bareback pad with safe, usable stirrups

I had a Parelli bareback pad that I altered to put stirrups on. I rode all over the place with it. Couldn't mount using the stirrups. A couple of times I came off when the horse made a sudden turn and one stirrup got all the weight. Mostly I rode with my feet out of the stirrups. Also I used peacock stirrups only. The bareback pad was very comfortable for me and the horse.

I would look for a older, but good deep seated English saddle. Maybe a jumping saddle with good knee rolls. Light weight, secure, and I've seen them for less than $100.00.

Riding bareback is a good way to improve your seat. A good rider isn't going to hurt a horse in good condition by riding bareback.

Our youngest DD worked as a mounted ranger in the Bob Marshall Wilderness when she was in college. She was hired as trail crew but one of the rangers didn't show up the first day and they asked if anyone could ride and wanted to transfer. She volunteered and found out they didn't have enough saddles so she would be building trail by hand the first two weeks, until her saddle came. Not being a fool, she compared riding a horse around NW MT to carrying and using hand tools in the mountains and said she could patrol riding bareback. Her boss told me later that he expected her to give up in an hour or two, not having seen her ride.

She did her first rotation bareback, rode the 30 miles into the ranger station and about 20 miles a day in pretty rough country bareback. She and the horse both were fine. Now she does no remember not riding, she has been since she was very little, and rode competitive trail rides as well as showing. She spent more time on her pony and then her horse than anything else as a kid and is an excellent rider. It is possible to ride bareback for a distance, and one of the reasons she could do it was because she had ridden bareback most of her life - although she has also always had good saddles available.

I've used a couple of the bareback pads with stirrups. I never had a stirrup fall off, but they were all but useless as stirrups. Unless you kept exactly the same weight and pressure on both stirrups, the pad would shift.

I tried(did not buy) a pad that had a "grip surface" and it would still shift if your weight pressed on either stirrup, which then would twist the hair coat up underneath the pad, making it uncomfortable for the horse(like putting a saddle blanket on wrong, it can rub the hair OUT).

Anything with a tree should rightfully be termed a saddle, maybe a "lightweight" saddle but it's not at all like a bareback pad.

I never saw any issues with horses being ridden pure bareback. A non-tree pad does not spread the weight enough to bother counting, honestly.

But I never liked riding pure bareback. Like you mention, I like stirrups. The Hun type saddle is a lot like a McClellen type saddle honestly. Of course... that's a tree with stirrups! LOL.

I haven't seen any true bareback pad that I considered safe to use to mount using the stirrups. But then, I haven't seen every bareback pad either. I haven't seen any of the new 'popular' celebrity products either.

Good luck.

I'm not going to get into the pros and cons of bareback. You likely wouldn't enjoy my opinions on racing, jumping and polo either, lol. A saddle is superior to riding entirely bareback, neither the horse's back nor a human tail-less end is actually designed for what goes on while riding like that. A saddle redistributes weight, makes it better for both parties. I know, horseback riding was done for a thousand years before anything really resembling a saddle was invented and as noted I see great value in using it as a training tool for horse and for rider.

I've gotten some good input here and it gives me directions to venture in. In the end I'll probably end up actually trying a number of different options, some suggested right here before deciding what is actually going to be best for us and the horses. It's all learn as you do, right?

It was a general observation of your comments. I was curious if you do have any formal training from someone who was a trainer who showed you what to do, with horses, or if you have someone you work under.

I work under my horse. There is no greater teacher. You may take what you like from my comments.

I have a lifetime of experience with horses, since before I consciously remember. I am a student of both canine and equine psychology and physiology as their close association with humans throughout the centuries fascinates me and assists me in my understanding of human society from it's dawn to our modern era.

I have, in past, worked with trainers... no one special. I wonder from whom the native Americans first learned their style of horsemanship? Besides the technical texts, that is where I learn as well-- from the horse itself.

I love to have it insinuated that because I have a question about something I am inexperienced with, such as bareback pads or minimal saddles, I am a hack, a novice or that my 'learning as I go' is harmful to the horse. Thanks, you sure helped me to remember why I have stayed out of the horse community for so long.

No one said you were a beginner, you just jumped right to an assumption. If you're going to instantly assume that every person is insulting you, then it's hard to have a conversation about your questions and the issues or subjects you want to talk about.

To be honest, I can see why the OP is being defensive; he/she was responded to in a pretty aggressive/contentious way in the first 6-7 posts.

