I remember when I was first learning to ride I was riding bareback. I was about 4 years old and had the time of my life. I found it more comfortable then a saddle because it was less bulky. Why is bareback less common then it used to be, or am I just not noticing it as much?

Bareback is a little harder on the horse. The saddle distributes the weight evenly on the horses back. I imagine that a four year old's weight wouldn't be much trouble for a horse, but an adult's weight would.

When I was a kid, my best friend had horses and she taught me how to ride. We used to ride all the time at her house. One day she let me ride one of her horses bareback for my first time. It was a blast and more comfortable for me than the saddle. She also had a huge St. Bernard dog and he would run along side of us while we rode.

Anyway, one of my favorite childhood memories was of galloping bareback down the lane towards the barn with that giant dog racing along beside. I felt like I was flying! It was one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had.

I had never even thought about the fact that the saddle distributes the weight evenly. Thanks Sallyanna for that. I loved riding barback when I was young. So many memories.

I rememeber bareback breifly, until the day I fell off which was totally my fault. I think also as we get older we tend to realize that the weight being equal helps us as much as it helps the horse too.