How to Ride a Horse WITHOUT a Saddle

How to Ride a Horse Without a Saddle | Riding a horse without a saddle is a helpful skill for all horseback riders to have! If you're interested in riding your horse bareback or without a saddle, I'll teach you everything you need to know in this video.
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Hi there! 👋 I'm Carmella. I’ve been obsessed with horses for as long as I can remember, and I make videos about all things horse training, horseback riding, and living an equestrian lifestyle. New videos are uploaded EVERY WEEK so subscribe now for more horse videos.
I've written over 100 horse articles @ equinehelper.com/!
Follow me on Instagram: @equinehelper
Business Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@Hockeyperson]

Last time I rode bare back I fell off😂 p.s your horses looks just like mine

[@CarmellaAbel]

I used to fall off bareback all the time! And I love appys!

[@Hockeyperson]

Haha and I love!!!! Appys to!

[@mohamedriyas4527]

@@Hockeyperson this morning i fell off .... when galloping

[@roofbuns]

I fell off 3 times in one ride when jumping bareback with my pony who slows down to a really bounce trot after jumps, I have no problem with his "normal" trot but right after he slows down from canter to trot it gets really bouncy... Now I just need to make sure I'm ready to jump bareback with a pony on my riding school tomorrow-

[@roofbuns]

@Anya Gheorghiu jumping bareback? Yes it's very fun but hard and you shouldn't try it unless you have good balance and know you can jump with saddle and have nothing to worry about. If everything goes well the firt time then you're more likely to do it again, but if the horse refuses or you fall off your first time then you may not want to try again. I'm not good at explaining lol

[@ebonyyt2221]

I now know why I felt so balanced last time I rode bareback, I learnt to move with the horse more.

[@britneyfirehunter8984]

Your horse is so beautiful, and I recently just cantered for the first time without a saddle! 👍😌

[@tiphaniewiebe5762]

Hi, I'm Sadie, and I'm 14. I've been riding since I was 10.( Almost four years ) I got my own bay quarter horse gelding when I was eleven, and I named him Duke. I like bareback riding, and both western and English pleasure! Thank you for the video, Carmella!

[@ldmeredith6794]

LOVE ALL YOUR VIDEOS!!!! Thank you for posting them!! I started riding this past March (2021). I’m in my 50’s and am recently an empty nester! My youngest went off to college and suggested I get a “hobby”. Needless to say, I’ve immersed myself in learning to ride and show jump. Now, I’m in the process of purchasing my first horse!!! This journey has been so incredible and your videos have been SO incredibly helpful ❤️🙏🐴💕

[@SkiPlayLiveTV]

Bb;hb

[@mrskimdagamer824]

I just cant do the sitting trot, it's a pain 😂

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thanks for your comment! I feel like the sitting trot is the hardest gait to get comfortable with riding bareback!

[@youropinionisinvalid1018]

I kinda got used to it because I ride without stirrups

[@michelletrombley9960]

Yea, it’s hard

[@mimimub8246]

sameee it hurtsss

[@Bee-kv5tx]

*P A I N*

[@sparkrain3580]

I don't even have a horse.

[@IluvCats-wz8bt]

Me too😢

[@sammjaisais7135]

Same. But I am planning on learning to ride

[@raulishnikovdancer2346]

@@sammjaisais7135 Me too.

[@charlottemoss5837]

I've only just discovered your channel but really enjoy how informative your videos are! 😀 Thank you!

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thanks Charlotte!

[@angelahealey5192]

same

[@Justmeandjesus19]

@@CarmellaAbelI love your video I can’t wait to try your advice I love love your ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ videos

[@michellemarchant8792]

Hi! I am Michelle, my Tennessee Walker horse is named Logan. I love to bareback ride him but I am having a hard time with teaching him how to change gaits. I have had riding lessons and he was trained to ride by a professional, but he and I are out of practice, and I am out of money to pay for lessons & training. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from your videos. I am actually about to go visit my Logan so I can use what I have learned from you today! Thank you so much! You explain horsemanship so well! :D

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thanks Michelle!

[@ruthbenton4001]

Talking through these stages is important! Really nice videos and informative . like them!

