bareback pad with safe, usable stirrups

CraterCove · #1 07/10/13, 09:36 AM

Is there one? Is there a bareback pad that has enough of a tree to reliably use a girth strap and stirrups? What about what I've seen called a 'Hun pad' they are a little expensive but if they work that's good enough for me. http://www.aussiesaddle.com/products...eback_pad.html

I was tempted by the 30$ pads with stirrups until I started reading reviews.

I am looking for the less weight and comfort of a bareback pad but with the stability of adding the girth strap and stirrups. And don't tell me bareback period is better, that's you opinion and I think the Hun's proved that pad plus stirrup was superior. :P

simi-steading · #2 07/10/13, 09:54 AM

The link you posted clearly says bareback saddle.. A pad is completely different than a saddle...

What you linked has plates and a tree, which means it has a frame... that is a saddle.. not a pad..

This would be more what you describe.. A pad, with stirrups.. Not a bad price either, however, it has no horn.. If you want a horn, you'll have a frame, which becomes a saddle..

http://www.horse.com/item/mustang-fl...Fazm7Aod9WQApg

CraterCove · #3 07/10/13, 09:59 AM

I also clearly asked about the Hun pad with stirrups.

simi-steading · #4 07/10/13, 10:10 AM

http://www.horse.com/item/triple-e-w...ottom/E001653/

Sorry, for some reason they don't like links on the site..

Here's what I was trying to get at... it's got a non slip underside, that will stay in place better than a regular pad.It appears to have a cinch on it too...

I'm not trying to be a smart allic, but what you originally started out asking about and showing was basically a saddle...

simi-steading · #5 07/10/13, 10:16 AM

Sorry.. I didn't get that far down.. I only went about half way down your page..

From the reviews on the pad I posted, it looks to be well liked, and it's not near as thick as the pad you are looking at. It's also a bit cheaper..

CraterCove · #6 07/10/13, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simi-steading

Sorry.. I didn't get that far down.. I only went about half way down your page..

From the reviews on the pad I posted, it looks to be well liked, and it's not near as thick as the pad you are looking at. It's also a bit cheaper..

Have you used either of these products? Let me rephrase my entire . (I am trying to ask the opinion of people who may have used or know someone who does use bareback pads with girth straps and stirrups to try and find one that works well. The cheaper bareback pads seem to have stirrups that fall off when any pressure is put on them once in the saddle. It is not necessary that the stirrup be sound enough to use for mounting, though I would prefer it. I want the stirrups to be present for assistance in balance and movement when atop the horse.

What I am looking for, specifically, is empirical data. Thank you.

Molly Mckee · #7 07/10/13, 10:37 AM

IMO there is no safe bareback pad. The problem is not so much the stirrups come off, it's that the saddle turns and rolls under the horse. I have not seen the bareback saddle you posted, but they way it seems to be built I would think it would slip much more easily than a true saddle.

I can't see any reason to take the risk with that "saddle", you can buy a great used saddle for what they want for it.

simi-steading · #8 07/10/13, 10:43 AM

No, I haven't used either. I do know people who use the thinner pads similar to like the one I posted, but with no chinch strap. My brothers daughter rides with something similar to one of the soft saddles like in your link. She rides for therapy, and she seems to be more comfortable and rides better with one of the soft saddles.

I've never known anyone to use a thick pad like the Hon. Most people I know who ride bareback don't use pads, and only the people I've known to use pads typically ride with a saddle.

I've only ridden with saddles a few times.. I don't like them... I have problems with my tail bone, and a saddle makes it worse.. Even an open frame style..
I prefer strictly bareback. I find it easier to stick to the horse and control it than using a blanket or pad...

I'm sorry I can't help you more, but I pointed out a pad with strap and stirrups that has a lot of good reviews, and is similar to a pad that someone I know uses, and is a cheaper option... That's the best I can do.. I wish you well in your search.

Teej · #9 07/10/13, 10:45 AM

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...9-001b2166c62d

Well, I stared at this in the catalogue for a couple of months before I ordered it. Most people are against bareback pads with stirrups, but I must say this one seems pretty sturdy. I just got it last week and have only done a trial ride on it but so far I love it!

I did not mount using the stirrups because I had them up too high to even reach (I'm short, the horse is tall and where the stirrup hangs while on a saddle stand is not where they hang when placed on a chubby horse LOL). Once on I placed weight in each stirrup - no slippage. Used stirrups for a while during the ride and we walked, trotted, backed, snaked, and did some sharp turns - no slippage. The horse I was using it on does have good withers though so that might make a difference.

CraterCove · #10 07/10/13, 10:48 AM

bareback pad with safe, usable stirrups - Equine

I have extracted the exact pictures for the product I was looking at, maybe that will help as now I really don't know what people are talking about when they post. I am not really looking for a 'soft' saddle instead of a 'hard' saddle. I am looking for the most connection with the least amount of material yet still retaining the epically awesome technology of stirrups.

