As a man---and I can't say that it's any easier for women---I'm not afraid to admit that riding a horse bareback isn't quite as comfortable as it often looks in the movies. It depends on your horse's
gait, the size of his withers and your own comfort level, but bareback riding isn't for the faint of heart (or weak of muscle). It requires considerable balance and strength to stay seated on your horse without benefit of a saddle.

If you've never ridden your horse bareback before, it's a good idea to try it with a friend or trainer on the ground to watch. Some horses become frightened when they are ridden bareback for the first time because they don't understand, so you'll want assistance if the situation turns dangerous.

Getting On
Arguably, the most difficult part of riding your horse bareback is deciding how to get on. My daughter can swing herself onto her horse with just a handful of mane and she makes it look easy, but us older folks need benefit of something more stable. A mounting block is generally too short to give you much leverage, so you might want to try a fence or a picnic table.

When mounting your horse bareback, it's important that you don't catch his flank or hip with the heel of your boot. Make sure that the thing you're standing on is sufficiently tall to allow your leg to clear his back. You can also have someone on the ground give you a boost, but make sure they are strong enough first.

Getting Comfortable
While I know that this isn't exactly a science, riding your horse bareback is a matter of finding the "sweetspot" between his withers and the rise of his back. You don't want to sit too far forward for obvious reasons, but if you scoot too far back, you risk loosing your balance much more easily. When you first walk off, shift around until you find a spot that's comfortable for both you and your horse.