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thanks for watching, Ruth! Glad you enjoyed this!

[@ladynin1]

Is noone commenting on how theres just a clip where shes sitting on Tucker backward?! I love that Tucker and Carmella are comfortable doing that.

[@ashtonpaul8724]

I'm not a horse owner, but I've always loved horses and riding. Thank you for putting your videos out!! They're awesome and just knowing how/what to do makes me even more excited to have horses some day!

[@cassidyschramm6468]

rode bareback 1st time last week, did everything you said not to do...like grip with my legs and get stiff...horse took off and off I went! Hurt my knee but my ego more!

[@jerzykowalczyk9627]

Here is my story: I have been riding horses in my youth probably for 15 years. Then, I have had a gap riding for 25 years. I came back to riding , at 59, when my friend asked me to take care of the rescue horse she could not to come to due to Covid lock down. The horse is beautiful chestnut Hanover 15 years old 18 hands tall, I mean he is taaaall . He is so pretty and well behaved during ground work it tempted my to try to ride him. Turned out he is very well educated to a high level: piaffes, pirouettes on hind or front etc. Have no idea why he was on the way to be slaughtered. Anyway, now he is with his owner who rescued him having good life and I have ended riding again after 25 years. Now, I have enquired 4 years old KWPN (Koninklijk Warmbloed Paard Nederland) and have more than handful of fun. I enjoy watching your videos that are great help to improve my riding skills ( it is not true it is like riding a bike, ones you had you have it for life, specially at 60). Your videos and hints are big help in teaching and developing the green horse like mine. Thank you! Maybe this comment is not adequate for this particular video but...

[@phoebearts]

Thank you for posting this video, it helped me a lot when I was riding bareback

[@LaughLaboratory]

Absolutely love horses so so much they're my favorite animal and they're my spirit animal I feel like I'm just in my family when I'm in there there's about 100 horses where I go to ride the horses I'm not a horse owner but I absolutely love horses I'm so excited for tomorrow because I'm going back to see Dexter he's the only horse that I've heard so far only I've only read one time I absolutely love him and your videos are so good because I learned a lot from it I learned most of the things from it I went there for the first day and I was like I know a lot of this stuff already because I watched her videos way before I even started getting into riding a horse I absolutely love your videos thank you for making these videos

[@katydai]

So helpful!! Thank you for showing close ups as well! I'm 54 and starting leasing Angel a Percheron\Morgan. I want to look 'badass' riding bareback and am going to try these tips tonight!

[@erin-leighengel4441]

I love this so much! I recently bought my first horse, a South African boerperd. I haven't got a saddle and everyone in my village rides bareback, so thank you so much for this. I always used to squeeze my thighs slightly and never put weight on my heels, but with this video, everything just makes more sense! Appreciated a lot! Keep it up :)

[@LinktheHylianChampion117]

is your name inspired by Erin Williams and Raleigh? because I like them.

[@xzylia.]

i wanted to ride in my lesson on my horse bareback, and this helped me ALOT! i just went in gallop bareback!!!!

[@mollybittercage1371]

I have been riding bareback for a week now 😂On a five y/o, but know it will probebly be easier with your help

[@creativityrunswild]

I love riding bareback, nice video :)

[@bcspta6776]

Hi. I have owned my horse (Flash) for a year. We live in NYC. She still isn’t perfectly comfortable in the big city but has come a long way. I ride her in the paddock bareback an once in a while on the streets. I love Flash.

[@sarahb.6475]

I am going to be learning bareback riding. This will be my first riding lesson although I've been working with horses for 3 years now.

[@klarakozakova7510]

Love your videos. So upbeat! My horse's name is Sylvester (mine is Klara). We have been riding in a Spanish saddle, although he was trained dressage. Moving to bareback, since he was just diagnosed with wobblers and arthritis. He is so amazing, despite the pain he was in, he has been kind and enthusiastic. The goal so far is to lots of lunge and liberty work to keep him as healthy and happy as possible. Plus long walks beside me on the trails. Your videos are so helpful, we only started 2 months ago!!

[@LinktheHylianChampion117]

2:45 how you leaned that far is incredible to me, it takes a lot of core strenth.

