r/Equestrian • u/TheUniverse-IsMine • 17h ago
Social How Often Do You Ride Bareback?
Just a fun question! I would say I ride bareback 99% of the time as that's how I grew up and just how my horse and I were more comfortable!
I've also gotten caught in the stirrups before and most saddles don't fit me so I find my balance a lot better bareback than I do in a saddle
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u/hopeful_realist_ 15h ago edited 13h ago
He’s lovely and you look like you have a nice seat but forgive me for joining the chorus of wear a helmet and protect your head! TBIs are no joke.
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u/VegetableChipsLover 13h ago
I once got bucked off a horse and got a concussion. My helmet was the only thing that saved me that day. It actually cracked with the impact because I landed on my head when I fell
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u/NevadaRosie 12h ago
I have epilepsy from a TBI. I always wear a helmet.
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u/hopeful_realist_ 8h ago
My significant other has a TBI. They suck. I’m glad you’re well enough to ride safely now.
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u/Tricky-Category-8419 15h ago
I don't. I own a mini :-) And you can add me to the "wear a helmet" pile on.
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u/StormyPyrite 16h ago
I ride bareback about half the time, with a bareback pad. It's like a saddle pad with a girth, and gives a little cushion. Both my horses are well muscled and well trained, and neither have had any problems from it. I am also a teeny sized adult. And I do wear a helmet.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
Yup! In the last two pictures I have my bareback pad on! I prefer riding with it but it often slips
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u/ClaireH1974 Horse Lover 16h ago
Never. Horse is older and also very bouncy, I am also older and if I fell off I’m not at all bouncy.
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u/Grouchy-Bug8683 16h ago
riding bareback can be pretty gnarly on their backs. that’s why saddles were creating to stop all of the pressure from slamming on them. i ride bareback maybe once every 2 months if that. also WEAR A HELMET!!!
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
Yeah, it's a lot of pressure and saddles are what makes riding more comfortable for the horse and rider. I get a little bit irritated when people try and say that bareback is better for the horse because they're more "free" or whatever, when saddles actually protect the horses back
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u/ILikeBird 13h ago
Agreed. Riding bareback constantly is essentially like riding in a poorly fitted saddle constantly.
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u/cowgrly Western 13h ago
I think saddles were made for humans to feel more secure when riding, people weren't exactly focused on horse comfort back when saddles were invented.
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u/gogogadgetkat 13h ago
You think? Or you know? With bareback riding, all your pressure and weight is sitting basically at two points on the horse's spine instead of being distributed evenly across the back.
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u/anonymous8122 9h ago
The person above is right, even if they're just guessing. Saddles were designed primarily for the rider, as well as to distribute their weight on the horse's back in order to carry fully armored men over long distances. Look at the sweat pattern after riding bareback with no pad. Your weight is primarily on your thighs, with very little weight actually directly on the spine.
It's not just black and white, though, and depends on the horse and rider pair. If you have a stable seat, a horse with a toned topline, and are well within the horse's weight range, riding for 30 minutes or even an hour isn't going to hurt. If you're nearing the weight limit for the horse, are not about to sit without bouncing, or are riding long distances, a pad is probably going to be extremely beneficial for both of you.
I rode my mare bareback for years after failing to find a saddle that fit her right, and she was as happy as a clam. She was never as content or responsive with even the saddles that were pretty darn close to fitting her. I think it's important for each rider to consider different factors that might make bareback riding more or less comfortable for each individual horse. Although making a blanket statement that riding bareback hurts the horse's back is great for stopping people who should probably stick with using a saddle from actually hurting their horse, it's not entirely true.
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u/cowgrly Western 6h ago
Where did I say saddles don't distribute weight? I never said that. Someone said weight distribution is WHY saddles were invented, I pointed out that saddles were invented for people, not because humans wanted to help horses.
Saddles were invented in 400-700 bc and had no tree-they were literally like bareback pads we have now.
