” & feel as if I am “one with my horse.” I think everyone should try it, & will become a better rider after learning to ride bareback. I think it helps improve balance, helps develop an independent seat & independent hands & steadier legs.
If your horse is tall, don’t be afraid to use a mounting block or rail fence, or even a stepladder to get on him. If he isn’t trained to stand still while you mount, using such aids, then you should train him, from the ground, or get a helper to hold him very still until he learns to stand for you to mount, from either side, off any object.
But I also think that most beginner riders should try it first with someone else (a knowledgeable person, instructor if possible) leading or longeing the horse. The rider needs to “get her balance” & not be afraid of falling. If someone else is controlling the horse, or if the horse is so well trained that you can be confident that he will stop if you say “whoa,” then you can relax better, which is key. Safety first! Don’t be ashamed to ask for help, until you feel totally relaxed & totally secure & totally in control. Then riding will be much more fun, with or without a saddle!
I feel more secure bareback if my knees are bent more, almost as if sitting in a chair. Others (better riders than I) have great “form” & ride bareback just as they would in their favorite saddle, with no change in leg position. I think the rider must experiment, & find the position that feels best, most balanced, most secure, to them. Then, the more you ride, the more comfortable & confident you will feel.
Just be sure, as always, to STAY OUT OF THE HORSE’S MOUTH! When I don’t know if a person can ride well or not, I snap roping reins to a nylon halter & watch them ride with that for a while, before I ever let them use a bit on my horse. (My horses cue off the rider’s legs, anyway … they don’t need a bit.)
And do NOT “clamp” your legs around the horse’s barrel with a “deathgrip” & then wonder why he goes faster! Relax, & your horse will also be more relaxed. This is true whether you use a saddle or not.
Famous trainer Sheila Varian told her first “horse training seminar” (back in 1972) that she did all her “first rides” on her young horses bareback, & very seldom (she said) did one buck, if they have had proper ground work before riding.
I’m not that good a rider, & not that brave, so I don’t do “first rides” any more … but I do ride all my trained horses bareback, usually in the pasture where they live, usually with a halter & roping reins rather than a bitted bridle.
Happy trails!
I’ve always thought one should be able to mount on either side but I have never heard anyone say you should be able to mount on either side. It seems reasonable to me any other thoughts or reasons why one should always mount on the LEFT? ❓
The reason for mounting on the left was for millitary men wearing swards on their left side. Since the calvery could comundear any horse needed in the line of duty, it was required for all mounts to be trained for left side mount.
We always teach our young Thoriughbreds to be mounted from either side when first breaking them to ride. You never know when this might come in handy, and it goes a long ways towards desensitizing a horse to unexpected motion from either side. I heard that the mounting from the left evolved from the weapons and armor arrangements of soldiers who rode horses into battle. It would be pretty hard to get on from the right side with a full length sword strapped to your right leg. I’d love to hear other theories – I’m sure there are more 🙂
The reason we “always mount on the left” is a holdover from military mounting because soldiers wore their swords on their left hip so they could reach across with their right hand to draw the sword out. It was much easier to mount from the left with the scabbard on the left hip. It didn’t need to be swung over the horse’s back.
My stables won’t let ANYONE ride bareback, even If you own the horse! It’s really not fair, and I really want to be able to ride properly. I do enjoy my weekly gallop in the hay fields in summer though! and the jumping!
i love bareback, but one thing i have to say is that i hate those supposedly “bareback” pads that even come with stirrups. for one thing that’s still not bareback no matter what you call it and those can be dangerous. they slide and if you really want to ride bareback then go without a pad.
I have to agree! I bought one of those bareback pads, the horse did a quick side step, the pad slipped & I ended up with a cracked hip bone. I have much better grip, when the horse moves suddenly, if I’m bareback. Also, those stirrups are more like foot rests than balance aids. If you don’t realize that, you’ll probably end up on the ground.
It is great being able to ride bareback, as you can just walk out into the field, and jump on at the spur of the moment.