[@gabriellahamlet2093]

Hi I’m Gabriella I recently got a new horse and the lady said that there is some good tricks and things on KZbin I watched 2 of your videos then subscribed my new horse is called Mirren and my other is Jacob they are both gypsy cobs

[@CarmellaAbel]

Hi Gabriella! Thanks for subscribing! I hope to have more trick videos out soon! Also, I love gypsy cobs; they are so beautiful!

[@gabriellahamlet2093]

Equine Helper you have gave me lots of tips and I love your videos I have watched hundreds of them just today and I love that you have replied it shows you really care and your horse knows you really well it can tell what you are thinking

[@raulishnikovdancer2346]

Came after watching indian relay races... Those guys are amazing. Also I saw women riding BB but with no bridles either, they only had a rope around the bottom of the horse's neck.

[@sharondeandrea1670]

Love all your videos so much! I'm 51 & just got my first horse this past fall. Magic Spur, 11 yr old TB mare. I've learned so much from you! Keep 'em coming ❤

[@fallofmanbrand]

great video dude

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thank you, Weston!

[@katiebug1783]

Hey I’m Katherine and I don’t have my own horse but I ride at a horse barn where there are different horses to pick from but I usually ride a painted horse named April and my favorite discipline is dressage!! 😁

[@CarmellaAbel]

Hi Katherine! Thanks for watching! Dressage is one of my favorite disciplines, although I haven't had much training in it myself!

[@naomiorozco5894]

This is really helpful, I've never ride a horse with a saddle , only bareback , but I've fallen several times 😅 . This is gonna help me a lot!!

[@corysexton3970]

Yo girl go get it! This is so cool! Honestly, I know a lot about this. It's fun! I love horses. It's the only thing when you sit on them. That makes you calm. It's like if everything else and the world wasn't there and this is a free chance to run

[@Monroe-e3e]

My only problem in bareback is Trot😭, I can canter just fine but when I trot I just start bouncing off. Oh and my name is Monroe, my horses name is Lonnie, she’s a 6 year old paint mare, and I’ve been ridding since I was 3, (I’m 14 now) I am English and we do show jumping, hunters, and we love bareback and crosscoutry😊

[@margodphd]

I was" forced "to learn everything bareback because the trainers at my first ever training camp took them out to..buy alcohol and my mare skin was irritated by rough girth and I felt that I was hurting her even with fleece pad. She had such a sharp arch at the wither point (don't know the english word) that first time I rode (like a sack of flour) I almost got another hole in my crotch 😂 At first I hated every second of leading trot only lessons and didn't appreciate how much I was leaning, but after I had some free time to canter a little I've realised I feel more and more secure. It really really helped me with the issue of loosing stirrups and trying to squeeze with my thighs , I highly recommend riding bareback or even just without stirrups at first ❤

[@lauralindisfarne5790]

lovely vid! I rode lots as a child but never had lessons. I'm now aged 56 having lessons with my 10 year old daughter and really enjoying it. Would like to try bareback. Always loved natural stuff!

[@Emma-tl3fv]

I have a pretty unique experience with this. I learn to ride bareback and only rode bareback for the first two years. This helped me balance and connect with the horse.

[@LaughLaboratory]

Sure I'm 10 but it doesn't stop me from wanting to ride a horse that will never stop me and my life to stop riding a horse I was I'll never stop until I die I know it might sound crazy about that but I'm I will try to do that because when I first got on that horse my smile looked like the sun lighting up one it came over the mountains and I'm happy when I'm with the crisis but when I'm not with him I'm sad I love your videos I'm watching one right now as I write this I subscribed liked and I commented and I shared with my whole family and there

[@wellnessotr]

Thank you so much for your videos! I haven’t ridden horses in over 30 years. I’m interested in relearning how. 🏇

[@LaughLaboratory]

Here videos are the only thing that actually helped me learn I know I've been doing this a lot like commenting on those videos but they're the best things that taught me how to ride a horse absolutely love them and I always practice riding a horse every night I workout so I can do it so I can have a strong body when I go there and I have this little chair that is like a body horse and so I put like a pretend saddle on it and I have like a rope so I use that and I returned to ride the horse but that was way before I even got to ride a horse and I still do it every night because that's how much I love horses and your videos just encourage me to beg and beg and beg my family to get me into horseback riding lessons and I might get a horse SIM if we get the land so you're the encourager to love to make it into these this subject thank you❤❤👌😊🙌😉💖😜🎉✨✨✨✨✨✨👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌😊😊😊😊😊😊😃😃😄☺☺🙂🤗🤩🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠

