> I don't ride bareback for several reasons. One, I'm > 45 and my horses can't afford for me to get hurt, so > yes, I need the security of a saddle.
....do you think it really keeps you from getting hurt? what sorts of situations happen to you where you feel like your saddle is keeping something from happening that would hurt if you were bareback? (i'm a few months shy of forty, i don't quite see the connection with age? unless you mean you have early osteoporosis or somesuch?) > Two, unless > you're riding for a very short amount of time, > bareback offers no support for the horse from your > seatbones. Even someone with a broad butt like me has > seatbones that would dig into the horse. sure, but they do in a saddle, too, even a treed saddle your horse is largely feeling you through your seatbones. it shouldn't i imagine hurt; i have never had a horse i've ridden bareback seem uncomfortable with that (i admit i don't ride very thin horses very often...). otoh i often carry other people piggy-back, or kids on my shoulders, and i have to say their seatbones don't bother me. --vicka
