Trees were invented to make the rider more stable to shoot an arrow or throw a spear, like stirrups, not for the comfort of the horse. I agree, every horse is different but to make statements that bareback will cause sore backs has just not been my experience.
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Can we get back to normandy_shores other original purposes for the thread? Which were suggestions on exercises, or tips, or pitfalls to avoid? We’ve covered the pitfalls VERY well, but I think several of us are still interested in suggestions about exercises or tips to maximize the positive aspects of riding bareback for our balance and feel.
Personally speaking, the advantages for the horse is an opportunity to work without the restriction of tack. Its very freeing and some horses can really move out and relax. This is key for a rider to identify if there is a big difference. The other big advantage for the horse is that the rider tends to have to stay more centered and still, not as many options for leg nagging or unconscious gripping. This can be a relief to some horses, and again something for the rider to consider if they notice a difference.
This of course is with the caveat that bareback riding is comfortable for the horse in question - the gelding I’m riding now has a very poor topline, I hopped on once bareback and it was immediately uncomfortable for us both. I won’t be trying again until he’s significantly more muscled.
The rider gets the opportunity to really explore what it is to engage their core and develop balance with flexibility - as these three elements are really the only thing that will keep a rider onboard. You really get to learn your seat bones, and really get to feel the difference of which muscles are active and what the results are. To be successful in staying on, a rider really needs to quiet themselves, and be conscious of lowering their center of gravity, getting it closer to the horse’s center of gravity.
As far as exercises, I’m not aware of any that are more appropriate sans tack than with - but I will say that committing to a stint bareback is a great time to go back to basics because you have such an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding. For instance, simple laterals like shoulder in can feel dramatically different when you can clearly read how the back muscles must flex and lift alternatively as in the inside hind comes deeper and more centered. Riding cavaletti can be an eye-popping experience for a horse that really lifts. A rider gets the chance to clearly feel that lift and learn what muscles to soften and which to engage to stay balanced on top. Bareback riding is a great time to really ask a horse to lift from the withers too, the feeling is so apparent for both when done correctly.
Basically, the sensory input from the horse to the rider, and vice versa is so enhanced, its a great chance to really focus on fundamentals for a while because its so easy to read any holes and examine how to improve.
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To maximize the experience my suggestion is to use the opportunity to be softly aware to grow a rider’s depth of physical and emotional understanding of connection.
Tension, in mind and body will almost instantly cause loss of balance - for both horse and rider. The most positive aspect imho is the amplification of the silent communication and influences. A rider’s shifts of weight, tensions of different muscles, stiffening and relaxing of shoulders/elbows/spine/pelvis will be instantly transmitted to the horse. They are with or without saddle, but without a saddle we can be vastly more aware. These are the invisible “pre-cues” the horse is often very aware of, and generally the rider less so. The response, or lack of, is telling and offers a learning opportunity.
Imho, all of this basically boils down to an opportunity for a deeper understanding of what it means to pilot a flight animal - a simple concept that we overthinking humans have an inordinately difficult time with.