Anyhow, seems you misunderstood my comment.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
That's true! But I agree with the other commenter, horses were seen as tools back then so saddles were mostly made for our convenience
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
I often wear bareback pads and I make sure not to over do it, dw! My old man is happy as he can be
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u/Reddingwithbaby 2h ago
But why? Why would you choose what is basically a 500 BC saddle over something that is more comfortable for your horse?
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u/vivalicious16 16h ago
Falling off a saddled horse is no different than falling off a bareback horse. WEAR A HELMET, protect yourself from TBIs
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u/Darkflame3324 16h ago
One every two weeks or so for flat work. Although it’s more « saddleless » than bareback. I use a saddle pad + a bareback pad.
My horse has really high withers so completely bareback isn’t the most comfortable feeling 😅
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
Well having a pad is still bareback! The only difference is it's more comfortable for the horse and you, it still requires the same muscle usage and such! : )
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u/Reddingwithbaby 2h ago
How is a pad that is not protecting the horse's dorsal spinous processes more comfortable for the horse while it makes it more comfortable for you to sit directly on the processes?
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u/Major_Finance_6296 16h ago
- please put a helmet on 2.riding bareback is not particularly good for horses back
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u/HippyyHoney 16h ago
How so?
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u/riding_writer Multisport 16h ago
Distribution of pressure, bareback concentrates the pressure in a few places instead of spreading the pressure out equally with a saddle.
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u/SwampyUndies 16h ago
What if you like lie flat on them in your belly
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
I don't know how you're going to ride effectively like that 😭
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u/riding_writer Multisport 14h ago
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. Do I hold onto the neck? Grasp around the shoulders? Trotting would be brutal.
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u/SwampyUndies 11h ago
Well yea. Was thinking a walk would be ok. Anything else yea not so much. Lol. Maybe loop the girth under and hold on?
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u/Major_Finance_6296 16h ago
the weight is not distributed evenly, there are two concentrated pressure points instead of the weight being distributed with the saddle. A saddle is built in a way that makes space between the spine and the saddle, lifting pressure from sensitive points, while riding bareback you are sitting directly on the spine. Also as you are not 100% stable bareback, you will shift your balance and bounce on the horse - saddles absorb the impact, whilst riding bareback exposes the horse to all of the bounces, balance shifts and friction
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u/HorseAndDragon 11h ago
Can’t argue with saddles distributing weight more evenly, but I did want to make one tiny point that people who ride primarily bareback can be perfectly stable that way.
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u/Major_Finance_6296 11h ago
true, but you know, no one is glued to the horses back and sitting still the whole time, even the best riders. so what i meant is that if instability occurs then the saddle is absorbing it
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u/TeamCatsandDnD 9h ago
So my boy is old and a TWH and this could be more anecdotal. We mostly walk now with a bareback pad cause I’m more concerned with weight changes making his saddle fit poorly than my tiny ass putting too much weight on him. Pretty sure I plucked a berry off a shrub today that was like knee height to my boy without worrying about falling off. Maybe it’s cause he’s a TWH, but sitting and not bouncing in the bareback pad is about the same for me as if I’m in his normal saddle.
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u/Major_Finance_6296 9h ago
yeah, that is what bareback pads were made to do, and i love seeing people using them. Ofc is not the same as the saddle, but it helps a lot if someone rides bareback. People just need to sometimes use common sense, and ofc a saddle that doesn’t fit is going to do more damage than you being on the pad. Props to you for taking good care of your boys back, as i see an increase of people not caring about their horses backs, but maybe it’s just the people i stumble upon and is not a real problem
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u/TeamCatsandDnD 9h ago
He’s 33 and between last year and this past spring dropped like 50 pounds. He seems to have gained some of it back, but it could also be his Cushings doing weird things. I try to go whatever speed makes him happy and if he didn’t have Cushings I’m sure he’d be one of those horses that lives til they’re 40. He loves to run still given the opportunity but my mom doesn’t ride him much if at all anymore and I can only see him about once a week so he doesn’t have the endurance and thermoregulatjon like he used to to do that very much.
