Bareback pads?? Thoughts and opinions please!?

Question

I'm struggling to get a saddle to fit my horse due to the width of him.

I've got one that my saddler is currently working on, however have seen the bareback pads available on ebay and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on them?

Has anyone used one for general riding and had any good/ bad experiences?

All thoughts and opinions would be welcome.

thanks!

Answer 1

It all depends on the kind of bareback pad that you get.

Some of them slip VERY easily. I rode on one that had the stirrups with it, and when you put your weight in the stirrup it WILL slide. I had one before I bought my saddle, and I ended up nearly underneath my horse because she spooked and I put my weight in my stirrup to stay on. I had even had my dad tighten it.

I've rode in others (like the one that you had a link to) and they were fine though.

I personally don't own one, but I like them, as they keep you from getting as dirty/sweaty as you would without one.

Answer 2

Some bareback pads do have stuirups(sp?) and I LOVED mine...until it streched and would slip when I rode with it D; I like it because it was softer and easier to put on than a saddle if you just kinda want tohack around they are awesome. I also liked them because by butt doesn't get all hairy and dirt covered like when you ride COMPLETELY bareback lol :)

Here are some witha and without sturriups...you can find them cheaper elsewere but this was the first link I found :D

http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/CT...

Answer 3

Well i use a bareback pad once in a while when riding my appy. He is just so bony and i find it impossible to sit his trot without one. I also use one cause without it , my butt  gets all dirty. I use a wool like one and it works really well cause it is so soft and cushes really well, i think my horse likes it too. Most of the time i use a saddle though.

Answer 4

I love my bareback pad. But sometimes it slips, so I bought a rubber non slip pad that goes under a regular saddle pad, and it works great. I recommend the bareback pad, because horse hairs in the inside of your leg are really itchy when riding, and take the fun out of it. I don't use a breastplate with it, just the rubber non slip pad. I noticed on mine, that the girth is too long, so I tied a knot in mine, and now it is shorter. You can do that if the girth is too long. Mine diesn't have stirrups, but I like it like that, I have more leg contact with my horse.

Answer 5

it would work for a temporary replacement, but not forever because the weight will get to your horse and he may get back problems. theyre great for balance though. which is the point of bareback with no saddle, though, having no stirrups. so for improving riding, i would wait for the saddle. for a temporary replacement, i would go for it.

Answer 6

I don't have a comment on the use of a bareback pad and other than keeping your pants clean, why not just go au natural!!

However, looking at this one, it would seem to me that that buckle might get in your way and cause some discomfort to your leg....just my observation!!

Answer 7

NEVER ride in a bareback pad that has stirrups - it is very unsafe.  A bareback pad is not a saddle and should not have stirrups.  My bareback pad is medical felt on the underside and rough suede leather on top with leather rigging.  It is a great pad with a "handle strap" at the withers.  I really enjoy riding with my pad.  I think it really improves your seat and balance.  The suede seat is like having "full seat" breeches on no matter what you have on - makes for a more stable seat.  Go to www.parelli.com and take a look at their pads.  They cost more but are worth it.  I ride in my bareback pad everywhere and anywhere I want.  Again, it will really help your seat.  Just take your time and get used to it.  We walk, trot, canter.  You just really become one with your horse.   Be safe and have fun.  Remember - NO STIRRUPS on a BBP.

Answer 8

I don't like bareback pads. I used one once and would never do it again. If you are going to ride bareback, just ride bareback. Long story short, I ended up landing on my back in a driveway. Bareback pads stretch out easily and can slip much more easily than a regular saddle.

As for general riding, you should wait until you get your saddle back. It's alright to hop on bareback every now and again, but not to do all the time.

Edit - I used something quite similar to the one you showed. The only difference was that my girth was nylon instead of leather. They look nice, but I find them dangerous now.

Edit (again) - I was never told to use a breast collar. That would probably have helped. My friend set me up with her old bareback pad becuase I was afraid to ride completely bareback. Bad plan... It would probably work if you used the breast collar. They actually make sets like that now.

http://www.statelinetack.com/itemdy00.as...

