Is it a good idea to ride bareback with your gaited horse? If so, what are the benefits?

Here’s my story…

Gaited Horse Bareback Riding

By Jennifer Klitzke

In my early days as a trail guide at Diamond T Ranch, Eagan, MN, we were forced to ride bareback. Paying trail riders rode in the few saddles on hand. Trail guides also broke in the new horses fresh from auction. I quickly learned my balance out of self preservation.

Five years later in 1988, I purchased my first horse and from that point on dressage became my forte. Later on I tried riding my Trakehner/Thoroughbred gelding bareback, but he bucked me off more than once. I learned that some horses are cold backed and are unable to be ridden bareback. Seili was one of those. A dressage saddle gave me added security as I rode my gelding.

When gaited horses came into my life in 2007, the idea of riding bareback gave me flashbacks to those days of being air lifted to a hard landing. Was I willing to face my fear?

First bareback ride on my gaited horse

In 2021 on an unusually calm and frosty winter day, I gave my smooth gaited horse Lady try at bareback riding. That’s how my friend used to rider her so it wasn’t that risky to give it a try. Lady seemed to enjoy being ridden without a saddle, and she sure kept me warm on that cold winter day.

At first I felt a little unsteady. Nothing to grab on to. No stirrups for support. It was kind of like the way I felt the first time I sat in a kayak. Once I relaxed and gained my balance, I became more confident on her back as we took in nature’s beauty. My husband was kind enough to record our journey below.

Bareback riding offers closeness and connection

After that frosty day, I continued to ride Lady bareback. I enjoyed the closeness and connection we have. Then I gave my smooth gaited Tennessee walking horse, Makana a try at bareback, too. Thankfully neither of my naturally gaited horses are cold backed like Seili was.

Bareback dressage?

Spring of 2021 sprung and I couldn’t wait to begin our dressage again. I wondered if we could do our lateral exercises bareback. Sure enough we are able to do every exercise bareback that we did while saddled: Counter bend turns, flechi droit, shoulder in, haunches in, shoulder out and renver. Plus, we are able to do the full range of walks, gaits, canter, counted walk and even piaffe bareback!

No saddle-fit issues with bareback riding

By riding bareback I don’t have saddle-fitting or saddle-slipping issues to deal with! This is a wonderful benefit for those of us who have had trouble finding a saddle that fits our gaited horse. I’m with you on this one!

Bareback riding allows for better alignment over the horse’s center of gravity

Since there is no saddle slipping between me and my gaited horse, riding bareback makes it easier to stay aligned over my horse’s center of gravity while I keep my balanced riding position. Riding bareback makes it easier to feel what is going on in my horse’s back and whether my horse is balanced or too much on the forehand.

Bareback riding leads to a correct feeling of balance

Riding bareback and the alignment I feel over my horse’s center of gravity, raises questions. What happens to my balance when my saddle slips behind my horse’s center of gravity? What happens to my feeling of balance? It gives me a false feeling of my horse being out of balance when it’s me being out of balance.

When my saddle slips behind my horse’s center of gravity, it makes it feel like my horse is on the forehand even though she is in balance. This was a huge light bulb moment for me that I didn’t realize until I began to ride my gaited horse bareback. It is so important that the rider is balanced over the horse’s center of gravity so that the rider is getting the correct feel for balance.

Bareback riding improves rider position

Riding bareback has helped me find a balanced position over my horse’s center of gravity. I feel so much more of what is going on in my horse. I feel her breath. I feel her back. I feel her spine. I feel the lift in the wither. It is important that I don’t ride on my horse’s spine. This would be uncomfortable to my horse.

Instead I need to support much of my weight in my thighs. This doesn’t mean pinching my thighs together to stay on. If I pinched my thighs together, it would cause my pelvis and back to be still and tell my horse to half halt or halt. If I intended to go forward while in a pinched position with my thighs, I would be giving my horse mixed messages and produce stiff and braced movement⚊likely pace or step pace.

What I do instead is hold much of my weight in my thighs and move my hip joints with each belly sway so that I encourage free forward movement. When I desire to halt, then I still my pelvis and back.

Bareback riding has no stirrups to press into

Riding bareback there are no stirrups to press my feet into. This is beneficial to the horse. When a rider presses into the stirrups, it places more pressure on the horse’s spine. This can hollow your horse’s back and can lead to pacing or hard trot.

Bareback riding makes smooth gaits possible, too!

I wondered if riding bareback would influence smooth gait. I haven’t noticed a difference. In fact, riding bareback, I am able to stay aligned with my gaited horse’s center of gravity better. It seems we are more consistent in our smooth gaits for longer periods of time.

Bareback riding improves rider confidence

Clearly my riding confidence has improved since facing my apprehension and giving bareback riding a second chance. I actually prefer bareback riding over riding with a saddle now. Since that frosty winter ride, I have only ridden with a saddle a handful of times. Bareback riding has expanded my riding position and riding with awareness in so many ways.

Bareback riding has:

• Improved my riding confidence
• Improved my balanced riding position
• Strengthened my core
• Improved my connection and communication with my horse
• Improved my sense of feel
• Improved my riding awareness of cause and effect
• Improved a partnership of trust and harmony with my horse

Now to find a saddle that fits and doesn’t slip. Awe, heck, just ride bareback!

What are your thoughts? Please reach out and send me a message or stay connected by subscribing to the Naturally Gaited youtube channel and “like” us on facebook.com/naturallygaited.