Bare Horseback Riding (Tips that Actually Work!)

Many horse owners are curious about bareback horse riding and with good reason.

Bareback riding is a form of horse riding where the rider sits on a saddle without stirrups and no other equipment. It’s not for beginners but it has some advantages over other forms of horsemanship such as saddles.

One such advantage is that the rider feels closer to the horse than when using a saddle or other equipment.

Another benefit to this style of riding is that it increases the rider’s awareness on their seat due to them being able to feel each movement made by their mount (or vice versa).

I’m going to outline what you need to know before you get started so that you can be confident in your decision about whether or not bareback riding is for you.

  • The first thing to consider when bare back riding is that it’s more dangerous than regular saddles. You’ll want to take extra care with your balance and make sure there aren’t any obstacles around if possible.
  • You’re going to need much better communication skills because the lack of equipment means that there are fewer ways for the horse and rider to communicate their intentions with each other. The only way to ‘speak’ is through your weight and legs, so you need to know what each feel like in order to get the desired response from your horse.
  • You’re going to have a much better connection with your horse because this style of riding allows both you and the horse communicate more effectively. In turn, this will build trust between both of you.

Comparing bareback horse riding with a saddle and stirrups

There are a few things you need to consider before you decide if the style suits you.

First of all, bareback riding is much more dangerous than standard riding because it eliminates any safety equipment from interfering with your movement and balance on the horse.

Bare Horseback Riding

Also, instead of using stirrups as extra support when sitting, this form of ride requires better communication skills between the rider and horse.

One of the biggest benefits to bareback riding is that you will have a better connection with your horse, which provides trust for both parties.

The first thing that you need to do in order to ride without a saddle is to get on the horse from the ground – not by mounting from an elevated saddle platform, but getting down low and using your legs to push up onto the horse’s back. Then once you are there, take hold of any mane or hair that is available so that when they start running, you don’t go flying off.

Another thing that you need to bear in mind is that your horse needs to be well-trained – especially if you’re using a trail without much equipment. This means that he needs to know what the different signals from his rider mean, and how to react accordingly.

Is bareback riding good for the horses?

Yes, bareback horse riding can be good for the horses. You need to make sure that they are in good health and physically fit before you even consider getting on their back in the first place.

See also  How Much Do Horses Cost

A lot of people think that if a horse is big enough, it doesn’t matter what its physical condition is like – this is an extremely dangerous way of thinking because if your horse isn’t in good shape, it could cause injury to both the horse and the rider.

You need to make sure that your horse is fit and healthy enough for riding without a saddle or any safety equipment first. This way, both you and the horse can trust each other more. If you’re not confident that your horse is ready for this, then it’s probably best to avoid doing it.

Another thing that you need to keep in mind when choosing to ride without a saddle is your position on the horse’s back. You don’t want to be too far forward, because this will put a lot of pressure on the horse’s head and neck – making them uncomfortable and even causing them a pain to their withers.

You also do not want to be too far back, because this will put a lot of pressure on the horse’s hindquarters. You want to make sure that you’re in the center of their back so that they are well-distributed.

When it comes down to it, riding bareback isn’t necessarily bad for horses – but you need to think about whether you have the correct skillset and knowledge required for this style of riding.

How to mount a horse without a saddle?

If you are considering riding your horse without the use of a saddle, then there are two ways you can do this.

See also  What Kind Of Beer Can Horses Have?

One way is to place both your legs on one side of the horse and then swing yourself over onto their back in a single movement.

However, many people find it difficult to mount from this position – especially if they have never done it before and it requires a lot of consistent practice.

The other way to mount your horse is by using a mounting block. This can be attached to the side of your trailer, or even placed next to another fence post.

By getting up onto this, you can use it as leverage and swing yourself over the back of the horse. It makes it much easier for people who aren’t able to mount from the ground, but it can also be useful for those who are used to mounting in this way.

Regardless of which option you choose – just make sure that your horse is trained enough to handle this type of movement. Otherwise, both you and the horse could end up hurt.