CraterCove · #11 07/10/13, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teej

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...9-001b2166c62d

Well, I stared at this in the catalogue for a couple of months before I ordered it. Most people are against bareback pads with stirrups, but I must say this one seems pretty sturdy. I just got it last week and have only done a trial ride on it but so far I love it!

I did not mount using the stirrups because I had them up too high to even reach (I'm short, the horse is tall and where the stirrup hangs while on a saddle stand is not where they hang when placed on a chubby horse LOL). Once on I placed weight in each stirrup - no slippage. Used stirrups for a while during the ride and we walked, trotted, backed, snaked, and did some sharp turns - no slippage. The horse I was using it on does have good withers though so that might make a difference.

That one looks really nice. Thanks for the review! It really helps me narrow my search.

simi-steading · #12 07/10/13, 10:54 AM

Here.. I'm sorry, but it looks like the second link I posted still isn't working.. So here's a link to the same pad on Amazon.. The reviews of this pad on the first site I posted are really good. There are 17 reviews of it there, and it rates over 4 stars.. some even say they can mount the horse using the stirrups, but I'd never attempt that... but, it does say it must stick well..

http://www.amazon.com/Triple-Waxwear.../dp/B005LUTM62

Here's a picture.. bareback pad with safe, usable stirrups - Equine

Molly Mckee · #13 07/10/13, 11:05 AM

If you "need" stirrups, you need a tree. Good riding instructors will have you at some point ride without stirrups, including posting. If you loose your balance when you are riding with a bareback pad you tend to put more weight in one stirrup than the other and your "saddle" rolls under the horse.

CraterCove · #14 07/10/13, 11:24 AM

Thank you Molly.

GrannyCarol · #15 07/10/13, 01:07 PM

You might look into the Natural Ride by Colorado Saddlery. Many people really like this. It isn't strictly a bareback pad, it is a tree, but its basically a plastic tree with a pad and rings for cruppers and breast straps. It comes with stirrups too. Many people find they can use it for mounting.

http://naturalride.com/

CraterCove · #16 07/10/13, 01:12 PM

Perhaps what I am looking for is more a 'minimal' saddle than a bareback pad. With the tree that product you are recommending, Granny, will distribute rider weight but it doesn't have all the extra weight a saddle usually has. And 200$ doesn't seem all that bad to me.

Thanks for the link and info!

beccachow · #17 07/10/13, 01:16 PM

Natural Ride. Granny Carol is correct on that vote. It will not slip due to having an actual tree, but is light as a feather and has usable stirrups and tight girth fastenings.

offthegrid · #18 07/10/13, 05:36 PM

I have a Cashel Soft Saddle (Original) like this one:

bareback pad with safe, usable stirrups - Equine

It is very light and soft; I don't use it because a) it has a western girth and I'm really bad at tightening it; and b) I was really wanting more of a bareback pad v. a "soft saddle"....so it's more structured than I had wanted. (I originally bought it when trying and failing at saddle shopping for my TB mare and figured this would at least be comfortable even if we didn't use it a lot.)

I have not tried mounting from the ground with the stirrups. Not sure how that would work. Here is an interesting review:

http://lorienstable.com/services/fit...helsoftsaddle/

Cashel has a newer version that I suspect has some upgrades but I have not really looked at the differences.

If anyone was interested in trying it, I'd give mine away for the cost of shipping...I never use it and it just collects dust in my barn. I think it's a size small but would need to double check.

Grey Mare · #19 07/10/13, 05:46 PM

Riding bareback vs riding with a bareback pad is better than having something that has a girth but does not give you the stability that a saddle would give. If your concerned about the weight of a saddle, I have Cashel ladies trail saddle that is very light weight, I have issues with my shoulder so this is really nice to ride in.

As what others have said, you pose a larger risk of sliding and not having a safe seat when using a bareback pad. IF you ride in one, you need a good riding foundation as well as know where your center of balance is so not to be moving around, shifting, and causing general irritation to your horses back. If your a heavier rider, again, a saddle would be much better.

Is there a reason why you don't wish a saddle?

CraterCove · #20 07/10/13, 06:06 PM

Bareback riding without a pad is for short distances/ times only. It's more for training the horse in case for some reason I just need to hop on and go at some point in time. It's uncomfortable for a horse to be ridden at any length without something that takes the pressure off their spine and distributes the rider's weight more evenly. I understand all these things fairly well.

I am looking for a saddle alternative for one because we live in Florida and I believe every once counts in the heat we can get here. There are training reasons, I want to be able to train them to sit with and without stirrups, with and without the stability added by the pommel and cantle and so forth. Again, also for the purposes of training the horse under varied circumstances.

I'm also looking for a traditional saddle... but these ponies (they are PoA, very sturdy strong ponies) are _fat_ right now. I am concerned that if I get them something that fits now it won't fit once they are more trim and in better shape. Also two of them are coming to me preggers, so again I am concerned with fit over the long haul. Kind of looking for varied equipment to use over time.

This is just one avenue and one I don't have much experience with. I've always just used a traditional western saddle except for short rides occasionally. True bareback certainly does my tailbone no good and I can feel that it does my horse's spine no good either.