I broke my 2 yr old mare this spring, bareback and only a rope on her halter. I was expecting to get tossed on my head, as she is very hot on the ground, but she was amazing. She is very cautious with me on her back. I haven’t owned or trained a horse in 13 yrs, so am very rusty, and I think she knows it, so will not go past a trot with me yet(I am still a bit sloppy on her back…lol). I have saddled her also, but am most comfortable bareback.
I ride bareback all the time!
thanks for the help! I only ride bareback now, and I feel really comfortable at a walk. trotting is alright, but I’m getting better!!!! 😛
Ellie u will love the bitless bridle I use one on my Arab and I get quicker response from her. I always had to fight her to take a bit she just did not like it now a totally different horse. I love to ride bareback that is I think the 1st step in learning to ride, but on the other hand if you compete as I do sometimes you have to use a saddle. have a great horsey day
Riding bareback every now and then for a short while is fine, but consider the fact that your seat bones are digging into your horse’s back when you do so. A properly fitting saddle, with or without a tree, is far more comfortable for your horse.
True. An unbalanced rider can be uncomfortable for the horse, as the rider’s weight is pressing right down on the horse’s spine. Something else to consider: A saddle is actually cooler for the horse in hot weather because the gullet, which allows clearance of the spine, also allows air to circulate. The panels help evenly distribute the riders weight, so, less chance of pressure/hot spots!
Due to thigh ligament injuries caused by a bronco-like horse, I am not able to ride bareback comfortably any longer. However, when I was still able to do so, I considered myself as a fairly good rider – being one with my mount. And I fell a lot less! Or never fell then…
I am older and with a bad back and neck I cannot swing up on my horse, bareback; like I use to and cannot lift a saddle anymore. Have found a good bareback pad with stirrups a good alternative. Thank GOD for HORSES 😀 They are proof God Loves us and wants us to be happy! ❗ 😀
Thank-you nice to know this and great alternative, I will look for one, thanks.
Oh I forgot to mention a hackamore is the way to go to! ❗ 🙂
i know this may not be the right area, but I need to ask a question…I was looking at bitless bridles and they mentioned arabians wore a “cob” size. What’s that? What’s a cob? ❓
A cob is a smallish riding horse. For tack size purposes, “cob” is larger than “pony” but smaller than “horse”, “full”, or “average” (which are basically the same). If unsure what size you need, measure before purchasing – you’ll find that there is enough adjustment for a bit of overlap among the sizes.
I am surprised that an Arab would use a cob size as cobs are usually much chunkier than Arabs. We talk about a Welsh cob, which might be about 15 hands but is quite heavily built and with feathered legs and feet… Riding one is a bit like being on a mini heavy horse! They are generally pretty comfortable and can be quite stubborn!
😕
Beverly was talking about the bridle. The cob size head is going to be smaller as is the Arabians.
I too prefer bareback! However, I do understand there are some limitations and benefits to both the saddle and bareback.
I love bareback too. My Arab mare takes a cob size bridle and head collar. Cob just means medium really with full large and pony small.
Having been trained and coached in the English style of riding, as a matter or course, our lessons were not only given with us bareback but also with nothing but a piece of cotton as reins. In doing so, we learnt to ride with very soft hands so as not to break the thread as it was the only piece you received for the entire lesson. The horses were so much more responsive, considering any amount of sawing of the bit (as youngsters and newbies tend to do) would result in the snapping of the thread and legwork was then your only means of control as it should be anyway. Jumping became a breeze.
I recall riding my 30 yr old cutting horse bare back . I think she did not like it , becuse she had to not only turn the calf , but was forced to slow down when she had to rebalance the rider . Which she did several times . my legs were very tired and sore the next day after only corraling one calf
If the horse had to slow down to rebalance the rider, the rider was not doing his part. Cutting would be an excellent way for an experienced bareback rider to learn even better balance.
I would support anyone moving to riding with out a bit but a lot of ground work and arena has to be put into a horse if this is to be done safely. I have not used a bit on any of my horses in the last 20 years and ridden 1000s of km in that time doing stock work and trails. It has improved my horsemanship and I believe it has made me safer in the long run and my horses are a hell of a lot more responsive, so Ellie give it a go and safe riding.