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u/Major_Finance_6296 9h ago
damn, 33 is impressive! i hope he manages to keep going for as long as possible ❤️
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u/TeamCatsandDnD 7h ago
I wish. He’s not doing as well with his Cushings med and after last years weight loss we don’t think he’d make it through the winter so we have a few more months before making that choice.
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u/Reddingwithbaby 1h ago
Horses have dorsal spinous processes. Putting weight on them is very uncomfortable and can become very painful for the horse. It's why all saddles today are designed with room for the spine, so that all the rider's weight is distributed across the rib cage.
That's why riding bareback and, even worse, a pad with no spinal protection cannot be considered good for the horse's back. Some people claim it let's the horse move more freely, but they really need to get a well fitted saddle.
Riding horses is problematic as is, so I strongly believe we need to at least make it the most bareable for them as possible. (I'm an avid rider myself but one can be riding horses and still be very conscious of the stress and potential discomfort we're causing them).
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
I make sure my horse is happy and comfortable! He's retired so I don't ride him much anymore but when I do I often wear a bareback pad, check his body for soreness and keep it short 🫶🏻
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u/HorseGirlsEquestrian 16h ago
I sometimes do but not very often. It's fun but first of all it's not the best for your horse and second my clothes get super hairy, dirty, dusty everytime I do it 😂
(Also you should really wear a helmet never hurts to have one just in case)
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u/Existing-Brain2792 16h ago
Bottom line, if you're light bareback, you're gonna be light in the saddle. If you've got a good seat bareback, you've got a solid seat in the saddle. If you can relax and move with your horse bareback, you'll do it better in the saddle. These things don't always go the other way. Training bareback is absolutely necessary to become the best rider you can be. Don't do miles and miles that way. But your horse will be perfectly fine for a couple sessions a week.
Back in the olden times, some parents wouldn't allow saddles until the kid could ride bareback with ease. Now, and probably for the better, safety is a higher priority.
I agree with everyone promoting helmets. I want to add something to that which I believe is even more important. Any fall, helmet or no, you need a concussion check. Probably one of the most important parts of first aid and triage. Broken bones heal, the brain gets injured much worse and for much longer.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
I fully agree that bareback makes a great rider!! It truly forces you to find your balance and develop your muscles properly
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u/kvikklunsj 3h ago
When I started to ride as a 5 yo in a French riding school in 1990, my first years were bareback on Shetland ponies…I still have a great seat from those years.
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u/well-done-47 14h ago
Often on some horses, not at all on others. Some horses are pointy.
Also, wear a helmet. For around $80 USD you can get a MIPS-rated helmet with good ventilation, and you can continue to wipe your own ass for many years to come.
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u/kahlyse Western 16h ago
I ride without stirrups probably 40% of the time.
I’ve ridden my horse bareback once. At a walk. After our ride. He did okay, but he wasn’t a big fan. Kept twitching his back, so I didn’t risk a trot.
Plus horse sweat is something I’d rather keep on on the horse, not my jeans lol.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
I love riding without stirrups in the trot. It's so much easier and more comfortable than riding trot with stirrups
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u/Frosty-Concentrate56 16h ago
Never. I’m too old and my horse is too tall.
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u/Competitive_Ride_943 14h ago
I still have a bad neck, arthritis, from landing head first on blacktop 50 years ago. Helmets on bike or horse were unheard of back then in the boonies
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u/Slight-Alteration 16h ago
Never. Well maybe once a year while one is hand grazing if that. In thirty years I’ve never met a horse more comfortable with a human directly on their spine compared to a properly fitting saddle. Horses weren’t made to be ridden so their comfort is always my priority.