This is not a new question -- what are the pros and cons of stirrups on a bareback pad/lite saddle. Certainly there are models for sale that suggest that stirrups could be used -- his/her question is: does anyone have experience and what is your review?

Personally, I don't love bareback riding but it depends on the horse. My TB mare will NOT trot if you are riding bareback. She is very sensitive -- does not like much grooming at all, certainly not anything like a shedding blade; is sensitive to bugs; is very sensitive to your leg. If your tailbone is on her spine - forget about it. My APHA mare (aka *fatty*) is far more forgiving of bareback riding - but she also *likes* hard grooming (e.g. shedding blade) and is generally far less sensitive.

I prefer not to ride bareback because I also don't love the feeling of spine on my seatbones/pubic bone...thank you very much. As I said, my chunky paint mare is a pretty easy ride but no way - on the high-withered TB. The padding of a bareback pad/saddle goes both ways.

Certainly if there was such a thing as as lightweight, stable, sturdy bareback saddle/pad...I'd love to try it out. Who wouldn't?

I was just curious is all. There is nothing wrong with being a novice when it comes to horses. We all had to learn somewhere as you said, I just would hate to see you get hurt or you inadvertently hurt one of your horses, that is why I asked.

As for the Native Americans, you can't find a better set of horse people than they are. I am proud of my own Native American heritage, my skill as a rider and my animal husbandry skills as well. Several friends have asked me to come doctor their horses when the vet couldn't do it or the animal became mistrustful of them. I have a touch when it comes to animals, even my boss had a good laugh one morning when we were trying to get a loose steer back in the pasture and the owner wouldn't go near it with a bucket of feed...I did and got him back in.

I just have seen green horses and new owners get into complications due to not knowing enough. Would hate to see that happen to you. And yes, by not knowing enough of how to train and what equipment is best, you can sour or put a horse backwards in their training.

I didn't think it was a aggressive post to comment about saddles vs bareback vs pads. But then, I'm not reading every post as "How can this be offensive to me?" either.

I'll bow out. Apparently opinions aren't wanted unless they are expressly what the OP wants to hear. It's a public forum and when you post a thread, anyone who wants to can respond to it.

Indeed! What tribe are you? My family is Cherokee of the reservations in Oklahoma-- though my most immediate ancestor who was half (my great grandfather) was the most cruel to animals I have ever in my personal experience seen. Then again, I think that's because his mother was secreted away before he was born and kept away until they decided the baby (him) wasn't too 'Indian looking' to be kept. Horrible stuff isn't it?

I am definitely a proponent of 'natural horsemanship' but I supplement that with technical knowledge. But I came here to ask specifically about something I don't know much about. I am a traditional cowgirl. Western all the way. I want to know if there is something better and I was asking to find people with experience to tell me that experience. I am always seeking more knowledge. I am always seeking new sources.

Heh, I have to laugh. Even an injury, or perhaps especially an injury? Can be a great learning experience.... as long as no one ends up dead. I have been magnificently fortunate in that I have only suffered the common minor injuries ones gets around horses... a crushed foot, a mashed finger. This, however, is because I have observed others and learned from them how not to be. I have, in all areas of life taken the step back and watched how others failed first... that doesn't mean I don't fail in my own ways... but my failures are more advanced! lol

Wolfy: Please, I am not cocky and I have no chip on my shoulder. The very first person to respond to this thread, firstly did not read for comprehension but decided it was necessary to instruct me in 6th grade vocabulary! I think I handled that well enough... like a high horse who doesn't need to prove their position. People tend to forget themselves when giving advice in the horse world. They get defensive, they get tense, they get real snitty and they decide they have the right to answer questions that were obviously not directed to them because they have no experience in the area asked about. I have no chip... I am sifting (as ever) through the crap to find the real fertilizer, the real knowledge that will help me grow!

Again to Grey Mare: I swear... _swear_ I can hear a horse. I can also 'hear' when my eldest son stops listening and the gray noise sets in. Do you find it translates from people to horses to other animals? I wonder if there is a genetic factor involved.

Wise people have learned from the mistakes of others. If you have ever seen a bareback pad roll under a horse with a rider on it you would not be so casual about learning from a mistake. IMO they should not be used with stirrups. The girl I saw almost get killed was a very good rider and her horse tripped in the show ring. Her Arabian costume was on a bareback pad. She and her horse had won many championships--it was completely an accident.

