Riding bareback is a great way to progress and skill up as a horse rider. It enhances your riding strength and balance and makes you feel even more in touch with your horse. You may have tried it as a child playing around on the yard or at a club, but how about skilling up as an adult!

What's not to love? Give it a try with our guide.

Bareback riding is completely different to riding with a saddle.

Without the saddle and stirrups you must rely on your own strength and balance to remain in a stable riding position. Even accomplished riders are shocked with the difference in riding experience and strength required to ride without a saddle. 

We would only recommend if you give it a try if you are a experienced rider already.

Safety 

Like with any style of riding there are some safety aspects that you need to consider.

• Always wear a helmet
• If you're trying anything for the first time have someone on hand in case of an emergency
• Wear appropriate footwear, you may not need to fit your feet into the stirrups but you still need protection from rubbing and injury if you take an unexpected fall. Our recommendations are our Montana Riding Boots or Kentucky Riding Boots
• Choose a horse with good manners, preferably one that has been ridden without equipment before
• Learn from a friend, its always good to have someone around to pick up on your mistakes
• Choose a location that is enclosed and is familiar to your horse

Start Slow

Instead of jumping straight in, there is a variety of techniques you can practice to prepare yourself. These will hone the strength, balance and co-ordination you will need to master riding without a saddle.

First practice riding without the stirrups this will get you used to using the muscles required to stay stable without the saddle. You may be surprised how much you they help you balance. Be careful not to over grip or yank the reigns this will be uncomfortable for your horse.

Start with the horse on lunge, ask a experienced friend to lunge your horse while you ride to practice, there is a lot to learn and unlearn when riding bareback for the first time so why not make it simple by not having to steer as well.

The first challenge is getting on the horse.

We recommend you hitching up your horse and getting a leg up or use a mounting block. You don't want to be put off straight away by falling at the first hurdle. 

Next to the basics 

Start at walk and gently turn left and right. Next to practice bring your horse to a halt and other transitions this is essential to learn early and from a slow pace.

Then gradually pick up the speed keeping in control, if you feel like you are loosing balance slow down. It takes a while to get into the swing of things. If riding with a friend ask them to check your posture, your shoulders, legs and heels should be aligned. 

Don't rush

Mastering these techniques will take dedication and time. The improvements in strength of your thigh muscles and balance will spill over into your normal discipline. 

You can have too much of a good thing although people have been riding bareback for as long as we have kept horses, some research suggests that it can put additional pressure on your horse's back. So our advice is keep it in moderation and always consider the horse comfort.

Good Luck!

Let us know your tips for Bareback riding in the comments below.