some questions about bareback pads

[raggydoll]

To cut a long story short, saddle fitting problems led to me having a little go at bareback and i loved it and would like to do more. So i thought a bareback pad may be a good investment. I found a looked at a couple on ebay and realized i dont really know anything about them so any information would be appreciated really. Can you attach stirrups to them? Pros and cons of using them? Safety aspects for horse and rider? recommendations? who uses them and when? when would you not use them? Do you use a normal girth with them? what sizes do they come in?

(told you i knew nothing :rolleyes: )

this is one of the ones i've seen on ebay - what do you think?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suede-Pony-Pad-Bareback-Pad_W0QQitemZ7187778371QQcategoryZ3170QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[chickflick1066]

Have a look at http://www.grazingmuzzles.co.uk/as they have info about the bareback pads.

I believe its better to ride without stirrups but dont have an explanation for why it is.

[Fjord Tough]

Hi Doll,

Bareback is great isn't it? I prefer to ride bareback as much as I can but it can be in detriment to the horse over time. Especially if you are a larger rider and need some weight dispersion across the horses back. I probably ride once bareback for every 3 rides saddled.

You are right to be carefull and cautious in the purchase of a pad. I've had a few and here's what I have found so far.

1. Make sure the cinch hookups on the pad accept a standard english girth or western cinch. Many of the cheapers will have just a nylon strap with either holes and a buckle or the worst I ever had had a nylon strap with an aligator tooth type of catch. The first time my horse spooked and huffed up his big belly on the trail the cinch let go and I almost ate some gravel. With a regular cinch hookup you can get it tight enough to not roll when getting on.

2. Look at where the cinch straps go across the pad. The cheapers usually go right across the front of the pad. Not much good that far forward as when you cinch up the pad will be either a little to far back for your comfort if you set it up to cinch correctly or it will be just where you need it for you but to far fwd for the horse to get the girth tightned and will probably pich your horse behind the shoulder. If you look at a Parreli or the like the cinch strap webbing is further back from the front of the pad. This allows the pad to sit right where you need it on the horses back and yet have the cinch come down the sides perfectly in line with where you want the cinch.

3. There are many pads out there trying to hook up stirrups. I feel they are very unsafe. Also they change your leg angle so that less of your leg is wrapped around the horse so more of your weight is left in your butt. Purdy hard on the horse.

Out of the ones I've tried and seen in use I'd have to say the Parreli and Parreli type are the better of the bunch. Not that I'm a Parreli fan which I am not but his pad though ridiculously expensive I feel is a good product. There was a gal on E-bay over in England making her own pads and seling them on e-bay also and they looked to be as good or better than the Parreli and perhaps less expensive, depends on shipping.

Hope this helps, Happy Horsing!

[Fjord Tough]

OOps I forgot, I just looked at your link to the pad on e-bay. I like the english style cut of the pad. Looks great. The girth looks to be a one strap english design, for me I'd rather see a 2 strap for english girths or the one strap would be ok if it were the larger western type.

All your fault gotta go ride now, byeeeeeeeeeee :D

[Unicorn]

I use a best friend bareback pad quite a bit - it's really well designed and very comfortable (have a look at www.barebackpad.co.uk).

Chickflick is quite right about not using stirrups. The main reason for this is that if you put even a little more weight in one stirrup the whole pad can easily slide round and leave you on the floor (and poor pony with a pad under it's tum).

A friend of mine used to hack out in hers, she hardly ever used a saddle. I don't use mine quite that much but tend to use it maybe once a week in the school - i find it really good for my balance.

Hope this helps.

[raggydoll]

thanks guys thats great - i think i might ask santa for one ;)

[horse_crazyae14]

I love to ride babreback. Actually more than I do saddles! I have a 16hh TB that is 25+ and has sway back issues. No saddle would fit. So I found a bareback pad and it is great! Using stirrups are potentially dangerous though. Unlike western and english saddles, bareback is easier to fall off. Then, your foot would be in the stirrups caught, and well, you get it. I dont use stirrups because they are also usually flimsier made on bareback saddles. Also, my bareback pad was just about 20$! Basic colors only though. (red, blue, etc.) The girth is attached to it so its easier to use. Do you kno the belts a lot of people are wearing these days? With the two loops you run the belt part through and then reverse? well, my bareback pad is just like that. After you tighten it, just western tie the extra line onto the ring above the girth rings. Very easy! And less expensive. Hasen't failed me yet!! Also, if your horse is sway back, or if her back is uncomfortable to you, bye a small foam pad for more comfort to you and your horse. (Ask your tack shop supplier and they'll know what you mean.) Then put it under the bareback saddle and then put the bareback pad on top! it's that simple!
Sorry! im not sure where I got my bareback pad at because it was given to me on my birthday, but I see them all the time in horse catalogs and Southern States horse stores. Have any questions, just ask!!

Good Luck!

[galadriel]

Bareback pads:
Bareback pads can be very poorly designed. The girth is set very forward, and it's
quite narrow; it drags down directly on the horse's wither. Even on horses with
wide, broad backs and low withers, I've seen the girth cause pressure points.

The stirrups are often placed at the very front of the pad, right in
line with the strap for the girth. This puts the rider in a very
insecure position (feet way too forward), yet the rider has an
impression of greater security due to having stirrups. The combination
of the two is unfortunate.

In addition, there is no safety release of any kind for the stirrup
straps and the stirrups tend to be plastic Western-type stirrups, so no
safety release on them either.

They put you in an insecure position, give you an illusion of security,
and can snag your foot and be more prone to lead to dragging if you do
fall (which is more likely since you're less secure due to your leg
position). Generally, bareback pads with stirrups are a pretty bad idea.

Incidentally, the Cashel Soft Saddle got their stirrup position right.
I have my review of it/comments on it here:
http://lorienstable.com/articles/z-fitting/cashelsoftsaddle/