I started out in the horse world poor,like Suci.I began riding my first horse,Turk bareback of nessecity because I could not afford a saddle that would fit my size.I have started many thoroughbreds to ride.I start them all bareback as I prefer to feel the horse under me.I have even galloped on training tracks bareback!Eventually you have to ride them with an exercise saddle so that other riders will ride them in races!It took a long time for Turk to teach me to ride bareback.The trotting gait was the most difficult to learn!I also feel you avoid many probems with cinches and pressures causing bucking sprees in young horses.
Hi everyone; This might sound like a stupid question but its one that I have often wondered about…can you ride all horses bareback? I have an Arabian gelding that I rescued over a year ago, he is broke but was used for professional jumping. I just want to do trail riding and casual stuff. We have a close bond, he is 15 and 16hh. I use to ride bareback when I was a teenager, a long time ago. But with him being in the professional field I don’t know if he would take to being ridden bareback or not.
I learnt to ride bareback as did my daughter and we both have seats strong enough to compete, me professonally for many years. The other side of the story is that as an equine touch practitioner, I see many horses wth back problems due to badly fitting saddles but also an increasing amount with sore pressure areas due to treeless saddles and bareback rding. The tree in a saddle is designed to spread the weight of the rider over a greater area, and with treeless and bareback you get concentrated weight. Its a case of what suits your horse rather than just the rider.
I don’t have a comment but a question. My daughter has a 3 year old cross arab/nooitgedacht mare (Lulu). Lulu does not mind having a saddle or to be ridden but for some reason out of the blue she would suddenly stop like a donkey and lock her knees until my daughter gets off and walk as if they are just strolling. It does not happen on the same place either thinking it might be something that frightens her. Any suggestions to look for?
Most of us ride our horses far too young, your filly is probably suffering some form of pain relating to weight on an immature back. My youngsters are not backed until 4yrs and never jumped befoe 5yrs. The last part of any horses anatomy to set and strengthen enough to bear weight is there back, hence why racehorses end up with sway backs and lifelong problems. May be a good idea to turn her away for another year.
wish I coul still ride bareback. I tore all my knee legemants and tore the rubbery part inbetween knee (forgot what its called) last year May month so days of jumping on and off my boy are gone. now its getting on him via standing on a wall and praying for no falls. so riding with saddle is my future or no riding at all and THAT could just be the death of me! 😥
I am just over 240 lbs. Any thoughts on “bareback” for the fat guy? 🙂
I have been riding bareback for over 40 years (also English and Western). I am 230 lbs. here is my input to you: find a sturdy, mid-aged horse. First in a saddle, train them to be mounted from both sides; off a fence, water trough edge, truck wheel well, tree stump, ditch bank, etc. Then practice stepping over their back without the stirrups. Be sure to squeeze your thighs as you slide on so you do not PLOP onto their back. Some horses will be more comfortable to ride than others. I don’t care as much about height of whithers as I do the space between the shoulder muscles and ribs – perfect place for your leg. I keep my legs in position of an English saddle, not drapey or floppy. Build up your inner thigh muscles so you don’t bang their back. be loose in your hips so you move with their gaits. I hope you get to ride bareback. It’s so much fun and will definitely make you a better rider.
Thinking of going treeless…….anyone got any suggestions on brands?!
people decided that going bareback or treeless was a way to help horses avoid pain from regular treed saddles. Unfortunately when you go bare back or treeless it’s concentrates your weight over one of the most vulnerable place of a horses spine in the thoracic region of T5–T8 area, this area it has been proven to sink up to four cm with the weight of a rider on it. A rider is a perpendicular weight, and if that weight even bounces a little bit or such as a rider “posting” it creates what in forensic science is known as blunt force trauma to the underlying tissues. The part of the spine you sit on is not the actual spine, but the spinal processes and when they sink from our weight it crunches the spinal processes together. Treed saddles are no better either.
I beg to differ. A properly fitted treed saddle completely clears the spinal processes and the panels distribute the rider’s weight over a broader area. Occasional bareback rides can be fun, and yes, the close contact feeling is great, and balance can be improved when the rider keeps a correct position. It’s much better for the horse’s back to use a well fitted saddle for longer rides, though.
I meant that I beg to differ from your last sentence – otherwise, I agree with you!
