Riding Bareback --- hacking and breaking

[Miss L Toe]

When I was a young person (1959) I used to get 50p to break a Shetland in....... there were 50 in one field.
I learnt to break in with a halter and bareback, nowadays I am much wiser so I use a bridle, but I love to ride bareback, I have never fallen off , I feel close to the animal, how can I regain that feeling with a saddle, if I cannot, I will ride bareback, but due to age. I am restricted to the walk.

 

[team barney]

Treeless gives a closer contact than a treed saddle but they still aren't a match to bareback. I've never used one but there are bareback pads on the market that give you a little bit of padding and the security of stirrups

 

[planete]

Have a look at the Christ bareback pads. Really comfy for horse and rider. You can also put stirrups on them. I use mine with a fairly tight fitting hunting breastplate for added security. I am going to try using stirrups as my horse has objected to every treed saddles he has had in nine years, but will put a prolite pad underneath to try and lessen the pressure. Not planning on actually putting weight on the stirrups for any length of time. Nice to know there is a fellow oldie out there riding bareback as well!

 

[ameeyal]

Im another oldie that rides bareback {well 47} i will go for hours on a hack, trotting cantering, i do get some strange looks, when im not riding bareback i ride in a cashel soft saddle, which is a foam saddle, my horses love it, and its so comfy, im going to have a look at the christ bare back pads that some one has mentioned, im now breaking in a 3 year old bare back, i think to many people rely to much on saddles.

 

[team barney]

I thought about getting a cashel saddle once (never got round to it!) only ever heard good things about them though.

I too hack out bareback, love a good canter through the fields and one of my boys loves the odd buck, I've learnt to sit him now

I've backed and re-backed horses bareback, I personally prefer it and think it is safer as there is no stirrups to get caught on or saddle to get crushed by!

I even jump my boys like it, my record is 4ft something.

I don't think anything teaches you to have a good seat better!