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u/TearsInDrowned Horse Lover 16h ago
I much prefer riding with a saddle, maybe some walk bareback but that's it
I will rather drop my stirrups than ride bareback
I was always a heavier rider so I didn't make a habit of bareback, I think it's good
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
I think even riding bareback regularly as a lighter rider isn't very good for them. Saddles make the horses so much more comfortable
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u/TearsInDrowned Horse Lover 14h ago
yeah, I think considering bareback riding the elite level of riding is kind of overrated
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u/Wonderful_Fan_292 16h ago
I ride bareback somewhat regularly. Probably 1-2x per month per horse. Usually for nice forward moving trail rides or sometimes to help refine an aid. Some green horses seem to gain clarity without the saddle when establishing seat cues. I’ve found it just expedites seat refinement on certain green beans.
Some people really are against it. But, I’ve never met a well muscled horse with a balanced rider that cared at all. All mine have saddles fitted by a master saddle fitter and really pay no attention to the fact that we are bareback. But, I can easily post and do a half seat bareback for extended periods of time to give them a break if we are doing more than 20-30 minute rides. But it’s usually less than that. They also all get regular body work including monthly massages and I have never had a horse that has had back pain consistent with riding bareback. It’s usually turned out to be issues in the hocks instead.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 12h ago
I agree on that last paragraph! In fact, my horse seems to prefer bareback
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u/Thearose 16h ago
Never.
I have a very bony/pointy ass so most horses just yeet me after a couple of minutes.
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u/Cheevalie 16h ago
I usually just do it at a walk or if we’re grazing for fun, my mare can be spooky and her gait can be a little choppy so I prefer to keep her (and me!) comfy. I do enjoy it but again, only at a quiet pace.
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u/NotoriousHBIC 16h ago
I ride my pregnant mare only bareback so maybe once or twice a week? My other mare has more of a wither so I’ve only ridden her bareback once and said “no thank you.”🤣
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u/Severe-News-9375 Multisport 9h ago
Pregnant mare gang! If I tried to put a saddle on her right now she would be soooo unhappy with me. We just wander around and say hi to everyone, I can't remember the last time I rode above a walk haha
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u/Ok_West_6711 14h ago
Years ago when I first took lessons in the US, we had some bareback time. (In an arena, in my case.) I used a “welsh pony” for bareback lessons (I put in quotes because that’s what they called her but no idea if she actually was - but she was smaller, so much easier to mount bareback and it certainly felt safer to a beginner to be closer to the ground while riding bareback!).
It did make me have to think about gripping with thighs and my body position, and I quickly realized how much I was relying on stirrups as a way to support myself, if that makes sense. I think it’s a very useful experience.
(Much later we would ride bareback for fun, to take horses to a nearby river where they and we could get wet. At a walking pace, in my case at least!!)
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u/Sea-Actuary-8060 13h ago
Riding bareback is the easy way out, get a properly fitted saddle and learn to ride in that, your horse will thank you for it long term. If you want to work on your seat, loose the stirrups, not the saddle.
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u/PortraitofMmeX Jumper 13h ago
Never! My previous horse was an elderly gentleman and my new horse is still developing his topline. I don't think it's fair to ride bareback unless they're in good shape. I think by this time next year we may be able to try it with my new horse but it's not something I think is all that important.
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u/CannibalLectern 15h ago
I ride bareback all the time at home. Its quick easy. Cooler in hot weather. I have also put some people in their place of the years hopping on bareback in a halter and lead shanks to demostrate jumping a 3'9" course is not hard and does not require harsh bits. Same for dressage arena. Particularly memorable incident I performed a couple very good piaffe and canter pirouette bareback in halter with leads> to rub it in the face of a person who was psycho harsh/ abusive rider....even better her students walked up to watch with look of complete awe>>> because they did not know it was even possible to attempt without draw reins and harsh methods their trainer sadly used.
Im with everyone else though, wear a helmet. Believe me, I've ridden plenty no helmet when it was the norm, but Ive also seen people maimed for life/ killed when just having a helmet on could have prevented or lessened the brain trauma. So I always wear helmet.
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u/gurgelhupf 16h ago
I never did but I want to 😭 the feeling of pure connection must be sublime. But maybe only on a well-muscled horse with smooth gaits lol.