Answer 9

I don't really like bareback pads, they tend to slip around on the horses back and I find it easier just to hop on without one.  There is really no large benifit from using one, just that your jeans won't get dirty and it provides a slight bit of extra padding.  I started going bareback this summer, because I got fed up with hauling around big, heavy Western saddles, and then having my horse pin her ears and half-heartedly nip me when I tightened the girth.  The horse was happier, and I developed a great seat.  We went to a show last weekend, and even though she had not worn a saddle for more than a month she rode great with it.  Bareback is sooo good for developing your seat, plus you need far less obvious cues and can feel what is going on in your horses legs so much better.  I wouldn't go bareback for a long ride, or for something like a trail ride, when the horse might spook or do something stupid.  I also wouldn't go bareback when doing speed work, or when teaching something new, on the off chance that the horse might get frustrated and act stupid.  I go bareback when I am reviewing old stuff or making a new concept better, which seems to be most of the stuff I do.  

Good luck!

Answer 10

well, your not riding bareback if you use a bareback pad.  I would not reccomend it for general use as it has no stirrups.

Answer 11

I love my bareback pads!!!!! I ride in my bareback pad 95% of the time!!!! Never use stir ups!! & Always a breast collar!!!! Those 2 things & you will be fine!!!!!

*****edit******

Use a breast collar & you will  never have one slip!! I have never had one slip when I was useing a breast collar!!!!!!!!

Answer 12

i ride bareback most of the time not because I  don't have a saddle,  i have two, but because you have a better balance and you need to learn to ride bareback first i think

i think its a great idea to get one i would get one with a breast strap and stirrups if i were you the breast strap will keep help keep the pad in place and the stirrups will help you mount. and the a bareback pad will keep you from getting horse hair on you.

Answer 13

I think they're great for most, if not all, horses.  Even if his spine isn't hurting you, you might be hurting his back or kidneys if your balance isn't great and you're bouncing around.  You MUST remove any stirrups, if they come with them.  Bareback pads do not have trees and therefore have nothing to keep them from sliding to and fro.  If you put your feet in stirrups, you're almost guaranteed to move the pad all around no matter how good your balance is.  Imagine getting stuck in stirrups that are attached to something that is rapidly sliding down around the horse's belly or flanks....

I also highly recommend using a breastcollar with bareback pads  (just attach one yourself; the nylon and fake fleece ones are cheap) in order to prevent any slippage.  Your horse will likely flip out if the pad slides backwards and gets stuck around his ticklish flanks....it will act just like a strap on a bronc.  Not good!

You can make a bareback pad with a saddle pad and a surcingle, too.  It serves the same purpose and is cheaper, assuming you have those two things on hand.

Answer 14

I use to ride with one of these instead of bareback because they had a little extra padding and was not quite as slippery. :)   I would NOT recommend it instead of a saddle.  They do slip and can easily slip off to the side.  It is good for your balance though....it helped me with my balance and so I wasn't so nervous about riding "bareback".  

There are ones with stirrups but I think they are useless.  Better without stirrups and safer.    I use to like to just jump on with the pad on around the house or just for fun in the arena just because I didn't want to mess with a saddle and it was more "fun and relaxing" to just hang out on the back of my beastie.

Answer 15

Yes, I have tried just about every kind of bareback pad and all I got in the process was a VERY GOOD VIEW of my horse's tummy...in other words, I ride a pretty balanced seat, but you can't trust them to stay put...and more times than not, I ended up on the ground looking up at my horse's ....well, everything that he has.

Answer 16

i would use a bareback pad if my horse has a particularly bony spine [not just at the withers]

Answer 17

I find it nice to occasionally ride bareback, but I only do it for short periods of time.  I personally don't like bareback pads, because in my opinion, you can't do really hardy work in them.  They are good to use to practice keeping your leg on your horse, but other then that I don't really use them.  It would be really hard to dally a rope when you don't have a horn, to ride a colt with no support, or to jump a course with high jumps and tight turns.  But I guess just for general riding they would be fine.  Sometimes if a horse has high withers it can hurt when your horse trots ( you know, the place where the light don't shine).  I have jumped bareback, but you have to use a lot of leg, but even just riding bareback you have to use some of your leg.  But to keep the pad from slipping, you might want to get a breast collar to go with it.