backs

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The way I see it ........ there are two issues with this bareback and galloping discussion.
1) the horses' longissimus muscle runs horizontal to our weight and therefore has no "strength" upwards to carry us. Only with the 'bridge' dynamics can the muscle rise 'up'. In other words, when the muscle is long, relaxed, NOT contracted. So we are really talking about the psoas and nuchal muscles working to stretch the longissimus muscles. That is created in the gallop or the trot in the suspension phase. So yes, they can better carry us IN MOTION. As the expression goes we must learn to ride the MOVEMENT of the horse. Never be a passenger to be "packed" around by the horse. Remember we Dance WITH our horses.
2) is the issue of posture. Emphatically the horse must learn good posture and develop this 'bridge' dynamic before we even think about getting on. This must be done at liberty because the horse must learn it experientially and not be put into a frame that "looks like" self carriage.  The next (most important) part is WE must have good riding posture and impeccable self carriage - while on the horses' back. The ONLY way to do no harm. Because of this lack of self carriage on our part extreme damage is done to horses' back - with or without - the saddle.
Image what is possible ........ that we never ask our horses to "carry" us and we too can become as beautiful and powerful as they are ......... by JOINING them in the dance!

.... before three or four years ....

No matter how one looks at it "taking responsibility" is still "taking".

There is a discussion (disagreement) about "handling" horses before three or four years of age.  I know the "problem" is around the "responsibility" concept. More specifically, how that responsibility is carried out.

Let us take the hoof trimming as an example. I handle and eventually pick up all my horses' feet, loose, free, in the herd with no halter and no second person. I have no trouble. From the first time. The only thing the foal needs to learn is a) What I 'want' when I ask him/her to pick up their hoof and b) how to keep their balance on three legs while they hold their foot up. My 'holding' of the hoof is only to stabilize anything I do to the hoof itself. In other words, I only 'cradle' the hoof in my open hand if I am only 'looking' or brushing off dirt. If I have to "dig" dirt out (or in the case of the farrier - rasp against the hoof wall) I will hold the hoof more firmly -AGAINST MY OWN PRESSURE. I stay in my own balance. In my own space, grounded to the earth with my own readiness to move MY OWN FEET if the need arises. I do not ask or ever hint that I might "take away" the horse's "ability to respond". Furthermore, I KEEP my 'ability to respond' very alert to anything the horse does that would require me to respond. To stay responsible for keeping MYSELF safe. I do not "give" that responsibility to the "trainer" of the horse  (if I were the farrier). If I do not have a farrier that can BE this way with my young horses, then they are either 'self trimmed' or reduced to what I can do with a rasp. :)
Notice the "subject" "object" in notes a) and b)
a) I ask the horse to pick up their own foot. I do not say I pick up the hoof. I am VERY careful with "the voice in my head" when I do this - because I learned from a horse named Pleasure - horses can hear the voice in my head! If I am thinking - "I am going to pick up your foot" then the horse will either let ME pick up the hoof ....... or not. Or worse "Give me your hoof". You can imagine how a young horse would hear that!  I have seen many a knowledgeable horse person actually try to push the horse off balance to allow them (the person) to pick up the hoof!!
b) horse must learn to keep their OWN balance on three legs. I will not lean on them and they will not lean on me. If they need to move to keep their balance they are allowed - even encouraged (when there are hints of leaning).

It is in this way horses are kept "free" until they are three to five years of age.