Until Falki got here, I rode Gloi almost every day for 5 - 10 minutes in the paddock area. We mainly walked, worked on sidepass, turns on forehands/haunches, steering with neck rope, little trotting/gaiting. I think that some of these things are better to train in short sessions and its amazing how much we accomplished last year with frequent short sessions. Way easier to just jump on his back with my helmet and neck rope vs saddle, or bareback pad. I'd ride in whatever I wore down to feed them be it shorts or jeans. When I took lessons in college, I loved riding bareback, even cantering in the ring. I felt like I had a better seat and balance and my legs felt more natural than with stirrups. My QH/TB was not a bareback horse, unless you were into riding a sawhorse. Both Gloi and Falki have great backs for bareback. I will admit I only ride the paddock bareback, tried the pasture once. It's just too uneven and too hilly for me to ride elsewhere. Even our paddock is not completely flat.
-- Anna Southern Ohio