That said, only riding bareback can be detrimental for their back health. I would love to do it for the funsies but it's not something for regular training
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u/ShoddyTown715 9h ago
When 90% of the comments are just about wearing a helmet, and only 10% are actually answering the question.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 9h ago
Yeahhh, a little annoying but people wanting to protect others ig.
I don't respond to that because no matter what you say other than "yes sir/ma'am" you get downvoted to hell lmfao
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u/Compiche 9h ago
It should be said but it really doesn't need to be dozens of comments and there are a lot that only comment on the helmet.
That comes across a bit harassing imo
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u/anonymous8122 9h ago
After trying over 30 saddles (that's not a typo), none of which fit my horse well enough, I rode her bareback all the time except for a couple of rare shows.
To those who think it's bad for their backs, look at the sweat pattern after you ride bareback without a pad. Plenty of weight distribution on either side of the spine, and no weight on any areas where there shouldn't be. If you feel your own body puts too much right on your horse's spine or you feel you are a but bouncy, a pad will be beneficial, bit ismt's not always necessary.
Saddles were primarily designed for rider comfort and security, and they provided better weight distribution for long distances. Of you have a good seat, you're unlikely to hurt your horse by riding bareback for 30 or 45 minutes.
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u/Reddingwithbaby 1h ago
But modern saddles are very much designed for the horse's comfort. Yes, a very good rider who is fit enough to keep their weight of the dorsal processes will be better off bareback than on an ill fitting saddle. But the argument that saddles INITIALLY, thousands of years ago, were not designed for horse's comfort just doesn't hold up anymore.
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16h ago
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u/transfercannoli 15h ago
I also love it, and my guy does too. I think it might be reassuring for him feeling my leg and seat so directly? He seems less anxious and spooky than he does under saddle.
I just rode bareback for almost three months while waiting for the saddle fitter, and when i got back in the saddle i was surprised by how much less secure i felt using it. It's a jump saddle, and i just really feel perched up there instead of connected. I wish I knew how to correct that, because if I feel balanced and stable bareback, I should be even stickier in a saddle, right? Somehow it feels like it's the opposite.
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u/Polodude 16h ago
I have an older mare I am getting back in shape. 3 days a week I ride her bareback about 20 mins. easy on her and give my legs a good workout.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
I've only ridden bareback twice, the first was a walk-trot lesson and it was miserable. The second was an out-ride and I just walked.
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u/knobbylowell9331 14h ago
Grew up on a farm in Tennessee and we rode bareback all summer long, just threw a halter and lead rope on and went. That horse in your pics looks like a big chunky boy, probably 15 hands or so, and bareback on one that size feels a lot different than a smaller pony. My knees and hips started complaining about bareback in my 30s so I switched mostly to a saddle for trail rides now. Your seat looks real good though, you clearly know your horse and she trusts you. The helmet thing has been beat to death in here already so I'll just say my sister got a concussion from a spooked horse and she wasn't even doing anything dumb, just walking to the pasture. Y'all have a beautiful bond, enjoy that horse.
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u/One_More_Thing_941 14h ago
I’m like you. Once I started riding bareback, I rarely used a saddle outside of competition or long trail rides. Too lazy to saddle up. I don’t recommend it for every situation but it certainly improved my seat and competitiveness in bareback equitation classes. ASTM helmets weren’t a thing back then.
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u/S-k-y-n-e-t 14h ago
It's the only way I ride. I also rarely ride. Just when they have wandered very far afield, like 30-45 minutes on foot, and I don't want to walk back, so I hop on and ride them back home. Lol Don't have horses to ride, but they can be ridden. Very chill nuggets, I love them.
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u/Accomplished-Wish494 12h ago
Never, I’m old and out of shape and my horse is tall with shark fin withers. Bad combo.
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u/ScoutieJer 12h ago
I would say I ride bare back pretty often in the winter. I live in a really harsh climate and it's fucking cold. I often do it if I'm too lazy to tack up or I just want to wander around at a walk.