A good saddle fit very important. Too loose is uncomfortable. Too tight restricts movement. Bareback with an unbalanced rider is painful for horse and rider. You should not ride bareback for very long either. Bareback pad is better and more comfortable too. I ride in a custom fit saddle just for my horse. Staying with the weight in your legs an off the horses back aids in the horses. Comfort too. Just sayin
Hi, we’ve been riding bitless for over a year now. We and the horses love it! We just click reins on a halter and away we go — walk, trot and canter. My energetic Arab does much better bitless. I’ve also just started riding her with just a bareback pad. I love it, and she seems to. Here! Here! for more natural riding.
Hey I am over 60 and still ride bareback often, even on outrides. Jump but little ones only, canter and its great. Backed my appaloosa stallion 10 years ago,when he was 4 years bareback and bitless and it was fantastic and have never looked back Mary
I believe any horse rider needs to be able to ride bareback – it will let them see how they sit on a horse and if they can’t sit a bareback horse they need to learn. makes it much easier on the horse if you know how to sit!
There is nothing more exhilarating than galloping thru the mountains bareback. Same breathe, same body movements, indescribable.
We go halter lead rope, bareback and he is barefoot. Being able to do this did not happen over night.
I started riding bareback because I could not find a proper fitting saddle for me and my Mustang.
After several professional saddle fittings now I know which one to buy.
But do I really want to??
🙁 my gelding cribs….he ‘s becoming so extremely thin. i do not have a choice with the fencing around my plot. he nibbles, suck and pulls on the fencing all day!!!
i am so worried about the weight loss that i would happily give him to someone that would cure this bad habbit. he does’nt want to be ridden at all.
Hi Debbie, Cribbing may be more than a just a habit. Studies on cribbing, shows it is more neurological which causes a horse to crib. Some horses just cannot help it.
Have you tried the “Miracle Collar”? My horse is a cribber also, and he doesn’t crib with the Miracle collar on him. It may work for your horse also. Worth a try!
From one LJ to another, I read an article awhile back and am in total agreement, cribbing, as well as weaving and pacing may not be due to habits, but a Neurological issue! It’d been a real eye opener as to my horse who’d been a very bad cribber when I’d first gotten him. I’ve been using the Miracle Collar for years on him, and it works beautifully for my horse!
I’ve been riding bareback over 60 years but … only for short rides. Riding bareback is much like being one with the horse. Our butt bones make their back sore after a while.
Most of us have had that a soulmate horse. Lost mine in 1966. There will never be another one like him. I don’t have the same very special bond with the horses I have now.
My childhood dream was to have my own horse. Unfortunaley I havent accomplished it yet and I haven’t ridden for many years. I am going to start lessons again hopefully soon and have been reading up on horse whispering and learning the different breeds etc. Reading all your tips and comments is great and making me even more determined to one day own my own friend. I would never have thought that bareback riding would be so enjoyable and always thought it would harm the horse if done on a regular basis, so its brilliant learning all these facts. I can’t wait now to start my lessons im excited!!
I learned to ride bareback as a kid and then got into “serious riding” and of course used a saddle. Now, I just play and trail ride and have started riding bareback again. It makes me feel younger. Plus it is much warmer in the winter. I was a bit nervous at first but now I feel very comfortable with it. I confess I trust my horse, not to say she doesn’t spook or get jumpy sometimes when a noisy truck goes by when we are on the road.
big time dressage riders always say allow the horse freedom of expression well how are they allowing the horse to do that? How much metal does it take for dressage riders to get it through to the horse the thing they are asking for? If the horse and the rider were truly in harmony dressage riders could do a great show bareback and bit less.
as a kid I always rode bareback – sometimes out all day – I was thinking of riding bareback again but was told by a horsey friend that it was much more strain on the horse’s back than with a saddle – especially as I am quite heavy – would love opinions!
Hi Filipa: Me too I use to ride bareback all day long and really enjoyed the closeness with my horse. I didn’t know this about the saddle removed much of the strain from the horse. It makes sense though because a good saddle and pad does evenly distribute weight on a horse’s back. Thanks for the info.
