Need advice on Bareback pads with stirrups

[SRF1]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for a comfortable bareback pad with stirrups.
I would like one with a better girth than just a strap. Possibly fleece or I have seen some with ones that look more like real girths. In the pics some of the stirrups seem like they are positioned either too far forward or back. Any advice on the pros and cons and websites to find them would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[JetsBuddy]

There was a discussion in Off Course not that long ago about bareback pads. Here’s the thread:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243904

[mysaygrace]

I personally would NOT use stirrups on a bareback pad, I was told by several people this can be very dangerous as your feet can get hung up & hard to remove from the stirrups should the bareback pad slip. Although the new Cashell soft saddles have a bit of form to them so that would probably be less likely to slip as quickly around the horses barrel giving you enough time to free your feet in an emergency. I don’t know, this is just what a few horse people had warned me about, and I’d rather not find out the hard way if you know what I mean.

I can tell you I have a fleecy bareback pad by Toklat w/o stirrups that is really nice. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help just wanted to give you the heads up on the dangers of bareback pads with stirrups, but you might have already known this. Good luck bareback pad searching!

[SRF1]

Thanks Jetsbuddy and Mysaygrace,

I have heard that same thing from a friend. My dilemma is I really want to post to get off my horses back when trotting for several reasons. (one is for my own personal comfort as I am large chested) :winkgrin: I wish I was better at posting without stirrups.

[goeslikestink]

[QUOTE=SRF1;4738624]
Thanks Jetsbuddy and Mysaygrace,

I have heard that same thing from a friend. My dilemma is I really want to post to get off my horses back when trotting for several reasons. (one is for my own personal comfort as I am large chested) :winkgrin: I wish I was better at posting without stirrups. :([/QUOTE]

then abareback pad isnt going to help you at all they are worthless anyways

look at page one on my helpful links pages read all of page one and all links
then understand how a horse foot fall works
rythem ok so think music walk is 4 beats trots are 2 and canter 3

then when posting ie rising trot dont lift the bum of the saddle and have huge gap its a simple movement upwards as in up on 1 down on 2 or if sitting one would pretend to hold a tube of toothpaste betwen bum cheeks and the saddle when rising its a sit and squirk not a sit and blast

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=178116

and if you can get someone to help you as in have you on the lunge line then work without stirrups in walk and trot ie sitting and rising and then in canter this will help you get an independant seat
make sure you alter your stirrups correctly as this effect your postion and balance all is expalined on helpful links pages in page one and on last page is helpful tips and exercises

[CosMonster]

Yes, don’t use a bareback pad with stirrups. If you’re uneven at all it will twist and pose quite a few safety issues. I’ve seen it happen, and it’s not good. :no: I can understand wanting to post but I think you’re better off practicing with no stirrups or sticking to trotting in a saddle for now. Better some muscle soreness than being caught up and dragged under your horse.

[gypsymare]

There also isn’t enough padding in a bareback pad to distribute the weight of the stirrups so you have all your weight concentrated on a 2 inch wide piece of nylon webbing right across your horse’s spine.

[suz]

i had the cashel pad and felt very unstable on it. now i occasionally ride on a thick western pad held on with an anti casting surcingle. it’s so much more secure it’s kind of amazing. the therapy group uses it for their students’ lessons, instead of a traditional bareback pad.
i have seen one just like my set up with stirrups, i think colorado saddlery make it.

[Bogie]

I tried the Little Joe pad and found that it was pretty secure, even with the stirrups. I’ve never been a fan of using stirrups on bareback pads but I thought it worked pretty well.

[cnvh]

I totally agree with others who have said that stirrups on a bareback pad can be very dangerous-- with no “form” of a tree/gullet to the pad, there’s nothing preventing it from shifting dangerously from side to side.

With that being said, I had my own reasons for wanting a BB pad with stirrups but couldn’t find what I wanted in a price range which I was willing to pay. I had tried-- and liked-- a friend’s Cashel; she had altered it so that it had a bit of a gullet and was subsequently sturdier, but the Cashels were more than I cared to spend.

I ended up buying a rather thickly-padded BB pad with stirrups for $50 at a clearance sale, and I had my seamstress alter the straps so that I could use a regular Western cinch instead of the nylon strap for a girth. I already had a sheepskin half-pad with velcro pockets for shims, so it’s basically thick on both sides but very thin through with wither and spine. I put the BB pad over the half-pad on my horse, with the Western cinch for girthing, plus a breastcollar.

This contraption ended up being stable enough for me you mount using a stirrup (from a mounting block), and while it WILL shift with enough force on one stirrup or the other, it stays put through the occasional spook my OTTB will throw on a trail ride.