[@tinachechourka2165]

Great instruction on bareback riding tips! I am new to your videos and have subscribed! I love your easy to follow instructions. I am 57. My daughter Shelby is 28 and has been riding since she was 5. ( Her Godmother started her riding). I rode the checkbook for 12 years, LOL! I ride alone now since Shelby is deep in her career. I have been riding gymkhana for the last 10 years but developed a fear of riding after a friend from church was fatally injured while sorting on a ranch. I have a trainer that was John Lyons trained and certified. He is older and so calm, patient and works with me. I have decided to start over with ground work and trail obstacles to build my confidence. Your video training has been Exactly what I needed to help me in this transition. I was getting so discouraged with people telling me to “ just get on and ride”. Long story short, I gave my gelding to a family with children, bought a 5 yr old... bad move...I now have a 12 yr old gelding that I have had for about a year. He is awesome... Thanks to you and you video trainings( that I watch over and over) and my commitment to Cashe, we are bonding and I am feeling So confident!

[@karenleboeuf8010]

I’m 57 too. Good for us. I’m in Costa Rica. I’ve trained a lot of horses on the ground and it really helps developing trust when riding bareback. I still don’t own a horse here because I feel it is so expensive so I help my friend out as much I can. Well it’s just nice to know you are also 57

[@barebackequestrian8115]

It’s also good to post bareback, and once you get the hang of it it’s easier! :)

[@mirandabackley5504]

Tucker is such a good sport 💗

[@damodarmaddina]

Appreciate your efforts, I have learnt catering. And may thanks for your effort

[@jumpsuitart]

I ride Milo and Ferrari at Griffins horse archery, South Africa - We learn to ride bareback, so this vid has really helped, thank you! Deon.

[@horseconfused]

My name is Ayi, I'm 13 and my horse is Alegría [Joy in Spanish] and we've been riding for 3 months together and just today have i started cantering, my trainer said I'm holding on to the saddle too much so he told me I'll be riding bareback next time.... It's safe to say I'll be coming into class that day looking like the Michelin man with all the padding lol

[@neishaorbase1199]

I am quite satisfied that no one disliked the video 😊

[@chloeiacovou907]

Thanks for this! I've been given a beautiful horse to ride, but no tack, so I am trying to make it work bareback with a halter.

[@jcpiedad]

First time to watch here! I just got my horse and I have no saddle. I’m going to follow your instructions and practice it.

[@LinktheHylianChampion117]

I have a ton of extras, but they are western. If you want one just take it.

[@lukegregory2402]

My horse's name- waffles My name- Stella My favourite discipline- jumping Love your channel

[@dunkelschwarz]

I really want to gallop my horse bareback. I did much bareback in the roundpen, walk and trot no problem, but the roundpen is too small for him to gallop. Also he has much big movements in his gallop... But thanks to your tips I will keep on training it in the roundpen until I feel really safe trotting, and then I might go to the meadow to canter...

[@-ThatEquestrian-]

I’m going to practice trotting bareback today! I know it’ll help my seat but I’m a little scared lol but hopefully it’ll be fine

[@esterdenysschen1111]

This was really helpful! First time trotting bareback was quite the disaster I immediately slid off within a few seconds

[@corysexton3970]

I feel like when you ride a horse like that you start to feel one with your companion horse and you're much safer as they actually feel safe as well they actually learn to help you keep balance too. That's a secret between you and the horse

[@kamilb1729]

So damn cute how you *poofed* into gear! Love your vids!!!

[@patrickfaas2329]

Like you, I normally rode without saddle when I was young, so thank you for calling it 'hard-core.' Trotting is really what you should teach people. I used different methods. One was to twist my pelvis forward and use my back as a spring. Is that really bad for your back? I still don't know, but now I am old and have never had back problems. Is that method legit? What do you think?

