Horseback riding: bareback vs. with tack

I believe there would be a HUGE difference riding bareback as opposed to riding with the saddle because of the fact that you need to use your legs more to stay on.. it also depends on if you walk, trot, or loping because the more quicker your horse goes, the more leg you need to put on to stay on the horse. so you definitely would be burning more calories bareback than with tack

Wheee, that's what my thinking was too. I hope it's correct because it certainly feels like it. LOL I can only ride for about 15 minutes at a time so far but that's because I'm pacing/jumping/running around being silly the whole time. :P

I LOVE bareback! But it's definitely a lot of work :P I did it for an hour and my legs were jell-o! Hahaha

It's core body exercise, but it seems logical that bareback would require more grip. English saddles would be comparable I would think compared to the more supportive Western saddle. It all requires balance and leg pressure. I was happy to see that horse grooming burns calories on the database

I would say *absolutely* - huge difference!

I wear my bodymedia FIT when I ride, and can identify (from moment to moment, almost) the amount of "effort" put out in a regular ride. When we're working hard on something (lots of core work, leg work...with this lazy horse, LOTS of leg work), the burn-rate is about 11-13 calories a minute. When we're just warming up, it's more like 8-9 cal/min and when we're just moseying around taking a walk break or cooling out, it's more like 5-6 cal/min.

So sure, if you're using more muscle fibers to stay balanced and grip to stay on, it's logical that your burn-rate is going to be affected. I'm interested to see the tack vs bareback results with the HRM too!

If you're posting the trot then holy hell it's going to be a better workout then posting in the saddle.

This is bringing back memories of lessons without stirrups! My trainer used to take our stirrups away to torture us... I mean, improve our seats. I never minded walking, sitting trot or canter - but posting trot and jumping without stirrups. Ack - no fun at all!

I miss my horse and riding. :-(

If you're posting the trot then holy hell it's going to be a better workout then posting in the saddle.

This is bringing back memories of lessons without stirrups! My trainer used to take our stirrups away to torture us... I mean, improve our seats. I never minded walking, sitting trot or canter - but posting trot and jumping without stirrups. Ack - no fun at all!

I miss my horse and riding. :-(

Fun, right?! Did you ever try dropping just one stirrup? That is even harder then dropping both!

I don't think the caolries would be different, but the muscles are worked more when bareback, I know when I run my patterens I lose my stirrups so I can feel it when we run home, the legs and abs burn but it is the good burn

While we're talking horses....

What burns more calories? Walking your horse down in a 10 acre field because he refuses to get caught vs. convincing your horse there isn't a mountain lion hiding behind the mailbox that you HAVE to pass in order to get back to the barn? I've lost 5 lbs in each scenario.

I vote for the 'catching' scenario!

Funniest thing my horse ever did - went and stood in the middle of the pond on the day I had to catch him for the vet to get his teeth floated. He refused to come out. I tried a bucket of grain, a really long longe whip... everything possible to get him out of that pond. He just stood there and stared at me (and this is a horse that normally came bounding up as soon as he saw me). He really, really did not want to have his dental I guess! Finally, I had to wade into thigh deep, disgusting, muddy pond water and haul him to shore physically. I swear, I could hear him snickering the whole way back to the barn.