[CosMonster]

[QUOTE=suz;4739297]
i had the cashel pad and felt very unstable on it. now i occasionally ride on a thick western pad held on with an anti casting surcingle. it’s so much more secure it’s kind of amazing. the therapy group uses it for their students’ lessons, instead of a traditional bareback pad.
i have seen one just like my set up with stirrups, i think colorado saddlery make it.[/QUOTE]

Actually, now that you mention it I think I have seen a Colorado Saddlery bareback pad-type thing with stirrups that seems safer. IIRC it is considerably stiffer than your typical pad, and has a bit of shape to it that might help keep it from slipping. I think I may actually have one in a trailer on my property (not mine, watching it for a friend ;))…I’ll try to remember to take a look this weekend and report back.

I’d completely forgotten about it until I read this post, but I remember my friend showing me something like that. We shall see.

[chicamuxen1]

Personally, I’m not worried about the rider using stirrups on a bareback pad, I’m worried about the horse!

If you decide to post using stirrups hung on a bareback pad then everytime you put your weight onto the stirrups you will press your weight onto a very narrow spot across the top of your horse’s back. Great weight to cause your horse pain and discomfort.

This one pad IMO improves that weight distribution a bit and is a more stable pad too. It should be placed on top of a larger pad with a TACKY UNDERSIDE (adds to the stability) to prevent the riders legs from becoming soaked.

http://www.naturalride.com/naturalride.html

I think adding the breast collar is wise.

But why do you want to ride in a bareback pad? Is it finances?

Bonnie Snodgrass

[howardh]

I have 2 bareback pads with stirrups. You can put something called Toe stoppers in the stirrups to stop your foot from going through.

To stop the pressure if posting on one spot, I just layer another pad under.

I love the freedom and lightness of a bareback pad, especially in the summer when it is hot. I put sheepskin covers over the “leathers” so I can ride in shorts.

It is a great way to test and work on your position too, as if I take my sheepskin covers off, and if my legs are not positioned right, heels down etc, the leathers will pinch, so you get instant form correction!

Riding “bareback” is a great way to get better balance.

I need to have stirrups as you never know when trail riding if you are going to have something to step on to help you get on a horse, so they are necessary for me. I used to be able to swing up from the ground on my 16 hand horses, but I am too old now!:lol:

[tabula_rashah]

[QUOTE=Bogie;4739654]
I tried the Little Joe pad and found that it was pretty secure, even with the stirrups. I’ve never been a fan of using stirrups on bareback pads but I thought it worked pretty well.[/QUOTE]

This
I borrowed a Little Joe from a friend of mine and rode in it paired with a skito pad- It felt very much like a pad/ saddle combo and there were no slippage problems what-so-ever. Pricey, but worth it IMHO

[SRF1]

Thanks everyone for the great advice!

My interest in bareback pads is not due to finances. I have started hacking my previously retired (not due to soundness) 29:eek: year old gelding. He had some kissing spine in the past (which did not cause any lameness) but I have found that he is much more comfortable in his back with just a bareback pad. A friend lent me a new pad yesterday to try this week that looks more like a saddle. (it is down in the barn so I will get back to you with the name) curious if anyone has tried one.

[PRS]

[QUOTE=SRF1;4740057]
Thanks everyone for the great advice!

My interest in bareback pads is not due to finances. I have started hacking my previously retired (not due to soundness) 29:eek: year old gelding. He had some kissing spine in the past (which did not cause any lameness) but I have found that he is much more comfortable in his back with just a bareback pad. A friend lent me a new pad yesterday to try this week that looks more like a saddle. (it is down in the barn so I will get back to you with the name) curious if anyone has tried one.[/QUOTE]

If money is not the object I’m wondering if he would be comfortable in a treeless saddle? Some properly padded treeless saddles have been used successfully on horses with spine and back problems. I use a Sensation Hybrid…Sensation makes one called a Sensation Harmony Element which is fairly affordable and very stable. It is a REAL saddle but lighter and less structured than the Hybrid or their other models: http://www.freedomtreeless.com/SHE.html
Sensation Hybrid: http://www.freedomtreeless.com/G3Hybrid.html

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

You couldn’t pay me to ride in a bareback pad with stirrups–yikes! That horse spooks, or stumbles and you step down and that pad slips–very dangerous.

Plus I think in the long run you are going to create back soreness posting in that kind of set-up. For all the reasons others stated.

I would either use a saddle or gradually build up the muscles to post without stirrups.

[JollyBadger]

If it’s a matter of wanting to improve your ability to post without stirrups. . .then start posting without stirrups.:winkgrin:

I have one of the ComfortPlus bareback pads, and really like it, but I still put another pad underneath when I ride.

[cnvh]

The reason I wanted a BB pad with stirrups was for a planned trip to the beach. I wanted some SLIGHT extra security of stirrups, but I didn’t want to risk my good (leather) tack anywhere near all that salt water.

All that prep for my BB pad, and my horse ended up going lame a few days before the trip, so I didn’t go anyway. Ahh well, maybe next time…

[Diamond_Jake]

CSI Pads just came out with an awesome bareback pad.

www.csipads.com

But darn, they do not have it on their website yet!