Think riding bareback, just depends on the horse's conformation.
Dyfra has an inny spine... good luck finding it. Well, padded on either side, big shoulders and no withers.
Great Bareback horse, and I do ride her with a Best Friends bareback pad. Think it is a great way to find tune ones balance.
No stirrups though.

Seen two people in the past, when their bareback pads with stirrups rolled under their horse's... one was hurt badly, other broke her neck.
My other mare...
Has a TB like spine, withers and much more narrow. Won't want to ride her bareback either.

I also ride Dyfra in a Sensation Hybrid Saddle... is a treeless saddle. Nice and secure, and it has stirrups.
Cool thing about this treeless saddle, is it is very light and has tons of D rings.
So if you go on a long trail ride, you can bring things with you.

There are only two bareback pads with stirrups I would recommend.
Is the Natural ride...
And the
Christ pad, they have a set up, where you can safely use stirrups.
http://horsedreamimporters.com/bareback.php

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Shari

CraterCove...interesting analogy on your description. I don't know if I have ever personally thought about that I can "hear" my horse, for me it is more of a feeling or sense if you will that something is wrong or not quite right. I have had that also with a few very close friends, I just knew when something was wrong and acted upon it. My Grandmother, who was Polish had a 6th sense about many things and it wasn't often she was wrong either. I am very in tune with the spiritual world if you will and yes, I have even did a smudging prayer and used sage around our farm to protect it, as well as my home. There is a hawk feather in my QH geldings stall for protection, long story there of why.

I didn't mean to come off sounding know it all, I just would hate for you to get hurt and don't our elders pass on to the young their knowledge so to teach them? I found your comment that you work under your horse...when I think that it is more our horses want a leader, someone they can trust so they look to us to guide them and set boundaries.

My grt.grandparents were Blackfeet Indians, mainly coming from the Black Hills of the Dakota's. Definitely tell with me that the look and skin color, as well as hair, I inherited from them. Course, I am more grey now like my horses but hey...I earned it. HA! I am very sorry of your history in your family, yes, our people suffered greatly at the hands of many, but that is a topic for a pm if you wish.

And dear heart, at my age, I don't bounce so easily when I hit the ground so I am more cautious and patient when I am with my horses, or anyone else for that matter. I have been kicked for not paying attention, stepped on, nipped at, broken foot, toes, and bruises that sure looked interesting.

Welcome, CraterCove. You've received some snarky comments from relative newbies to this horse forum.

If you stick around, and I hope you do, you'll find that some posters are more knowledgeable than others and which to avoid entirely.

There are bareback pads and there are lightweight saddles- my personal preference is something with at least a minimal tree and without stirrups. The bareback pad pictured in post 15 is downright dangerous and should not be used in my opinion.

Have you narrowed down your choices?

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People say I can't multi-task. Well, I can tick you off and amuse myself at the same time.

Based on the fact that you posted the most dangerous pad of any linked indicates that you may want to reevaluate your perceived knowledge on the subject.

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People say I can't multi-task. Well, I can tick you off and amuse myself at the same time.

What makes the pad I posted down right dangerous? It has a non slip underside, it has a girth cinch, and has many great reviews, some that appear to be posted by very experienced riders.

Granted, I personally have no experience with it, but it appears to be a lot safer alternative to what the OP posted, that is basically nothing more than a thick pillow held on with a leather strap that goes over it.

I'm not asking be a wise cracker.. I'm asking to be educated since you must have a reason you feel this way about that pad. Have you seen or used this pad? How is it any worse than a pad that has no cinch or no nonslip underside? How is it any worse than a pillow with a leather strap wrapped around it?

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Never let your fear decide your fate!
Kein Mitleid für die Mehrheit

Do you have any horse experience? I haven't seen any posts here that indicate that you do. It would seem that you might tuck a few years learning about horses under your belt before you start snarking at people asking questions here and just wait for the people who DO know what they're talking about to answer.

That type of pad has been around since I was a teenager in the 70s and has doubtless been the cause of many ugly wrecks. As others have said there is nothing to stop it from spinning like a top around a horses barrel, nothing. Most of the other pads/light saddles had some sort of tree system even if it wasn't the conventional hard type.

Like I said before my opinion is that no type of bareback pad should have stirrups.

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People say I can't multi-task. Well, I can tick you off and amuse myself at the same time.