by Glen R. Taylor

Created on: July 31, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Bareback Horse Riding

Equestrians and other horse riders, both those who ride for sport and those who ride as part of their job, spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on quality saddles for their sport. Even so, a lot of riders occasionally leave the saddle behind and ride bareback. There are a number of benefits that can be found in bareback riding for those who have the right attitude and the right horse. But riding a horse bareback is a significantly different experience (and skill) than riding with a saddle, so it's worth taking your time to learn the technique as if you were learning to ride all over again. Let's look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of riding bareback.

First, I want to clarify that when I talk about bareback riding, I'm not talking about the rodeo event that focuses on staying on a bucking bronco that's trying to buck you off as his purpose in life. I'm going to concentrate on the more pedestrian (or equestrian?) definition of the term, which is simply riding a horse without a saddle. Now, there are "bareback pads" and stirrup straps available to provide some of the comfort or stability of the saddle without the actual saddle, but basically, bareback means that you leave the saddle behind. It's up to you to what degree you take the definition of bareback riding. Some riders feel that bareback pads are even less safe, since they can tend to slip sideways if you become unbalanced. Ultimately, it's your ride.

Now, you should understand that there are many good reasons why we use saddles when we ride. A saddle provides a lot of balance and stability on the horse, and the stirrups assist in mounting the horse, dismounting, and staying on the horse at all times. Riding without a saddle is a lot less comfortable than riding bareback, and if you remember when you first learned to ride, you'll know that even with a saddle, you have to train up and condition your body before it gets comfortable to ride for any length of time. And remember that the saddle benefits both the horse and the rider. If you are riding without a saddle, your horse is also less comfortable, even if he is carrying less weight. In addition, bareback riding is more tiring to you as well, because you're using more muscles just to stay on the horse.

That's not all bad, though. Because of the extra muscle workout, bareback riding is good exercise, and it can be so much fun that you will hardly know that you're working out. As you ride, you'll strengthen, tone, and condition

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>