Need advice on Bareback pads with stirrups

[Shermy]

Hello. I have a Little Joe Bareback Pad. It is the ONLY bareback pad that I would ride w/stirrups. I have had mine for over 4 yrs. I have ridden w/stirrups that long w/out ever slipping.

IT IS STABLE ENOUGH TO MOUNT FROM THE GROUND!

It is really not like a normal bareback pad. I jump w/my Little Joe (only up to 24") and it is as stable as if I was riding in my English saddle.

It is a great saddle for the money. It fits almost every horse, and it really comfortable.

I do use a Skito pad under it, it is really, really comfy

[SRF1]

Hi Shermy,

I found the website for the little joe bareback pad, but can you explain what a skito pad is and where you get it?

Thanks!

[SRF1]

I got the name of the pad I was lent to try. It is a hilason.

Has anyone tried one of these? Pros,Cons?

Thanks!

[Chardavej]

[QUOTE=gypsymare;4738835]
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. :([/QUOTE]

Why? Do people ride standing up?

[LittleblackMorgan]

Call me crazy, but I just dont get bareback pads. Someone at my barn uses one all.the.time. Either ride with a saddle or dont?

What’s the point? If you have shark fin withers on your horse? I’m not being crass, I really just dont get it. Maybe because my horse is nice and round and doesnt have crazy withers? Anyone?

[JetsBuddy]

I use a bareback pad because it gives me a little extra grip and I ride bareback to improve my balance. This time of the year with all the shedding hair it makes for a slippery ride. I use a Best Friends Western pad and a Christ Horsedream sheepskin pad, both without stirriup. The Horsedream pad has bars for stirrups but I don’t use them.

[Lori]

I love my Best Friend bareback pad. I use a sheepskin saddlepad underneath it to make a bit more padding.
Practice, practice, practice your posting without stirrups. It does not have to be high posting, but you can do it!

[hank]

[QUOTE=LittleblackMorgan;4748155]
Call me crazy, but I just dont get bareback pads. Someone at my barn uses one all.the.time. Either ride with a saddle or dont?

What’s the point? [/QUOTE]

A. Pad makes horse less slippery.

B. Significant Other does not yell when doing laundry.

C. If you started the habit 40 yrs ago, it’s tough to break.

[Bogie]

http://www.skito.net/

These pads are designed to be used with treeless saddles. They create a gullet to protect the horse’s spine.

@SRF1;4742049

Hi Shermy,

I found the website for the little joe bareback pad, but can you explain what a skito pad is and where you get it?

Thanks!

[JetsBuddy]

Equipedic also makes pads for treeless saddles.
http://www.equipedic.com/

I like the Best Friend pad a lot but I have a horse that is sensitive to neoprene so I use the Christ Horsedream pad on him
http://horsedreamimporters.com/bareback.php
I love it in the winter when I don’t feel like dragging my saddle out after I’ve just trudged through snow uphill. I use a pad similar to a Dixie’s Midnight pad underneath, mainly to keep the sheepskin clean.

[CosMonster]

[QUOTE=LittleblackMorgan;4748155]
Call me crazy, but I just dont get bareback pads. Someone at my barn uses one all.the.time. Either ride with a saddle or dont?

What’s the point? If you have shark fin withers on your horse? I’m not being crass, I really just dont get it. Maybe because my horse is nice and round and doesnt have crazy withers? Anyone?[/QUOTE]

I used them for spiny TB backs, back when I only had TBs to ride. Now that I have my cushy Arabs too, I just don’t ride my TBs bareback and stick to the soft ones when I want to go without a saddle. :lol:

People say that bareback pads make the horse less slippery, but I’ve actually always felt the opposite. I feel less comfortable on a bareback pad, but I think that’s just personal preference. The laundry is a good consideration too, but my SO has learned to tolerate me putting horse blankets in the washer, so I don’t think hair and sweat on my pants even makes him blink. :winkgrin:

Also, I forgot about this thread and didn’t look at my friend’s pad like I said I would, but I’m taking today off so I’ll check it out when I quit being lazy and venture outside again.

[paintlady]

I have a Christ Premium Bareback Pad:
http://horsedreamimporters.com/bareback.php

I love this pad! It does have rings for stirrups, but I’m in the camp that would NEVER use stirrups with a bareback pad. After many years of being forced to post without stirrups in a saddle in riding lessons, I can easily post in a bareback pad if necessary.

Why do I ride backback? I do it for a variety of reasons. First, it has greatly improved my balance and confidence in the saddle. Second, it’s fun. Finally, it’s much easier to toss on a bareback pad in the winter when I can only walk up/down the driveway and not do much else.

[Bacchus]

I love riding in a bareback pad on every horse I own – even my spooky OTTB. It’s so simple and comfortable. Plus, it helps you learn how to use and keep your seat and use your legs (if you actually try to ride correctly in it, which I do). Riding bareback everywhere really made me a better rider. I gallop, jump, trail ride in steep mountains – everything. I don’t mind going bareback without the pad, but the pad is a bit more comfy to me (skinny butt – so it’s probably more comfy for my horse, too) and I don’t have horse hair sticking to my pants and working it’s way in to my skin! I use the cheap ($50), fuzzy pads. I never ride with stirrups on a bareback pad. I sit the trot or post without them.

A friend just borrowed my bareback pad for her first bareback ride. She called me amazed at how well her horse moved – very forward and free. She was upset because he doesn’t move like that in her custom Black Country;)

(I just bought an Ansur dressage saddle and have a Konklusion on trial – as close as I can get to bareback but still be able to show.)

Forgot to add that I also have a Cashel bareback pad, but I find it way too slippery.