[@angeldivine408]

If you mean that you leaned back and used your pelvis as an absorber of the motion, it is a great thing! That’s where the motion should be absorbed, through the pelvis and into the spine. Spine should be straight but just slightly back - keeps you centred

[@patrickfaas2329]

@@angeldivine408 Yes that is what I meant. Had amazing stomach muscles when I was young, but I never did any sports, so I never knew how I ended up so athletic. Now I know the six pack came from riding without a saddle.

[@angeldivine408]

@@patrickfaas2329 that’s amazing, haha!

[@equinegirl369]

I have been riding for over almost eight years and I love it.

[@lauriesherman9293]

I’m Laurie in rural area near Tucson, AZ. My horse is bay/QH mare named Angel, because she is an Angel! I am trying bareback today for the first time. Thanks for your video! I subscribed!

[@horse_girl5189]

whenever i was younger and i woukld ride horses i always was to short to reach the stirrups so never rid with stirrups also someone told me one way to find your balance is to have someone lead your horse and close your eyes

[@BARK910]

These are very useful tips! Thank you so much! I'm going to ride bareback today and I haven't ridden bareback in a very long time, I'm not looking forward to the trot 😵 but practice, practice! I subscribed and I'm going to binge a few videos before my lesson today!

[@sabrinawilliams5938]

Every time I see you intro I say Hi Tucker ❤

[@S6xin9.]

I fell off once in the saddle and not looking forward to anymore even tho it will happen. I am studying and ty for this! I loved it and beutiful horse u got there! Edit: I fell off bareback once, it was a slide and then a fall-

[@Audrey_fuentes10]

My horses are named Georgia and Maddox and I've been riding each summer for a couple of years and just recently got my horses

[@charlottecomeau1266]

i want to get my own horse soon and your videos are so helpful! i really want to ride bareback more bc i feel like it'll really help my balance and confidence in saddle and I'll become a better rider for it :) thanks!

[@kayliesbestworld7489]

I love your videos they are so helpful

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thank you, Kaylie! I appreciate your support!

[@tomomimclaren241]

Love these 💕

[@CarmellaAbel]

Thank you Tamomi! I hope it helps!

[@limoncello3488]

2:45 omg i was scared you were gonna fall offf-

[@CarmellaAbel]

believe me, it's happened that way before!

[@PerilXD]

Your videos are so helpful!! Thank you My horses name is Dizzy My name is Allison I've just recently started riding on my own but I have been lead around since I was 5 yrs old My preferred discipline is Show Jumping

[@adelaidedavies3111]

I love your channel so much and love how you get to the point of the video right away

[@karenleboeuf8010]

You rock that’s all there is to it

[@joebean3615]

7:41 when you mount the wrong way Also I was wondering how you mount then with out the saddle I love you channel

[@02xdani55]

Tysm I just got a horse her name is angel she’s really tough to handle and I currently don’t have a saddle this video helped a lot a lot it’s way easier 💓 tysm

[@catpurrsonalities2487]

Ah thank you so much; exactly what I neede

[@stephaniedinkel4909]

Thank you so much for the pointers.

[@ned.mel.ara1401]

My name is Melody and I don't have a horse but I use one on riding school and I ve been riding sesnse I was 8 years old and Im 11 now but I can stare, stop, walk and trot because I can't canter, ride bareback or jump yet but thanks for the tip. 😂❤❤❤

[@willowthebunny7]

Funny story that happened yesterday! I was riding my sisters horse bareback yesterday(she let me) and he listens to me really well, and so I accidentally kissed him up too much and he started loping and when i went to turn, I fell off but I caught myself, it then took me 19 mins to get back in because he wasn’t standing close enough to the fence, I eventually got on and as I went back he started loping and fell off again, this time I didn’t catch myself but overall he was a great boy, and I just need to practice more!

[@ccappa2001]

fav horse to ride at lessons: Dixie Name: Virginia Discipline: My trainer mixes in a few, but I really enjoy when we do western! The saddle is really comftorable and Dixie loves barrel racing and pole bending! I can tell because she goes at snail pace all the time, but when we ride bareback she has some extra pep in her step! Cool fact: Dixie is currently pregnant, and she will have a foal in the summer! I've been riding her bareback a lot because she doesn't fit any saddles anymore, so this will help me ride her more confidently leading up to the birth!

