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Bareback riding is a form of horseback riding without a saddle. It requires skill, balance, and coordination, as the rider does not have any equipment to compensate for errors of balance or skill. However, in certain situations, bareback riding is particularly suitable. Many riders will ride bareback for a short ride in order to save time in a busy day. It is also common for a rider who will take a horse in only one direction and walk back on foot, such as when moving the horse from one pasture to another, to ride the horse in only a bridle in order to not carry much equipment when returning. In other cases, for example, if a horse is to be allowed to swim in a river, lake or ocean, it is practical to leave expensive leather horse tack off to avoid equipment damage. It is also common for riders in extreme cold weather to ride bareback for short pleasure rides in situations where heavy winter clothing makes it hazardous to ride with a saddle due to the difficulty of sitting correctly in a saddle while wearing thick insulated clothing or the potential of a large snow boot hanging in a stirrup. ==Rider position== When riding bareback, riders sit a bit more forward on the horse than they would in a saddle. They have to rest their legs more forward, along the crease between the barrel and the shoulder muscles in order to have a secure position without excessive gripping. As a rule, to make proper use of the rider's calf muscles, bareback riders need to keep their heels lower than their toes, riding with a flexed ankle and heel down, just as if they had stirrups.〔("Bareback equitation" Fergus/Petroleum 4-H Horse Program. ) Accessed July 14, 2008〕 Riding with the toes down can lead to clutching at the horse with the lower legs or digging into the horse's sides with the heels, both often interpreted by the horse as a leg cue to go faster. 〔(Blocksdorf, Katherine. "Learn How to Ride Bareback: Ride Your Horse Without a Saddle" ), About.com Accessed July 14, 2008〕 It is particularly important that riders do not squeeze their heels or lower legs into the horse's sides when slowing or stopping, or use the reins as a brace at any time, as these errors will send the horse confusing, contradictory signals. If riders lose their balance, it is common to grab the mane in order to prevent jerking the horse in the mouth with the reins of the bridle, though ideally a rider can maintain proper balance by correct placement and use of their thigh and upper calf muscles. Though some people begin riding bareback before they learn with a saddle, it is usually recommended to first learn in a saddle without stirrups, as the rider is still helped in obtaining correct position by the pommel and cantle, but is not able to use the stirrups as a crutch for poor balance or position. It is also easier on the horse's back to have the support of a saddle to cushion the action of an unbalanced rider. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bareback riding」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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