bareback

American  

[bair-bak] / ˈbɛərˌbæk /

Or barebacked

adverb

1. with the back of a horse, burro, etc., bare; without a saddle.

   to ride bareback; a bareback rider.

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bareback British  

/ ˈbɛəˌbæk /

adjective

1. (of horse-riding) without a saddle

2. slang (of sex) without a condom

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verb

1. (intr) to practise unprotected sex

Etymology

Origin of bareback

First recorded in 1555–65; bare ¹ + back ¹

Example Sentences

“Bella and Gigi riding their horses bareback around the farm and training in the jumping arena in such close proximity from New York and their very busy careers,” she shared.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

Epper was a skilled rider, and at age 9, she broke into stunt work, riding a horse bareback down a mountain for a 1950s TV show, becoming one of the first professional child stunt doubles.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2024

"She would be jumping off waterfalls, jumping off planes, riding horses bareback, swinging on chandeliers, jumping 30ft from the roof of a castle - all stunts she did herself," Roy Wadia says.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2024

Bull riders and bareback contestants must stay astride for at least eight seconds in order to be eligible to win and be scored on the quality of their rides.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 20, 2022

I mounted Jumper bareback and rode him along Birdsong Creek and across a rocky hog-back ridge.

From "Old Yeller" by Fred Gipson