I would love to learn to ride bare back 😀 I really think my appy Noah would love it. He is my bestfriend an will go anywhere I ask him to go. I lost a big girl last yr. Prencess was a draft horse an she was pregnant. We got her as a rescue she was very under weight.I had just got her weight up and her heart blew out during labor. Very very sad but will give bare back a try
I have a mustang that has a trot that glides like a long distance swimmer’s movements–very very smooth. It seems quite natural for him. I love to ride him bareback but my balance isn’t what it used to be as I am older and disabled with leg /knee problems. The last two times I rode him he spooked at some imaginary thing and dumped me and now my confidence is wavering. I know the spooking is a trust issue and comes from my not riding him often. But I hate it that I am now afraid he will spook and dump me again. (my right knee only bends half way). I Love this little horse and we have a great friendship. I never have to chase him down. He always comes up to me. etc. Any suggestions?
Always had great fun 🙂 as a child riding bareback. Used to ride a small black show pony round an orchard with no saddle or bridle, he used to canter willingly around with us with the odd leap and buck too, we would have a competition as to who could stay on the longest, I think this has given me the “seat” and balance I now have.
also would ride in from the field bareback on the halter rope (saved walking), although at my age now I’m not quite so good at vaulting on….!
Took the welsh cob for a bareback ride through the woods we both enjoyed it .. Slipped on off the mounting block..
I grew up riding bareback and (I think) became a better rider because of it. Now, at age 73 and years between having a horse, my body is stiff, my balance is bad, and my core strength is practically non-existant! I want to try riding my quiet Morgan gelding around our small arena bareback to help regain some of my lost ability. Wish me luck!!
I agree with Kathy commentry; ride bareback then saddle then stirrups!
Creates excellent riders. Still do this when schooling others along with no shirts and raw sticks behind the rider’s arms to learn to keep arms down and still otherwise they rasp their backs. barefoot too so when they drop their feet i whip the toes with a crop…
Sadistic indeed, but you will be amazed at the results…lol
I was trained by an English Army Major in my youth…go figure. 😎
😳 I seem to fall off and I kept retrying and still no luck at staying on, even my Riding Instructors were trying their best at teaching me how to ride bare-back 🙄
Can anyone tell me how a “games pony” is trained.
I bought a lovely arab pony four years ago and she had been in competition as a games pony. She would start moving off quickly as soon as my foot was in the stirrup, she would leap forward if I touched her side, [I could not even groom her along her sides] she was very hard-mouthed but could turn amazingly but throw her head around quite violently when held back. Even after a 3 hour ride of prancing and jogging, she would be ready to go. Now I can finally ride her quietly on a loose rein but it has taken a lot of patience and trust and she no longer feels like she is going to explode when I ride her though she is still so competitive when out with other horses. We have been through a lot together and I just love her so much. I would like to know how these ponies are trained.
To Filipa I grew up riding mostly bareback, even ran barrels my Dad set up for me riding bareback, loved it, did that for 18 years, I haven’t really rode – what I call real riding like I use to all day and even into the evening for a long long time, I am 56 and I too have gained weight, but I plan to start riding again and when I do at least some of it will be bareback – go for it – that’s what you feel led to do go for it – myself I think your more closer to your horse – you feel what your horse feels – you kinda blend in to being one
Be very careful about going bitless..
I lost my best friend after 24 years together.I saw him at 2 weeks and had him with me from six and a half months.To say I was heart broken does not come close.However I now have a 14 2 spotted pony who has won my heart.I can never replace my old friend, but being able to love again in a different way is the best act of respect that we can give to those we have loved and lost.
My horse is comfortable bareback. Nice smooth back and easy gaits. My husband’s horse has a sharp spine and a rough trot. It is not for every horse. Or every rider
Bareback for a long time gets me sweaty, filthy and gives me a sore butt, even on my Cadillac of a horse.
I do not consider it safe on the trail. It is easy to come off. If my horse spooks at a bear, I do not want to be on the ground, in the middle of several million acres of national park, near a pissed off bear.
Women like bareback because it is a romantic notion to be free and bonded to the horse. I get it but I’m not stupid.
