[horseluver50]

I have always wondered.. is riding with 2 people on one horse damaging to their backs at all, does it hurt them?

My mare is 1050lbs, not sure if she could hold it?

 

[Honeysuga]

I am pretty anti bareback...not all the time,mnd you, but most of it. I would not ride a horse double at all, let alone bareback, seems like it is too much unsupported pressure to me. Especially if the riders in question are anything less than perfectly balanced...

Just my opinion...

 

[horseluver50]

thanks for your input, is there any scientific facts about if it is bad for your horse, or is it just an opinion?

 

[Gidji]

I believe that a horse can support 20% of its own body weight but that doesn't mean it should.
I have ridden double at a walk and the horse did not feel stressed at all. I have also ridden double at a trot for a short period and the horse didn't mind.
But I don't think it would be fair to do strenous work whilst riding double.

 

[Sea To Sky]

i dont think it would be a problem at all unless it was fairly regularly... Many horses very hapily carry two riders =D

 

[Honeysuga]

There are facts to support it, but that just opens a can of worms, so I will stick with opinion.

 

[ChingazMyBoy]

Theres facts. It hurts both rider and horse. Watch the video below, may help you understand. Its in the second part.

Jalah And I - Stacking It In Style on Vimeo

 

[Honeysuga]

LOL I remember when you posted that video on here, you guys ate it good time!

 

[My Beau]

I haven't ridden double bareback, but i've had a person sit behind my saddle many times with no issues. If the horse is well muscled and in shape I don't think it would be a problem if you just walk around.

Heck, when I was younger I had 2 people behind my saddle once...

 

[Honeysuga]

If you look at where the second rider sits behind your saddle(closer to the hips rather than in the middle of the back, plus you have a saddle supporting you...) and where a second rider would sit bareback(closer to the middle of the back, smaller area of pressure in a weaker area of the spine...) it is quite a bit different.

Just wanted to point that out, I won't post on this thread again, most disagree with my views on this, and I would rather this stay positive and helpful than a big debate over bareback riding...

OP-Whatever you do, be safe!

 

[thunderhooves]

Bareback is not bad for the horse, IMHO. The indians rode barback all the time, and somtimes had to ride double, I bet. And yet, the horse breed is still here today, so obviously the indians didn't hurt them. I would ride double bareback all the time, but I little won't hurt. And plus, by yourslef bareback is a great way to gain balance! But where a helmet riding double bareback, at least!

 

[RiosDad]

I believe that a horse can support 20% of its own body weight but that doesn't mean it should.

That 20% refers to an endurance horse and it's chances of successfully covering 100 miles. For short periods any horse can carry more then 20%. I have given others a lift and at times the horse carried 350 pounds and seemed to handle it fine at a slow lope. That was a 870 pound arab.

2 girls will not harm a horse riding double. As for bareback I too am against it but not in this case. 2 girls will only walk along harming nothing.

I hate bareback riding but not for just a slow walk in the park.

 

[RiosDad]

Bareback is not bad for the horse, IMHO. The indians rode barback all the time, and somtimes had to ride double, I
quote]

Bareback puts to much pressure over a small area. Think of your butt pones digging into the horses back. Indians didn't ribe bareback as much as most think. They made saddles out of green buffalo hides. Other then the Greeks no one rode a war horse bareback into battle

Agian I feel 2 girls out for a walk bareback will do no harm to a horse.
A lone person going to a 10 mile ride at speed will harm a horse if riding bareback over time. It is all about PSI Pounds Per Square inch.

 

[riccil0ve]

Wow, I do it all the time, with and without a saddle. My mare has never had a problem with it, and I don't care what "facts" there are for it, if Ricci didn't like it or was in pain, she'd tell me.

 

[ridergirl23]

I ride bareback all the time, i have ridden bareback double, my horse was neither in pain or unomfortable. if they have a well muscled back it shouldnt hurt at all.
personally, my hrose has big withers,so it hurts me alot more o_0 lol

 

[GandRPaints]

I agree that bareback is ok. Used to do it all the time as a kid. was easier to go bareback than put the darn saddle on. Never had a horse buck or pin their ears when doing this either. Id do it now except my mare is 2 and has high withers so it hurts me more than her. Plus my balance sucks as I get older. Hitting the ground isnt fun anymore Go for it!

 

[gypsygirl]

me & my sis ride double bareback, my horse doesnt mind at all. we dont do it a lot, but we will w/t/c

 

[mom2pride]

Someone posted a link comparing the pressure points caused when a horse is ridden bareback vs with a saddle, and bareback actually caused LESS pressure points than with a saddle... I don't remember who it was, that posted it, or which thread it was in (geuss I'll be searching for it).

I've always ridden more bareback than with a saddle, and most of the horses I've had, seemed to enjoy being 'naked' for our long outings.

 

[Attitude05]

my first horse doubled all the time, never had a back problem.
of course the riders were well balanced and not overly big.

 

[RiosDad]

A horse's back should not have more then 1 pound per square inch. A typical western saddle is lucky , the bare tree that is, is lucky to have 60 square inches of area actually carrying weight. I measure 2 trees a few months ago when I pulled them from new saddles for custom fitting on the horse.
I am 190 without the saddle or about 210 with a saddle. Divide 210 by 60 and you get 3.5 psi. Still way too much.
I rode in a custom trooper for 20 years that had over 300 square inches of support or under 1 psi and although I rode at 220 pounds and over 30,000 miles not once did I run into a back problem. I kept the psi down.
A 120 pound girl with butt bones pressing into the horse can make for a very uncomfortable ride for the horse and if IF a person could honestly ride for any length of time bareback and at speed, like a good working trot or lope it would not be good for the horse. The saddle spreads the load and makes sure that no extreme pressure points dig into the back.
A don't beleive that anyone can really work a horse bareback. Sure a walk in the park but not really work.
Pick a good working trot and hold it for 30 minutes would reduce any bareback rider to mush or even pick a lope and hold it for 30 minutes over hills, up and down and your bareback riding will again be reduced to mush.
We are just not that strong and yes I have loped many a circle bareback in the arena and for extended time.