bareback?

Not sure about you guys. But I would never ride in a bareback pad with stirrups. That's a very bad safety hazard in my opinion. I've heard of stories of people relying to much on the stirrups and the pad turning sideways. As it's not meant to put to much pressure on. Just as a safety precaution. But if used the right way I can see it being a good thing.

When I guided trail rides in high school, I had to ride bareback because of having a cyst removed off my tailbone... I couldn't have sat in a saddle all day if my life had depended on it... I wish I could still ride that well...

Even now, I still like to just go jump on my mare without the saddle, but she's got a pretty sensitive back, so I don't do that to her very often....

When I first loped bareback, I had to hold my pont back from going faster, so that helped me balance. I big no-no, but it worked and it was only once in the beginning. That little pony! Slick as a seal and liked to throw in bucks when riding bareback. I kept my balance by griping with my knees and grabbing a chunk of mane in one hand if I needed it.

I've seen those bareback pads with stirrups on them, seems like it would be really bad for the horse's back. Talk about pressure point! I know I've caught myself using my hands to balance myself before. Especially when Soda randomly decides to "bolt" home. So I've been going back in forth between bareback and saddle. Once my paddock is dry I'll be doing way more bareback (next week) and once I'm up to par I'll be back on my usual (almost) constant bareback trail rides.

I lvoe riding bareback. It can be a little unconfortable on my arab cross's funny-shaped back, but I'm getting used to it. I never did much bareback on him until this year, but lately I've been finding myself too lazy to go get my saddle. It's also motivated me to work towards bridleless.
Depending on your horse's coat (my arab's is very soft and slippery) you may want to consider riding with a pad for grip. I need one in the wintertime, or else I'm hanging on to his mane the entire time :)

You people are just asking for trouble.. Bareback, bridless. A recipe for disaster.

Less of one than with a saddle. At least there is nothing to get caught on. What does bridless mean? No bit? Or nothing at all? I ride everywhere in a halter, I've even ridden with twine!

I respect your opinion, but you don't know me or my horse, nor our abilities, so please don't assume you do.

If you truly need a saddle/bridle to keep your horse from getting rid of you, there's not much foundation training.

Just with a cordeo, at a walk and trot for right now. The weather up here's been too bad to do much lately. I also ride everywhere with a halter :P

I rode for 20 years without a bit and don't think it is a big deal anymore. As for the saddle, it makes things easier on the horse and safer for you as a rider. You are just fooling yourself if you think riding bareback with just a halter is doing the horse any good.
You guys are slowly ruining whatever training the horse had and this is from a old guy that has rode 10 of thousands of miles.