Last weekend, I had the distinct pleasure of watching Stacy Westfall work her horses and riders in some demo rides during Ontario's "Can-Am" weekend event. It was fabulous to watch her and listen to her words of wisdom. My take-home from her sessions: safety around horses is essential at all times.

You've probably already seen her 2006 video. You know, the one with her amazing horse Roxy going bareback and bridleless during an unforgettable ride that she dedicated to her then recently passed father. I'd be willing to bet that most of us didn't have a dry eye once it was over. The ride was emotional, sensational and technically correct enough to win them the championship at that show. If you haven't already seen it, here is the ride:

Shortly after the video became a YouTube sensation, many people thought it was a good idea to try and do this with their own horse.

Can you predict what happened after that?

Well, people got hurt.

The reason? Not all horses we ride are trained as impeccably as Roxy was, nor are we all Stacey Westfalls (although maybe we are in our wildest dreams).

I'm not saying that you should never try riding without a bridle. And riding bareback is surely on the bucket list for most riders as they grow and develop their skills. There is simply no feeling like sitting directly on the horse's back while he goes through his paces (assuming the horse has kind and accommodating withers).

Coming out of the sessions, I was reminded yet again about the themes that become evident to me every time I consider safety around horses, regardless of riding discipline.

Before you jump on the "no tack" bandwagon, please consider the following three questions so you can be very, very careful. You might decide that riding without tack might simply be a long-term goal to be risked only after you have considered the following stipulations:

1. Are you going to be safe?

This one is a no-brainer! Chances are, if you sit on someone else's four legs - without tack for balance and communication - you might part ways! Before you throw away your saddle and bridle, please consider: can you get your horse to do everything you need without the use of a bridle?

Would your horse respond to you during unpredictable situations 100% of the time? Can you stop him before he spooks/rears/bucks/spins? Until you can, play it on the safe side. Wear the saddle so you can balance better. Keep the bridle on so you can use it if necessary. And wait until your horse is ready.

2. How will the horse's quality of movement be affected? 

We might not want to hear this, but that doesn't make it less true: not all horses are built well enough to carry the weight of a rider. This means that if we throw away the bridle and saddle, we are pretty much guaranteed that these horses will have more trouble moving correctly under our weight.

We use tack to direct the horse's movement, whether to flow energy forward or to contain movement. We can reduce tension, stiffness and imbalance through correct riding, which is usually easier to do with the help of our equipment.

Consider what less-than-perfect conformation will do to the joints, muscles and skeletal body if ridden poorly over long term. Then, you might opt for the tack before you get on.

3. Will your own riding position be compromised?

There is a purpose to stirrups, saddle seat design and saddles sized to your derrière: balance. The stirrups are not just to keep you from falling off; once you have achieved basic torso control, stirrups help you maintain optimal balance while your horse moves underneath you. Let's face it: without a saddle, you rock 'n roll on your horse's back more than it appears to the observer.

Of course, with a little practice, you could probably stay on the horse (most of the time) when riding bareback. But as your balance shifts in the movement, the horse's balance also changes. You might get thrown forward/backward, your knees might rise or you might lean to one side to counteract the effects of gravity.

The horse might fall to the forehand or tighten his back in response. His footfalls may become heavier or more labored, and he might need to drop the base of his neck (and lift his head and neck) to keep you both from really losing balance.

Well, you get the idea. The point here is to consider all the consequences of bareback and bridleless riding. If you want to be the next Stacy Westfall of your riding discipline, go through a step-by-step process that can keep you safe and your horse healthy. 

Keep in mind what it will do not only to you, but (almost) more importantly, to your horse.

Because although you have a choice in the matter, your horse does not. 

Have you ever seen Stacy Westfall and what was your take-away?

*Please note: The opinions in this article are solely the author's and do not represent any promotion or endorsement for either Stacy Westfall or the Can Am event.

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Read more here:

What Responsible Horse Ownership Really Means: We need to keep in mind that horses are prey animals and long-time domesticated livestock. If we listen well enough, we discover that what we think of as giving might not be what the horses truly need.

10 Tips for the Average Rider: Are you an average rider? Then join the club!

Do You Want to Own A Horse? Answer ‘yes’ to these questions and you are on your way!

5 Life Lessons From Horses: If we can learn anything from horses, it is that many concepts hold true as clearly in life as they do in the world of horses.

Ride Backwards, But Ride Effectively! Although the rider had developed the correct “look”, the horse was telling a different story.