bareback

[TheHoglet]

who finds it much esier to ride bare back than with a saddle? why?
i think it is

[iloveshearer]

blimey!!!:eek: it's so uncomfy though, it cant be good for the horses back!

[Bronya]

Yes & no. Bareback I don't sit slightly to one side as I tend to in a saddle, it is comfy and it feels better. I think it's something to do with your centre of gravity being nearer the horse's as you are not raised up at all. I also find that I respond better to bucks/rears bareback, as then I instinctively do the right thing.

However - sitting spooks at a fast canter is not easier or more safe bareback - at all! I can pull myself back on but with a saddle and stirrups I wouldn't be bothered at all and would not lose my balance. It's also easier to stop a 'runaway' act with stirrups to anchor against! Oh, and it's much better if you want to jump - having a saddle I mean!!

[TheHoglet]

sorry i'd have to disagree iloveshearer i find it realy easy to ride bareback and most times its much comfier than a saddle i got told it was about as bad for the horse as it is a saddle and my pony sems to love been riden bare back:D

dose anyone know if it's bad for the horses back?

[iloveshearer]

what about sitting trot? dont you find that uncomfy and awkwardly bouncy?

[TheHoglet]

no i find it fun!! i sit it better without a saddle than i do with one! i have only ever sliped to the side once and my pony stoped dead to let me push my self back up, the lil darling

[Shadowlark]

Depends on your horse.. I can sit splash bareback for miles at a trot, especially if I can keep him in a nice jog.. We ride out all winter either totaly bare or with just a sheepskin cosy for my posterier. My friends mare.. dear LORD I won't ride her at all without a saddle!

[Skib]

Cobsaregood asked Does anyone know if it is bad for the horse?

There isnt a universal answer. It depends on the build of the horse and also the rider and their seat. I am allowed to ride my lesson horse bareback because I have a plump comfy backside on which to sit. And the horse is an Irish cross. There is enough protection for the horse, which is not the case if the horse and rider are both on the skinny side - say an athletic TB with a slim rider.
There are different schools of thought on the use of saddles and the design needed to protect the horse's back. People believe what they believe deeply and get really cross if they disagree with someone who posts. But one sees (choosing extremes) that some posters to the NH section go for treeless, and others use a Western saddle.
At a clinic in December Mark Rashid and the equine chiropractor Dr Dave Siemens gave a clear explanation of the manner in which a Western saddle offered protection to the horse's back. It was new to me so I will try to repeat what they said.
The weight of any rider, saddle etc must be carried by the weight-bearing vertebrae in the horse's spine, that is the vertebra which have ribs attached to them. Teachers in the UK often ask for a bend round the rider's leg. But the physiological suggestion is that there can be very little bend in the barrel of the horse.
Modern techniques allow one to photograph animals in motion with a heat sensitive camera. Patterns of heat reveal where movement is taking place, where there is a blood supply and muscles.
A cat has a a flexible spine with muscles, movement and blood supply the whole way along. The horse doesnt. Running down either side of the load bearing part of the horse's spine there is hard gristle. A properly fitted Western treed saddle rests either side of the horse's spine, keeping the weight off the top of the spine and distributes the weight of the rider along this solid gristled area. Because there is relatively little movement in this area, there is little friction. It doesnt matter that one is using a hard tree; Rashid compared it to placing a plank on a plank.
When we ride bareback we have the opposite scenario. Our weight is not lifted clear of the top of the spine and our weight and its distribution are in constant movement relative to the horse's body.

[Shiny McShine]

I quite often ride bareback, and I really love it. My horse is usually much happier the more "naked" she is, so we do a fair bit. I don't find it easier than riding in a saddle by a long shot but it gives you a great feeling of being close and "at one" with your horse, at least it does for me :D.

[Shiny McShine]

When we ride bareback we have the opposite scenario. Our weight is not lifted clear of the top of the spine and our weight and its distribution are in constant movement relative to the horse's body.

While this is true to a great extent I would say that it does vary with how you ride. I ride on my thighs when I am bareback, and in this state their is little more than a light contact between my crotch and the centre of the horse's back over the spine, so my weight and my movment are concentrated through the flat area of each of my thighs onto the flat plane of my horse's shoulder bed. While it may not be anywhere near as ideal as a well-fitting saddle I don't believe it is particularly detrimental either.

