Bareback. Good or bad?

Hey all <3 So I've read a tonne of controversial things about bareback riding. I've heard that it hurts your horse, the bones in your butt dig into their spine, I've heard that its very uncomfortable and should be avoided.

But I've also heard there is nothing wrong with bareback and in all the videos I've seen of riding "naturally" the horses look so happy, and not uncomfortable at all. I've heard that it can be much better than riding with a saddle, because of the freedom and flexion the back has without a saddle confining on it.

The first barn I rode at, the one where I learned to ride, saddles were forbidden in the arena, until you could confidently ride bareback. I found it was an amazing way to learn, as I didn't have a saddle or stirrups to use as crutches. So whats the skippy on bareback? Whats your opinion?

Bareback is an excellent way to develop a seat and balance. I try to take time out of my ride towards the end to ditch the saddle and work bareback (I say at the end because I have fresh horses who sometimes aren't fun to ride at first )

It really doesn't hurt your horse. I personally find my horse likes to be ridden bareback because I think she feels like it's a playtime for the both of us. It's a great way to learn how your horse moves too.

I think that's an awesome rule lol. If you are new and your stirrup falls off, are you going to too?

I plan on doing only bareback in the simmered on the old mare I lease :)

Most of my horses are old timers and I prefer to ride with a well fitting saddle and a decent saddle pad, just because it takes the pressure off their spine and distributes the rider's weight more evenly. I don't think riding bareback will necessarily hurt a horse though. I have never ridden bareback consistently enough to cause any soreness so I have no idea. Theres nothing wrong with hopping on a horse bareback, at least for a gentle ride here or there.

I ride my mare almost exclusively bareback on our daily hour rides... the only one who is sore is me That darn bony spine of hers. Riding bareback will really make you learn how to balance and hold yourself better if you don't rush it... trying too much at one time will sometimes make you want to ride hunch backed from clinging to the horse. Keep your back straight, heels down, and butt on the horse and take it as slowly as you need too.

That said, some horses like it and others don't. Indie seems to really enjoy not having the extra burden of the saddle, but I've met some horses (specially older ones who got sore easier) who would pin their ears and sometimes even buck if you got on them without a saddle.

Do it often enough you'll get a seat like this:

Can you post a youtube link to the bids? My kindle wont let me watch them from here

^ That's what happens when you post youtube links here, happy.

try clicking on the green box with the name of the video, it is the link and should take you to the page. Hope that helps

I will comment that allowing a young rider to ride Shay-las pony for a couple years almost always bareback absolutely RUINED the ponies gaits and attitude. Her back was thumped for so long, it's taken over a year to get her canter back to some semblence of normal without her panicking and just trying to run away from the pain. Shay-la still two points in canter because she gets so erratic when you sit on her back.

Bareback can be beneficial, I've ridden bareback for years and it's really helped my skills and I've never yet found a horse who really minded it. But if you AREN'T a good bareback rider, you can mess a horse up mighty fast from it. Granted, you CAN do the same thing with a saddle of course, it's just a lot more likely when you ride bareback.

It's easier to sore a horse up bareback because all your weight is on their back if you don't have skilled legs. Then again, it's probably better then a poor fitting saddle which I swear half the world has!