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I've ridden bareback several times before, and I love it, but for the first time Saturday, I cantered bareback!

OMG. I cannot express how amazing it was. It's so FUN. I had to grab mane a little at first, but then I got balanced, and... oh my gosh. It's like flying, no joke.

Who else here loves bareback riding? How much FUN is cantering bareback? Especially with just a halter! biggrin biggrin

I've been itching to get back to the stable just so I can ride again! [Dang gas prices.] That's so great! Riding bareback for the first time is exciting, isn't it? The first time I rode bareback, I fell off x] Not on Squirty, on my first horse. She was pretty bumpy to ride, but I wasn't that great, either, when I had her. mad D
It literally felt like flying to me. I know how cliched that sounds, but it's true. It was probably the most amazing ride I've ever had. I WANNA DO IT AGAIN RIGHT NOW!

Yeah, it probably won't be the best for their back. I assume that's what bareback pads are made to help with [as well as, of course, making it more comfortable for the rider.] I'm sure riding properly [not bouncing all over the place] and not sitting in the middle of the back helps with that also. I would think it would actually be better for the horse, they don't have anything strapped to them, no possibility for pinching/rubbing [other than your butt!], no cinch. Where did you learn that bareback riding is not good for a horses back? I really want to know more about that. To me, it seems as if it might almost be better, considering saddles are so often poorly fitted. Does anyone have more information on that?

Ahahaha the first time I rode bareback... like six years ago, I HATED it. The horse I rode was really short and bouncy. It was really awful. I almost fell off 3274165793145y6793 times. Then, me and my friend tried to double bareback on another horse, and I was the first one on and he bucked me off and I got a fractured finger and a concussion. Unpleasant. But I knew I'd be safe on Diva, I'd just never tried it with her. razz

Thanks, forgotten. I didn't think it was too bad for their backs. Just like you, I expected it would feel fantastic for them! Ooohhh I hate those dreams that feel real. Especially good horse ones. I'd love to gallop bareback....I just have to get up enough nerve to do it. It took me about five minutes of fast trotting to push him into a canter, haha! lol I'm glad I did though :]
[Unfortunately he's for sale, because we can't afford board right now. And because of gas and other crap, I'm only seeing him once a week and I can't work either. So even though I'm horribly sad to have to sell him I'd rather have him somewhere where he gets daily or close to that attention and be with someone who knows they've got food for him.]
When we're back on our feet financially [however long or short that may be] I'm planning on adopting an OTTB. Preferably from TBFriends biggrin

I was bucked off bareback once! It was on my first horse, and she was quite an opinionated Appy. Well, I hopped on, but I was unfortunately more over her hips than her upper back... that was an interesting experience. xp

That sucks that you can't ride bareback at your stable! They've probably had some bad experiences with it. I see nothing wrong with it as long as you're within your skill levels and wearing a helmet and all that jazz!

Only if you don't have the proper balance to do it.

I would rather ride my boy barback than in the sadde any day! My horse is hard to ride bareback, but I can do it cuz I've rode him for 4 years. It's called FREE SPIRIT! Of which a lot of people lose anymore. Bareback is good. It actually helps you in the saddle. Teachs you to be balanced, be more in sync withyour horse' movement, and helps you become part of your horse. Every prson that takes lessons should hav to ride bareback a while, and ride without your stirrups a while. riding without stirrups teaches you to keep ur feet under ya, and post with your thighs. I jut loe breback cuz it takes me from the world to heaven.

Corky hated saddles. Well, not entirely. I finally found one that fit him a little better, and we got a little more swing with it, but he was always SO much better engaged and SO much more relaxed when I rode him bareback. At the last fun show my school held, I did a first level freestyle on him bareback to Pirate of the Caribbean music xd I hacked him around bareback in his rope halter all the time, just a as a stress reliever for both of us (that horse was not meant to be a school horse), but we schooled bareback pretty often. Even when I had a saddle, I usually ditched the stirrups. I rode better without them.

The mare I'm working with right now, Cookie, I have to ride bareback because I don't have a saddle that fits her. She's a TANK and kind of fat, so none of my little skinny thoroughbred tack is anywhere close to fitting. She's a little pistol too. First time I got on her (after lunging her, I'm not crazy) she started into a bucking fit as soon as I put my leg on her. She's gotten better since then, but still occasionally decides to throw a hissy fit when I make her do something she doesn't like. I think she's just mad because she thought she was retired. xd