Have you ever wanted to ride your horse bareback?

For those who might not know, bareback riding means riding a horse without a saddle.

While challenging, this type of riding has numerous benefits, including improved balance and feel, resulting in a closer connection with your horse. And you don’t have to clean a saddle after your ride.

If you’ve been riding since childhood, maybe you were one of the lucky ones who fearlessly rode bareback on ponies in the field, falling off but having loads of fun and unknowingly developing an excellent seat!

It’s never too late to try riding bareback and reap its rewards.

So, if you’re interested in learning more, this article is for you!

Also you can read our article on treeless saddle pads with is also relevant to this style of riding.

Image source: https://www.cowgirlmagazine.com/tips-bareback-riding/

The Basics of Bareback Riding

If you have never ridden bareback, here are a few general guidelines to consider before climbing aboard.

1. The Horse’s Temperament:  Ideally, the horse you’ll ride is steady, reliable, and not prone to spooking or explosiveness. That would rule out the recently-backed young horse or horses that regularly rear, buck, or bolt. The bottom line is, for your first bareback riding attempt, choose a safe horse.
2. Keep Expectations Low: For your initial bareback rides, don’t expect to accomplish too much. Begin in the walk and don’t progress to other gaits until you feel comfortable and ready. Your first rides will probably be shorter than usual because riding bareback differs from riding in a saddle. You might be surprised how quickly you tire. 
3. The Riding Venue:  Heading out on a long trail ride over challenging terrain or hopping on bareback for the first time in a highly charged horse show atmosphere would not be recommended. Pick a quiet, safe place with good, even footing for your first few fledgling rides.
4. What to Wear: For bareback riding, the best attire is long pants or britches, boots, and a helmet. Essentially, whatever you wear when you ride in a saddle.

Mounting a Horse Bareback

Ah, yes, mounting a horse bareback. Undoubtedly a challenging aspect of bareback riding, but not insurmountable!

Unlike riding in a saddle, getting on bareback is more complicated since you don’t have the benefit of stirrups.

Don’t be put off by this technicality. Mounting bareback is absolutely doable. Here are a few tips:

1. Use a Mounting Block: A mounting block, a stepstool, or a very large rock can provide the necessary height to mount the horse. Use one that allows you to swing your leg over your horse’s back if possible. If your horse is tall, you may have to first hop on his back so you’re ‘draped’ over him. Then, swing your leg over to the opposite side. This method is more challenging and will require core strength, balance, and flexibility. Be wary of how your horse reacts as well.
2. Have a Helper: Mounting can be a dangerous activity. We’ve all heard of accidents that have happened to people when mounting with a saddle. Don’t let this be you. Unless your horse is extremely reliable, have someone on the ground who can help keep your horse still while you get on. In fact, if you struggle to mount your horse when he’s tacked up, you shouldn’t attempt mounting him bareback.
3. Do All the Other Things You Do When Mounting With a Saddle: Gather the reins in one hand before you mount in case your horse tries to move off, put his head down, etc. Once seated, have him quietly stand until you’re ready to start. Don’t mount in a cluttered or busy area.

Bareback Riding Tips

You’ll probably immediately notice that bareback riding feels very different from riding in a saddle. Bareback, you can feel your horse’s every move, even when he twitches his skin!

Wiggly, wobbly, slippery, and bony are just a few sensations you’ll most likely experience. Without the constraints of a rigid saddle, your body must now learn to follow your horse’s movement completely. 

This is the challenge and reward of bareback riding!

The lack of a saddle emphasizes the importance of balance in riding. Feeling unsteady is common during those initial bareback sessions, so don’t rush it.

Even Though You’re Bareback, You Still Ride the Same

Because you don’t have stirrups, you’ll be able to achieve a nice long leg that allows you to really feel your horse’s sides. Your hips will open and begin to swing nicely.

Bareback riding works your core muscles because, without a saddle, you rely on them more for stability.

As your core muscles strengthen, you’ll find it easier to relax through your shoulders and arms because your core becomes your balance center. When you first ride bareback, it’s typical to brace and become tight, especially in your upper body.

If you make riding bareback a regular thing, you’ll notice an improvement in your riding over time. Eventually, this improvement will carry over to work in the saddle, enhancing the feel and connection to your horse.

Solve Common Bareback Riding Problems With a Bareback Pad

For many riders, a bareback pad solves problems specific to bareback riding. A good bareback pad can make this type of riding accessible and comfortable.

Some of the drawbacks riders complain of that can discourage bareback riding are:

1. Horse’s Conformation: Horses with high withers or prominent spines can be uncomfortable to ride bareback.
2. Dirty Pants or Breeches: Your horse’s back will likely be dirty despite your best grooming efforts. In the spring, you’ll contend with shedding hair; in the summer, hot, sweaty weather will make your horse — and riding pants — hot and sweaty.
3. Hurt Horse’s Back: Some riders worry that their seatbones dig into the horse’s back or that sitting on the horse’s back without a saddle could be uncomfortable for the horse.
4. Instability:  Slipping and wobbling are part of bareback riding, especially at the outset. Let’s face it; it’s hard to ride if you feel insecure!

Some riders try to wing it and sit on a regular saddle pad to eliminate these problems. They soon discover this solution doesn’t work very well, as the pad slips and bunches up and can be more of a distraction than a help.

To promote bareback riding in all disciplines, ThinLine offers a Comfort Bareback Pad that eliminates the issues described.

Because ThinLine’s philosophy is to provide equestrians with products that contribute to the comfort, well-being, and performance enhancement of horses and riders alike, their bareback pad offers the same benefits.

The shock-absorbing ThinLine material is sewn onto the non-slip waffle weave pad. The thin material doesn’t hinder the rider’s feel of the horse, so the closer connection characteristic to bareback riding is experienced immediately. Additionally, it aids in mitigating any conformational discomforts.

ThinLine’s open-cell foam technology resists compression, so you can ride bareback a lot and enjoy a ride devoid of jarring motion and abundant with stability, unity, and comfort.

The breathable pad includes leather-reinforced billets and a non-slip neoprene girth with steel roller buckles and double keepers. Dee rings let you add additional equipment.

After your ride, a quick wipe-down of the pad will do; no time-consuming cleaning is necessary!

Final Notes

Bareback riding is rewarding and challenging and can greatly improve your seat, balance, and connection with your horse, regardless of your riding level of expertise.

Whether you’re looking to enhance your riding skills, build a stronger bond with your horse, or just have some fun, riding bareback offers unique advantages that are well worth exploring.