Maybe, but the only sane answer is no... I was a kid. It is really not very secure, it's slippery and hard to hang on. Yes, you will feel every movement and wonder how you'll ever stay on ;~D. I wouldn't advise it as a way to learn for adults... Unfortunately, unless you are a gymnast, kids get away with a natural athleticism and have reflexes we don't have. I still ride bareback on occasion and am amazed now at how hard it is to stay on. I am not sweating in this pic, though it was really hot this day. I had just hosed my head off with a hose, and I thought it was too hot to put a saddle on for a ride in the shade.
That said, the first time ecurbh rode was sortof bareback, we climbed on and went for a ride in the snow with just Bay's blanket on, not too long after he got here. Even with the blanket on, it's a LOT more substance to hang on to, and a little less slippery than bareback.
I don't know why we don't have pics of him riding... he rode the same day we took these of me riding.
I think he found that easy enough to stay on, at the walk at least ;~D 'course, I didn't just slap the horse and send him off on his first time up ;~D