I have had at least one horse in my life since I was 5. I started riding bareback one day and my grandpa told me to throw a blanket on the horses back. I said that I can ride without a blanket and G-pa said it wasn’t my butt it was his back that he worried about. after 60 years on horse back 10 years as a cowboy and 5 as a movie horse wrangler I know done wrong going “bareback” can really cause a horse pain. as G-pa said it’s his back to worry about and when rideing long distance a well fit saddle is better for horse and rider. I have ridden from las vegas nevada to spokane washington and back. the last horse that I worked last summer was a mustang. the little girl paid $50 for him off the tonopah nevada range. she asked me to make him so she could ride him. In half an hour she was on his back and two hours later she rode him from the fair grounds and home. I don’t know what a ” horse whisper” is, I just call it horsemanship and one more form G-pa either you got it or you don’t. If you just treat a horse with respect he’ll respect you. I don’t meen he should walk all over you, that’s not respect. don’t take it when a horse bites let him know it’s not okay. I thunk them on the nose with a flick of the finger, not a fist. you should always get to know a horse just as any human you meet would you trust them imediately? observe closely how they interact with other horses. some horses have a type A personallity I can handle it but I’ve had 60 years experiance.
all I am saying is that every one has an opinion and one is not neccessarily better yhan the other.
please for give the typos and spelling I’m not wearing my glasses.
I personally think everyone from an early age should learn how to ride bareback . Its the only true way of getting to feel how your horse moves n feel he muscles , n its great for balance xx
I learned to ride bareback, as the irritable old lady we rented ponies from wouldn’t let us have saddles, as she didn’t want us to get them wet in the rain. We rode through the woods, and I had my first jumping lesson when we came across a fallen tree. Little mare was over it before I had a chance to panic, and at the time, I remember thinking it was rather like taking a sudden swoop in a rocking chair. Only thing that stops me now is that horses are slippery, and since every de-horsing I’ve had involved riding bareback, at age 60 with brittle bones, I have changed to using a bareback pad. It’s a special one, designed by an equine physiotherapist, to be kinder to a horse’s back than a regular one. We both love it!
Hi, I want to agree with Kizmet 74, it is better to be with your horse and take every step together, we bought 5 wild horses they didn’t know people and grazed for all their lives, we we got them it was scary as it is the first time we have horses, I chose my horse as she is a appaloosa, she is a strawberry colour and is very scared she started trusting me in about three weeks, the other horses are a appaloosa x boerperd, what amazed me with her she started to eat from my hand at two weeks I can move freely around her and she alouse me too. My husband and has a mustang which he is alredy training she walks with him he brushes her. Each step we take with them are amazing the appaloosa x boerperd showed me what trust really are and that trust comes from both ways the calmer and relaxed you are will bring the best out in both of you, ourt horses ages are from 2yrs to 3yrs and Ella is 8yrs old.
I love riding bareback especially because I ride my friend’s horse and her saddles are too small for me. We do use a bareback pad for him though. But I have found that my balance is improving dramatically. And sometimes we do bareback no bridle and that really helps my balance. Posting bareback is a great exercise as well. I love that too.
I have been riding bareback all my life long. Even raced on my horse bareback. Not alone did I had a super good relationship with my Napoleon, but also I had good strong legs, good balance and a strong back. Now that I am on the end of my 30’s I have started riding with a saddle. One thing a still do, whenever I meet a new horse and have to ride him/her for the 1st time, I always ride them bareback. I believe they can feel your emotions through your body as well.
I won my first race bareback trotting when I was about 10, didn’t know the horse could move so fast, was great. After not riding now for over 40 years I have got back in the saddle, and the lady that I’m riding with does not use a bit or shoes on her horses. Very new experience for me, always great to learn new things. Just loving riding again after such a long time.
I ride used to always ride with a saddle but after a while i couldn’t be bothered putting the saddle on, so i started bareback, i found that my pony was more willing to jump higher, he felt a lot more comfortable and happier, i also found it heaps of fun!
Why do many riders enjoy bareback riding, and how can beginners get comfortable with it?
Many riders love bareback riding because it creates a closer, more connected feeling with their horse—you can feel every movement and truly ride as one. For beginners, starting with a slow walk or trot helps build balance and confidence. It’s about taking it slow, finding your center, and enjoying the unique bond that comes from riding without a saddle.