I tried riding bareback for the first time, but OW OW OW! I was not expecting to feel like I was being stabbed repeatedly by my horse's withers, even just at the walk. I'm confused because I don't know if it's my fault, or if it's his withers. I was told by my RI the first time I met my riding horse that he does need to be ridden with another special pad between the saddle pad and saddle due to his withers, and I've always tacked him up using that, so I am assuming it is known that he has prominent withers? But it was SO painful for me that I can't help but think I must have done something wrong? How on earth can a horse have SUCH SHARP withers... is that a thing even on a well bred horse with otherwise great conformation? I tried sitting further back thinking maybe the feeling was so prominent because my position was wrong, but I could still feel the sharp line as far back as I could safely sit, and I kept sliding back into the natural bareback curve anyway. I will say I was surprised by how... stable riding bareback felt. I remember sitting on a pony bareback as a child and feeling like I was going to slide right off, but even at the bareback trot now I felt pretty balanced. It would've been amazing if not for the pain. I really wanted to try because I know it can do wonders for developing an independent seat, if done right, and I'm a new rider so I didn't want to get so used to a saddle that the transition to bareback would be hard. But now I'm doubting that I'll ever be able to ride him without a saddle. Every step was felt painfully right in the you-know-where. I couldn't even sit straight up without it being excruciating because that tipped my pelvis forward, right into the knives of his withers. Bottom line: are some horses, even generally good looking ones, just not good for bareback riding? This guy is a WB/Oldenburg btw. If I post a pic, could you guys tell me if his withers look wonky? I'm just super disappointed because I'd really been looking forward to this, but now I feel like I must be doing something wrong.