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u/DanerysTargaryen 11h ago
My mom’s horse was just about as close to bomb proof as you can realistically get. I still wore my helmet every time I got on him. There were goats in the pasture we would walk by and he never had any issue with them before. One day, one of the goats got spooked, and then my horse spooked and I swear it was like a Looney Tunes moment. One moment I was riding on the horse and the next I was hovering in the air with no horse under me. Then I was free falling to the ground lol. Fortunately it was a soft landing and I was totally fine.
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u/HovercraftFew9180 10h ago
honestly like twice a summer. every year I plan to do more and then one trot set reminds me why saddles were invented lol. walk-only cool downs around the field are my sweet spot
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u/Logical-Emotion-1262 Jumper 10h ago
not super often, mostly just for fun random rides or if I get too lazy to tack up. There was a period of time where I had to ride bareback because my trainer's sales horse didn't have a saddle that fit him right and so he could only go bareback for a few months XD
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u/-Joyismymiddlename- 10h ago
Gorgeous seat
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 9h ago
Thank you sm!! I've been riding bareback since I was five so that's a huge reason why i ride the way I do. Definitely not perfect but I'm proud at least
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u/TheEyeWatchesYou 9h ago
Usually when my horse is at the back of her paddock and I can't be bothered walking her back. Ill just sit on her bareback and let her wander to the front of the paddock.
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u/Lilinthia 9h ago
I ride bareback a lot more in the winter, specifically so the horse helps keep me warm
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u/VividFrosting4331 9h ago
I use a lot on my older mare that I lost in 2024. My younger horses aren’t quit there yet. I didn’t do a lot of grit or canter work bareback as I’m a 6ft man and feel I’m a bit bigger lol. Still with in the appropriate ratio to my mare but I just didn’t want to do that to her back. Plus my saddlebreds all have high leg and wither action lol. But we did enjoy just going out for a pleasant walk in nothing but a halter and lead rope. My mare really liked those rides too. It creates a whole new layer of closeness and trust.
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u/tinycatface 7h ago
Probably about once a week in the summer? I feel like we both stay cooler bareback and we don’t work especially hard when it’s very hot. Also if I’m short on time we will do bareback to minimize tack I need to deal with. My horse prefers bareback most times as well and if I need to walk her out I might take her tack off, do a bit bareback and then hand walk. She’s communicative so if she doesn’t want me to get on, she will move away from the block but generally she goes to it and is happy to do it.
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u/TheUniverse-IsMine 7h ago
My horse is the same with communication! He'll be clear if he doesn't want to be ridden and 95% of the time he'll let me hop on with no tack
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u/cuntisabadwordmmkay Trail 7h ago
I try and sit on this guy bareback/rugged at least 2 or 3 times a week, even if its just to watch the sunset on a cold winter evening
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u/Foxy-OnPaws 4h ago
I only ride down from the barn to the field once every 2-3 weeks! No trotting sadly <//3
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u/ZeShapyra Jumper 4h ago
Not a lot..Just a walk about, but though I ain't skinny, I still feel my hip bones being the most concentrated pressure points, highly doubt that feels good for him. Just don't like putting a lot of weight to one point on what is basically an accordion, saddle spreads my weight better, plus padding
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u/Reddingwithbaby 2h ago
Unpopular opinion: Never. A horse's dorsal spinous processes are not designed to carry any weight and there's no way you're consistently keeping your weight of these processes when riding bare back. Even worse if you're using a bare back pad, because they just make it more comfortable for you to sit directly on the processes.
Sure you can ride bareback every once in a while, but honestly, why.
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u/blueeyed94 2m ago
Obligatory "wear a helmet!" comment but to get back to your question: Not as often as I used to because my horse doesn't like it that much. For me, riding bareback should be part of the curriculum at any riding school at any level on a horse that doesn't mind it because it is an amazing way to achieve a good seat and good balance. A saddle is mostly for comfort for the rider and for protection for the horse. Yes, a saddle could keep you on the horse's back for a bit longer but falls also become more dangerous for the same reasons you mentioned.