[@ccappa2001]

At my barn november is no stirrups month

[@d3l_si0nal]

How do you mount the horse while bare back? as there is nothing to help you up besides a stool

[@liandrih.7128]

I’ve only been able to ride bareback a few times, but I hope to do it more it’s so fun!! I ride western so I have to do a sitting trot anyways… so yeah trotting on a hard western saddle is more uncomfortable for me than than trotting bareback😂 maybe I should try English sometime😂😂

[@Preferably_anonymous]

THANK YOU!

[@freelancerockstar2290]

Very helpful. Thank you so much.

[@robinwilloughby9988]

Hello! Your videos are so informative and practical, and very much appreciated by me! My question is about time. How long can you ride your horse bareback? I want to be conscientious of my horse’s back and comfort. Also, does the amount of time that you can ride bareback change with a bareback pad? ( my bare back pad does NOT have stirrups).

[@Beauty_4_U]

Victoria👩 Bahs/Sonoruss🐎 about 7 years now

[@anelinamilojevic2711]

My horses are afraid of saddles and I always ride without them (I've only fallen a few times). Can you make a video on how to stop being afraid of them. It would mean a lot to me because it is my first horse and i hope not only. Thank you.

[@samandwillvincent2876]

I have a horse named peanut I've been riding since I was 2 but I ride western and I keep him at our family farm

[@allabouttheanimals9151]

One, be me Two, don’t have a saddle (like me) Three, have a green pony (like me, and it makes you look cool)

[@Shining394Star]

can you please explain moving with seat vs driving with seat while riding?

[@josemaisonet5322]

Hey, I loved you in Game of Thrones! :D

[@leonverster7396]

my first time cantering was bear back and galloping so ya i know what to do in a canter and gallop but not a trot o and this in my dads acont im jusing

[@kailynm2839]

My name is kailyn I have been riding since I was 4 years old I don't have a horse right now but I am looking to buy one so I have been researching a lot and that is when I found u and tucker 😁

[@SSO.WRLDDD]

Thank you sm!

[@resianduka4321]

Helpfull video.

[@apl51033]

I have a black Morgan/Canadian cross named Moon. She was sort of a rescue and was wild and terrified when I brought her home. We have worked through some tough stuff together and now I am able to ride her! Thank you for your videos! I just finished watching the trailering one because that is our next hurdle...I have yet to close the door!

[@drco5218]

I don't have a but but still watching 🙂

[@nitahenderson8227]

me hating the trot bareback but love the canter

[@justagamerwholikeshorses]

Yesterday i went to a wedding and i saw a horse in the parking lot so i went there to ask if i could take a picture and he said sure, so i took a picture and he told ne a bit about the horse and i asked if i could sit on him for a second because he was pretty tall and wanted to see how he would feel ( I've ridden for 6+ years ) and then idk what happened but he ran like there is no tomorrow he didn't stop no matter what i did. He ran for like 2-3 minutes and i didn't know the place but eventually he stopped because he ran into a dead end. I don't ride bareback often and the only times i do it's just a calm walk/trot so I'm extremely proud of the fact that i didn't fall of ( I never fell of a horse and I'd like to keepnit that way) but it was a rollercoaster of emotions one moment i was: OMG I'M GONNE F----N DIE and another moment i was: ok this is not that bqd put pls stop I just wanted to share this story because I'm very proud of myself

[@OttersMum]

Could you describe the hip movement a bit more in trotting please 😊

[@Bunnyxxxb]

why am i better bareback riding than i am with a saddle ;( i hate saddles lol

[@LaughLaboratory]

i feel happy I feel happy when I'm with the horse that I love the most he's 26 years old his name is Dexter and I whenever I leave her my feel like I'm I'm sad I feel like I'm not at home

[@NataliePokorna-ky4uo]

I tryed it yesturday for the first time i fell when he spooked and jumped a little to the side ...it was funny because he look at me like how did you did that mum 😂 and then he come check me laughing on the grund 😂❤i love your video i will try again this time correctly 😆