Trail bareback

I used to trail ride bareback all the time - great for developing balance, and you'll use some muscles you didn't know were there!

As far as mounting/dismounting, you'd probably need to find places like a rock, bank, tree stump, etc. to re-mount. Maybe also teach your horse to "park out" to lower his back a little more. If you wear a backpack when you ride, you could always get one of those little three-legged fold-up stools they sell in horse catalogs and keep it in your pack.

If you're really ambitious... Practice squats, box and wall jumps to develop your leg muscles so you can hop right on!

Slightly off topic, but my hubby rides bareback more than he tacks up and I've noticed some changes to his gelding's back over the years. I've finally convinced the man to toss a suede bareback pad on before hitting the trail. Farting around the yard for a tad is no big deal, but if you want an good idea of what tour seatbones could do to their backs, have someone sit on you as they would a horse, with you on all fours. Then imagine sustaining it for 30/60+ minutes, as you climb and descend various terrains. Exhausting!

We both pad up, now, even though it means the hubby can't just jump up without a mounting aid (pad catches).
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I bought a Vaulting Surcingle and I ride bareback with that on it gives me alot of help when swinging on.

Haha I feel your pain!! I am 5'0 and my boy is 15.2 & 1/2 hands.. I can't even see over his back! I have tried for years to jump on a horse, and I have completely given up, lol. My legs are so short, there is no way I could ever make it up there. I use an old mineral lick tub as a mounting block.. Works just fine. Out on the trail, I try my hardest not to come off. The closest I've come was when my mare stopped when we were loping. I'm talking her brakes locked up and her head went down. The only part of my body that was still over her back was my left foot, and I was barefoot in the middle of a sticker patch. Don't know how I did it, but I managed to pull myself up with just my foot. Pulled the calf muscle, but I did it! Moral of the story: hang on and don't let go!! Lolol - Good luck!

I just use a mounting block at the barn, head out, and hope I don't fall and end up walking home. LOL.

I took my sister out on a trail for her birthday and I forgot to bring an extra saddle...so I gave her mine and rode my horse bareback.

2 hours in the Pennsylvania hills was uh...well, it was rather painful. It made for good pictures though.

I learned how to hop up on the horse without a boost when I was younger, so getting on and off my horse wasn't a big issue. There are always logs and inclines on the trail though, right? You might be able to use that to your advantage. If not...then just don't fall off!