Is riding bareback good for the horse?

sidesaddlegirl

sidesaddlegirl

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I started riding bareback this week as my hip has been hurting and am still waiting for my Kent & Masters saddle to turn up!

I've never ridden bareback before and was wondering if it is safe for the horses back? Hattie has TB withers and a bony spine (she is about a 5- moderate in body scoring) so she is not the comfiest of horses but I enjoy it and I think she's enjoying going on a hack too. We even did a few strides of rising trot today and were riding up and down in ditches!
 
I find it has helps muscle up damaged backs far better than riding with a saddle could. I've certainly never had a horse have an adverse reaction to it, or any equine injuries from bareback riding. I'd imagine you could do some harm if you were a very bouncy or unbalanced rider, but then you'd probably struggle to ride bareback anyway.

Quick question how do you rise to the trot bareback?
 
I was thinking of riding my pony bareback as the boss is being very stubborn about getting her a saddle that fits, she has a great back for bareback riding, nice and round but my concern is that i have a bony bum and think this may be a bit uncomfortable for her!

I dont know if i would fancy riding bareback on a bony back though, its gotta hurt!
 
team barney said:
I find it has helps muscle up damaged backs far better than riding with a saddle could. I've certainly never had a horse have an adverse reaction to it, or any equine injuries from bareback riding. I'd imagine you could do some harm if you were a very bouncy or unbalanced rider, but then you'd probably struggle to ride bareback anyway.

Quick question how do you rise to the trot bareback?
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Same as you should with a saddle or ridding without stirrups (not that I do otherwise would have fantastic abs by now) - use the bounce to push you upwards and push down through your legs. It takes a bit of core strength but you get there in the end - I have to rise to mine bareback as hates me sitting (or attempting to sit) to her trot bareback.
 
riding bareback is far more natural for the horse, and definitely more comfortable. Firstly, your cheek bones lie either side of the spine, so there is no pressure there. Secondly there is no girth, and so many people don't realise how much a tight girth affects a horse's ability to breathe properly. Thirdly, there is no saddle weight or discomfort :)

As long as it's done properly, and with tact, there is no problem (unless you fall off ;) )
 
Good for them - and for you. But if you're going to jump or go at any pace I'd recommend a neckstrap, simply so that if you lose your balance you don't rely on the reins (bit, horse's mouth) to get you out of trouble. Well done you!
 
I'd say they do feel a lot more of your movement that way. Used to ride bareback a horse who really didn't like an unbalanced rider (at points easiest way to get him to slow from gallop was to deliberately unbalance yourself as he was also a speed-freak!) and he was a lot more backward thinking bareback to start with. We both enjoyed it though and I think as long as you're sensitive to how your horse is going then you should be fine. Enjoy!
 
If im just riding around my field, ill usually ride with a numnah and roller. Not quite bareback, but just gives added cushion while im trying to build her back up again.
Since ive been riding bareback, i now prefere it to a saddle :)
 
I think its fine if the rider doesn't jab the horse in the mouth and doesn't bounce around.

IMO I don't think rising to the trot is good as you grip with your legs which my horse knows as go faster so will speed up.
 
Kokopelli said:
I think its fine if the rider doesn't jab the horse in the mouth and doesn't bounce around.

IMO I don't think rising to the trot is good as you grip with your legs which my horse knows as go faster so will speed up.
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I agree, I've always sat to my horses trot when bareback (takes strong tummy muscles not to bounce!!!!)
I've seen people rising to the trot bareback, but I don't like it as they always grip so firmly with their legs/thighs it looks like they are squeezing their horses dry.
 
I hate when they break from canter and its the bounciest trot ever! Or could just be because my boy is a weakling :p
I've only ever fallen off once bareback and that was in walk though :D
 
Kokopelli said:
I hate when they break from canter and its the bounciest trot ever!
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:eek: Isn't it just?! It's like sitting on a pneumatic drill.

Kokopelli said:
I've only ever fallen off once bareback and that was in walk though :D
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I fell off standing still. :o:o
Well, if I'm being really honest (and none of you know me, so why not :p) I didn't ever really get on. I was a bit too energetic mounting and went straight off the other side. Smooth :D
 
Haha!!

I've only ever fallen off bareback one (watch me Jinx that now!!) ad that was whn my pony spooked in walk, flew into a fast canter and ran off te length of the field with me hanging on for dear life...

Only to slip off over the shoulder when she did an emergency stop the other side lol!! Naughty pony :D

Must admit I've surprised myself when my boy has had a temper tantrum and fly bucked his arse off when I was bareback, and I stuck no problem :)

(I bet i fall off next time I ride now ;) )
 
You gotta touch wood! :D

I've done the mounting right over to the other side in a MGA race once, pony carried on with the race as if I wasn't there just showed how programmed he was bless him! :p
 
One memorable spill bareback was when I tried riding bareback side saddle (stupid i know but I was a child) I was attempting to canter and the transition back to trot launched me straight up in the air (I had previously managed to jump a tiny cross pole) I managed to land upright next to my pony though! He found the whole episode highly amusing :p
 
we either go properly bareback or we use an old numnah and a (too small) eventing overgirth.

Ron is much better to school bareback - he seems to be much more relaxed and prepared to work properly. He's more responsive to weight aids, and all the aids can be more subtle.

With a saddle (one we know fits) he just becomes cross and resistant and stroppy!
 
I learned to break ponies bareback, (we had no options), and I have kept that tradition going even now, using a hessian sack under a roller for the first few backings, as I always think that most horses would stiffen up if you put a hard saddl on and them clamber aboard, also I only ever walk (in case I fall off), an I have instant feedback and vice versa if we meet a scary thing, bagpipers and bouncy castles, and big fat gypsy weddings, all quite regular round here!
 
It's so funny to read this post as I've just ridden my Cob for the very first time bareback. Soooo comfy! It's been years and she's a bit nervous....
I used to ride to the field (bit of a trek in itself) every time we finished our hack when I was younger and we all loved it. Never tried canter (wuss) but sitting trot used to be OK on a fatty Connemara.
If it's going to help my core muscles and leg strength then I'll be doing it more often but I'll leave hacking bareback to others thanks. There are way too many scarey little birdies around here.
If you think back, there were no saddles when people started riding horses - it was natural to ride bareback!
 
I'm going to do some more bareback riding today, maybe go up to my friend's school and try and do some more rising trot and *maybe* a canter as if I fall off, at least it will be on the soft surface!!! Sitting trot on a Thoroughbred is just too painful in the bottom for me, lol. It makes me wish I had a big round well padded cob type to ride bareback. That's why I wondered if it was good or not for horses as I can feel Hattie's spine when I ride. It lines up perfectly with my tailbone (ouchy!!) but I can feel but seat bones on equally on either side.

I've been using a lead rope tied around Hattie's neck as a grab strap and that works quite well. It came in handy the other day when we rode through the ford and Hattie came trotting out of it up hill onto the embankment!
 
When I was a teenager I used to ride my 14.2 bareback about 50% of the time hacking. But would often strap on an old sheepskin rug (not a numnah it was just a rectangle of sheepskin). It made her a lot less slippery and always felt it cushioned her back from my rather bony bum.

(Agree, canter to trot transitions can be murder!)
 
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