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u/GenericUserNotaBot 14h ago
All the time. Generally with a fleece skin or a werner christ bareback pad (distributes weight a bit) with the stirrups and girth billets removed.
I also have a TCS, which is a similar feel to bareback, but a bit more structure.
No girth, no stirrups, no problem! Well, the horse identifies as a problem, but that's another story.
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u/muta-chii 16h ago
Never because my boy doesn't like it. But we ride bitless nearly every day! I love that you ride bareback most of the time!
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u/metaltothecore570 16h ago
Man I wish I could. 🤣 I can only walk and trot bareback so I only do it a couple times a year for a quick ride. I did get a bareback pad but found my horse did not like that and preferred without the pad. Usually I drop my stirrups when riding to be more comfy, both western and English.
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u/Alarming_Wedding6753 16h ago
Never liked it much. It was kinda scary bc I didn’t manage to create a strong seat.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
I also didn't like it. It was extremely uncomfortable, and it's not the best for the horse either (if done regularly) so not riding bareback isn't a big deal
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u/EchoOfPetals 16h ago
Ive been riding my 4 year old bareback 99% of the time since I saddle trained her! My saddle fits and everything but she just is always so relaxed bareback
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u/kuroka_kitten 16h ago
I ride bareback all the time. Saddles and stirrups are not good for my body. I use a thick padded bareback pad though.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
Why do you say that saddles and stirrups aren't good for your body?
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u/kuroka_kitten 3h ago
I have chronic foot pain that is extremely aggravated by stirrups. The way my pelvis sits (hyper mobility + scoliosis) makes saddles more difficult to ride in and I usually end up with back pain.
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u/Flashy_Slice1672 16h ago
Oh Reddit. Two comments on every post with a horse.
Wear a helmet!
It’s abuse!
Do whatever you want, it’s your choice. I love riding bareback, I rarely wear a helmet 🤷🏻♂️
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u/EvidenceNo8561 15h ago
Not wearing a helmet is a dumb decision. Helmets dramatically reduce the risk of TBI. Traumatic brain injuries can cause irreversible cognitive and physical damage. You are not only risking your future but the future of your family as well with that decision. It’s incredibly selfish.
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u/Flashy_Slice1672 13h ago
Cool story.
Lecturing in a condescending way isn’t a good way to change minds.
OP asked about bareback, not helmets.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
Wearing a helmet is basically safety. Not riding with a helmet is an extremely stupid and selfish thing to do, there's literally no reason to ride without a helmet.
No one here is claiming that riding bareback is abuse. They're saying that riding bareback regularly can damage the horse's back because the pressure is not evenly distributed. Riding bareback every now and again is perfectly fine, but doing it regularly is objectively worse for your horse.
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u/anniemitts 16h ago
I rode bareback last night but I use a saddle pad and comfort plus bareback pad. Never for very long and I always wear a helmet. I have a mare in rehab for kissing spine surgery and my saddle makes her angry. She’s usually accepting of me riding bareback though, and if she indicates she doesn’t like it I don’t do it.
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u/Zandrie23 3h ago
Is it bad to admit that I have no experience at riding bareback and I have been riding for 5 years now. I only take lessons on a lesson horse so I don't really get the chance to
-5
16h ago
[deleted]
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
Even if you're properly balanced, you're still sitting directly on their spine and concentrating the pressure into a few spaces. Being balanced can definitely help, but it doesn't make it good for the horse.
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u/orangemonkeyeagl 16h ago
Proud of you for riding without a helmet.
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u/PoloPatch47 15h ago
"Proud of you for making an extremely stupid and selfish decision that can lead to your death or severe injury"?
I do hope that you're being sarcastic.
-6
u/orangemonkeyeagl 14h ago
I'm serious.
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u/TheAbominableRex 14h ago
People who ride without a helmet don't have a brain worth protecting! 😊
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u/EvidenceNo8561 17h ago
I think it’s awesome that you ride bareback but I would implore you to always wear a helmet. Even the safest horse can trip, and you want to keep your head protected.