Bareback Horse Riding: A Fun and Challenging Way to Improve Your Riding Skills

There is nothing more magical that bareback horse riding. Not having anything hindering the communication between you and your horse adds a special bond to your relationship.

Check out Stacy Westfall riding bareback and you’re sure to be in awe of the communication, talent, and grace involved in bareback riding. Yet so many riders, even very experienced ones, never even so much as tried one bareback ride. I find that sad. Riding bareback is the best way for you to develop balance and feel when riding horses.

What Is Bareback Horse Riding?

First off, let’s define what bareback horse riding is. It refers to having no saddle on the horse. There are however, various pads and blankets you can use to cushion your tooshy from your horses backbone and withers.

Withers And Pads

If you are lucky enough to have a low-withered wide backed horse, enjoy it! If you have a horse with high withers or a pronounced backbone, a pad will be a necessity. Pads are made from anything from cushy fleece (which doesn’t stay that way long) to microfiber suede similar to what a bareback bronc rider would use.

Although some bareback pads have stirrups, I don’t recommend them. Because there is no rigidity or tree on a bareback pad if you happen to lean on one stirrup it can turn the whole pad and you over with it!

Use A Pad To Start

 If you are new to riding bareback you will probably want to start with a pad and work up to no pad if that is your end goal. I like the microfiber suede pad because it gives a tackiness to your seat. It’s like a very minor Velcro feeling.

That tackiness and a helpful loop to hang onto can be a crucial aid for you to maintain your confidence! This is especially true if like me, you happen to have an Appaloosa with a distinct lack of mane to hold onto!

Microfiber Suede Pads Are Built To Last

The other thing I like about microfiber bareback pads is that they last a very long time. I’d gone through tons of fleece models over the years and now I’ve had my suede bareback pad for 5 years now with no sign that it will need to be replaced. Although they initially cost more, they will last much, much longer!

The Saddle Does Serve A Purpose

Having a saddle for longer, more strenuous rides will save both your behind and your horses back. It takes a lot more balance to ride on hills and uneven terrain while bareback.

The saddle and pad distribute the riders weight over a larger area on the horses back which helps to keep him from getting sore. Same goes for your behind and your legs. The longer your legs dangle free the more likely they are to fall asleep.

Are You Brave Enough?

To learn to ride bareback you must be brave! No, just kidding, it’s not that scary. Most people have worked it up in their heads to be a lot harder than it really is. If you take it slow, really slow, there is no reason why you can’t enjoy some quality bareback horse riding time. You may end up like me with bareback becoming your favorite way to ride!

The Key to Riding Bareback

I bet you think you know the secret to riding bareback? You have to be strong, right? Nope, you’re wrong. It isn’t strong leg muscles! Gripping with your legs will not only make you sore, but it makes you tense and less likely to be able to go with the flow of your horse. The more you grip, especially with your lower legs, the faster your horse is likely to go and that’s not good!

The key to bareback horse riding is balance, feel, and going with the flow of your horse. Sit on your seat bones and do NOT roll your weight forward to the front of your pelvis. Of course this is much easier said than done and practice is the key to getting better! Generally, you won’t even want your lower leg in contact with your horses side, just allow it to hang naturally.

If you are relaxed, you can move with him. If you are tense when he makes a move it will be way harder to stay on! The good news is without a saddle you will be able to feel every movement your horse makes under you. The bad news is that sometimes he may make moves you aren’t expecting! Until you can learn to anticipate what he is going to do by feeling him move under you take things very slow!

Other Considerations

Getting On

If you are lucky for your horse to be short enough and you to be tall enough to get on while standing on a mounting block and reaching your leg over, you can go that way.

If not, you’ll need to either get a good leg up from someone or be able to jump up and get your belly across his back and then swing your leg over. This is where a good friend can come in very handy to hold your horse!

Getting Off

Hold your reins in one hand short enough to stop him from walking off. If getting off on the left side lean forward enough (without gripping with your legs) to swing your right leg across his back towards his tail. Lean your belly over his back and slide or hop down!

It is much easier to get off bareback than with a saddle! If you are more adventurous and your horse is very calm you could try keeping yourself astride and sliding all the way back off his rump!

Make Sure Your Horse Is Ready

Some horses have never been ridden bareback and they may need to get used to the feeling. Keep this in mind and keep things slow for both of you. It would be wise if you don’t know his bareback riding history or if you aren’t confident to try it to enlist an experienced friend, trainer, or instructor to assist you.

Most of the time horses do just fine with being ridden bareback especially if you spend some time rubbing them all over and leaning over them while standing on the mounting block. Be sure to check that out first before you ever get on!

Get Good At Riding Without Stirrups First

Don’t try to ride bareback if you aren’t already experienced riding in a saddle. A good exercise to get you ready for bareback riding is for you to simply ride without stirrups. Get good at that in all gaits and then try bareback horse riding.

Gait Considerations

The walk and the canter are the two easiest gaits to ride bareback. That doesn’t mean you should go cantering off into the sunset your first ride out though. Start with walking, lots of walking on the rail, in circles and patterns. Practice walking and stopping, then walking again.

When you are very comfortable at the walk you can try the trot. The better you can walk, trot, and change gait with him the easier it will be for you to stay connected while cantering. When trotting relax and allow your body to take in the side to side motion. Of course every horse’s gaits are different. One may have a smooth slow jog and another has a very bouncy trot. Generally the slower the trot the easier it is to ride. Keep that in mind when attempting bareback horse riding!

I hope you have enjoyed learning about bareback horse riding. Now go take it slow at first, be safe, and have fun riding your horse bareback!

Here are some other articles you may enjoy:

Horseback Riding Tips- Tips to keep you safe and having fun in the saddle (or even without the saddle)

Horseback Riding Helmets- You should always wear an approved horseback riding helmet when mounted, but especially when bareback horse riding.

Summer Horseback Riding Camps- If you are horse crazy spending a week or more learning about and riding horses may be just the right thing for you!

Natural Horse Training- Want to be more in touch with what your horse is thinking? Why he behaves like he does? Natural horse training will show you how to get inside your horses’ head and use how he thinks to improve your training and riding.

Horse Training Tips- Tips to improve your horse training skills

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