bareback?

I can't even remember the last time I saddled up Oakey... He doesn't like the saddle, and I feel like I have more control without it!

I love to ride bareback, but my mare has a spine that is like a saw!! I am looking for a thick pad to use untill she gets in shape and has some muscle on her to see if that helps. I never had "proper" riding lessons, it was just me and my friend playing around on her pony, usually without a saddle of any sort, so I am more used to bareback more than a saddle anyway. A big problem when I switched to a saddle is that I didn't keep enough weight in the stirrups and was bouncing everywhere!! LOL I've gotten alot better, but I seem to digress after riding bareback for awhile. Anyone else have this issue?

Like the girl above me mentioned, if you've got a bony horse I'd invest in a bareback pad! Even if you don't have a bony horse, if you'll be on for hours on end or if you'll need some extra grip...they work well. I use one on a pony that I ride sometimes because we'll go for some long(3-5 hour) rides and I'm not quite used to bareback enough to not slide on steep inclines and declines. Haha the pad helps with that and with my but not killing me.

But as for the initial question, no there's nothing wrong with riding bareback a lot. If you plan on showing with a saddle, you'll need to practice with a saddle beforehand to avoid the leg-swinging issues...and any other issue that may come about. I'd put a saddle on every now and then anyway just to make sure your horse doesn't get cranky about them.

Me too!! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I even JUMP better bareback! Haha And yes, I have gone trail riding bareback too, it all just depends on your level of comfort!

Haha now jumping, I would never be able to do bareback. I'm not even good at it WITH a saddle. ohhhh well.

I ride bareback more than I do with a saddle.. always have

Because i'm nimwitted and didn't know about saddle fitting I bought a saddle that is too big for my horse. So I usually ride bareback or I have another saddle that someone elses uses that fits my horse so I use it when he doesn't ride. I jumped for the first time bareback and I have fantastic grip and it was quite fun! I also grip better bareback and with a pad honestly. I bought one thinking maybe it would be more comfortable. But by then I was completely used to regular bareback. My horse spooked (bareback with no pad) she reared slightly. Spun and ran full speed back to the barn. I didn't slip in the slightest. But when I used my barebackpad. And I was just galloping. I slid right off and ate dirt! So I feel much more safer and comfortable on her back rather than a pad. Although saddle is nice. With a saddle I bounce around more than I do bareback!

I go riding bareback down the trails all the time, I love it. Since trail riding is a way to get away from the ring with my horse, I find that riding bareback adds that little extra closeness to my horse and nature. The people that I go trail riding with all think Im crazy.

I would suggest that you get a nice comfy pad, especially if you go on longer rides, it will save your butt, and it will likely make your horse more comfortable too. If you are still a little unsure, or worry that your horse might come across something and spook then you may want to go with a pad that has those stirrups on it, or if you can afford it they have bareback pads that are made of memory foam and are super comfy. I would love to have one of those.

I ride bareback pretty often. When I was younger and my seat was better from constant riding I rode bareback all the time. Now I've been riding in a saddle more often as I'm "spring training" Soda and my legs are weak.

The only caution I have is to beware of balancing yourself with your hands/arms. Especially if your legs/seat is weak. You end up doing more harm than good to yourself and your horse.

VERY good point!!