Am I OK to hack bareback?

[hApPiNeSs]

Is it OK for a rider on a smaller pony to hack out bareback? I don't want to hurt her or anything from not having the weight distribution, and we will probably just be walking most of the way and a little bit of trot/canter.

The only people I ever see riding bareback are quite small on their horses.

And I'd only go out for an hour occasionally, not all the time? I also need to ride bareback desperatley because my sitting trot is alful at the moment :o

[Mehitabel]

yes. if you're not too heavy for her with a saddle you're not too heavy without one. if you were considering doing endurance riding for several hours at a time every day for a month, then the weight distribution would be a problem. for normal riding it really isn't.

[hApPiNeSs]

Thanks Mehitabel. I didnt think I would be, just making sure.

[Shannon_Clover]

I used to ride my first pony, Sandy, bareback all the time out hacking around my area and on the farm tracks.
It was no problem at all.
I simply could not afford a saddle as I was just a kid/teenager and my parents couldnt afford it, this was years ago.
I also rode bitless, same as saddle couldnt afford a bridle.
So when the bareback riding turned out to be fine I never bothered to get a saddle.
Im sure any pony prefered that than an ill-fitting saddle.
I was about 7 or 7half stones back then and 5 feet tall ish and Sandy was about 12hh or 12.2hh.

Yes, that right, bareback is brillant to improve balance and sitting position.
I personally prefer it than saddle riding cos I tend to lose a stirrup or lose balance a bit.

[Wings]

I'm not sure if this is true, but I've heard you're not insured if you hack out without a saddle. I think that, by law, you have to use bridle and a saddle when you hack onto roads.

One of the people at my old yard rode Western, and she schooled with a neck strap and no bridle. For hacking out, she had to use a bridle, or she would have been riding illegally.

You might want to check into this with your insurance company and with the highway code.

[Kimo]

My husband rides his 16.3 STB bareback all the time. And no bridle, just a rope halter and lead. In fact, in three years, he's probably only had a saddle on maybe a dozen times total. And he's not a small man--he's 6'1". His horse seems at ease bareback, too. They do arena riding and trails.

[Wally]

I wouldn't on the roads, anywhere else you could.

[Bronya]

I actually asked my insurers (and several others on hearing the answer) about hacking bareback. The unanimous answer was that I would not be covered, even around the farm! It's ok in the enclosed manege, but that's it, apparently! My problem is I haven't a saddle for my pony at the moment, so can't hack out - but there you go, that's life!

[shoniedaspony]

this may sound slightly odd but there are any number of things that can invalidate your insurance..id make your choice depending on the hacking available to you...roads-i personally wouldnt, just too risky, but if you have private off road hacking i would, whether or not i had insurance.

i used to take my lil 12hh share pony out down to the fields and into the school bareback- scared myself even by jumping a log and then galloping the long side of the field that ran next to the M1...fabulous...in a headcollar too!

i love riding bareback, and dont see a problem if you are only riding for an hour or so

[Laura+Phantom]

I ride my 13.2hh mare out on the (quiet) roads bareback quite often, I haven't got a saddle that fits at the moment so I have no choice!

Interesting what everyone's saying about insurance and our conversation about a certain riding school eh Happiness? ;)

[Ella2004]

Ive ridden Cassie (13hh welsh b) bareback quite alot and she seems quite happy. Im 5'1 and about 8.6-9stone.

[Skib]

Wally. You are right. It isn't Insurers who make the rules.
It is the highway code which says you must use a saddle and bridle when riding on roads. The BHS Riding and Road safety book says your feet must be in the stirrups too.