[april89]

I love riding bareback on a cob I know as he is sooooo comfy (if a little fat! :p ). However, I was on a holiday once and we had a bareback lesson and never again on that horse - he had really high withers, was bouncy, skinny under the leg and generally very uncomfortable! :rolleyes:

I think weight of the rider may also affect the good/bad argument for the horse as lighter people will cause less pressure although it may be slightly more concentrated. Perhaps however ability of the rider is a factor as a non rider may be a dead weight on the horses back (actually sitting on it) whereas a rider will probably have a broader weight transfer and will be able to move their weight with the horse to keep it from concentrating on any pressure point. I don't know - just some ideas.

However, all of the horses I know ride well in bareback, at least as well as with a saddle on and there are no other obvious signs of pain.

It think bareback's good!:D

[Just.Jump]

what about sitting trot? dont you find that uncomfy and awkwardly bouncy?

Definately not!
I am the biggest bareback advocate out there ^.^ A rider can always adjust the way they are sitting to suit the horses conformation- somehow, I have ridden the horse with the most prominent spine (not visibly, but when you sit on him) and withers at the barn, and somehow rearranged myself while riding to sit comefortably on him, and he had no problem with it.

Generally, horses should be pleased when going bareback- less weight, no girth, and no worries about fitting a saddle. And it's more impressive skill-wise for the rider as well.

As for horses health, I imagine that horse horses who are practically impossible to fit for, bareback would be much better. Also, I don't know how pleased I would be if it were me paying to reflock the saddles as my (one day..) horses age, grow, and change physically with conditioning.

But I'm cheap =P

[Jacquie]

I'm a bit of a cheat when it comes to riding bareback.

Due to my thoroughbred having very high withers there's no way I'd risk damaging my credentials by riding without a bareback pad. :D

It's great fun though and also helps you feel more of the horses movements.

[Just.Jump]

Don't want to damage the goods ^.~

Something about riding bareback is just so... freeing ^.^
Almost like that cartoon movie, Stallion of the Cimmaron. Besides jumping, my future goal is to ride not only bareback, but bridleless

[eeyore]

Due to my thoroughbred having very high withers there's no way I'd risk damaging my credentials by riding without a bareback pad. :D

does the bareback pad make all the difference??
is it more comfy for the horse also?

as you can probably tell i too have a TB with very high withers and also quite a bony back (which i did not notice until i got on!).

i want to get one for my bday in the summer - can you or anyone else recommend any brands or anything?

[Jacquie]

does the bareback pad make all the difference??
is it more comfy for the horse also?

as you can probably tell i too have a TB with very high withers and also quite a bony back (which i did not notice until i got on!).

i want to get one for my bday in the summer - can you or anyone else recommend any brands or anything?

It makes an enormous difference, it not only protects you but because of the 'sticky bum' effect it also helps to keep you balanced. I should imagine the horse would find it more comfy as well because let's face it if we can feel their boney bits when we ride bareback, they must be able to feel ours. :D

As for recommendation.....no doubt by far (in my opinion) is 'THE BEST FRIEND' bareback pad.
link:
http://www.barebackpad.co.uk/

[BeachRiding]

I do! I love it!

[Arabmare]

I love bareback, I prefer it, the ride turns into something like a movie, not a boring old hack! My mare is so much more responsive and it reminds me of when I first backed her (i broke her in bareback first!) We went on many adventures bareback, we loved jumping in the woods, cantering in the park!!

I will add a picture later but going to be late for work!! :eek:

[Just.Jump]

I actually hate bareback pads >.<
The buckles and rings on them rub my thighs while riding (I have freakishly long legs for my height), and I find the suede ruins my seat- it throws me off balance with all that stupid sticky action =P I've been the naked version of bareback since I started though, so obviously that's my preference!

[mu0ljk]

I love riding bareback - I have a tendency to ride with rounded shoulders and when I ride bareback I can really sit and open out my shoulders and concentrate on my position.

Unfortunately, I now have a tbxid (I say unfortunately - he's gorgeous of course! ;) ) with giraffe withers and a prominent spine - ooh it was rather uncomfortable :eek: so I am going to have a look at the bareback pads because I always found it rather fun although I know everyone at the yard laughs at me - its a bit below them!! ;) But I definately want to have a go at jumping (v.small!) bareback before the end of the summer!!

[mu0ljk]

Most disappointed! JUst had a look on ebay and they only had a zebra coloured one! :( What would they say at the yard! :p