Bareback pads

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Slightlyconfused

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Sister likes to school a few times a month on without a saddle and for when she needs to wait for saddler.

Which pads do you recommend? She has an equitex saddle pad and was wonderinh if she should just get the bareback version?

Any other brand recomendations and why do you prefer them if so?
 
I think it's perferable to have something that actually supports our pelvis, so La Bona, Omega, Cavellin etc. Lots love the Christ Lamfelle and many use just a thicker numnah etc but I'd not recommend it. If we can sit in neutral, without tension, then it's SO much better for the horse, they can move so much better.
 
sbloom said:
I think it's perferable to have something that actually supports our pelvis, so La Bona, Omega, Cavellin etc. Lots love the Christ Lamfelle and many use just a thicker numnah etc but I'd not recommend it. If we can sit in neutral, without tension, then it's SO much better for the horse, they can move so much better.
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I have always liked the look of the Christ bareback pad. A friend of mine swears by hers.

Are they suitable for very basic arena work and hacking? Do they create pressure points on the horses back - say if a rider wasn’t perfectly balanced? Do the stirrup bars dig in?

Sorry for all the Qs, but I thought you’d be the best person to ask 😃. I ask because I’m having some saddle fitting issues and upon seeing this thread sort of had an epiphany that one of these might get my by whilst my horse is doing little more than hacking around the lanes.

ETA: also asking as they’re on sale with Horze at the moment!
 
teddy_ said:
I have always liked the look of the Christ bareback pad. A friend of mine swears by hers.

Are they suitable for very basic arena work and hacking? Do they create pressure points on the horses back - say if a rider wasn’t perfectly balanced? Do the stirrup bars dig in?

Sorry for all the Qs, but I thought you’d be the best person to ask 😃. I ask because I’m having some saddle fitting issues and upon seeing this thread sort of had an epiphany that one of these might get my by whilst my horse is doing little more than hacking around the lanes.
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I have a CL bareback pad and I like it. My horse doesn’t seem to mind it either. I would never use the stirrups with it though.
 
Only the Cavellin has enough structure to take stirrups and even then it's not really what it's for. Yes, absolutely, they can create pressure points - flexibility versus pressure reduction, it's all a trade off and why we mainly ride in saddles. I would direct you to those with more structure, most people who have a CL don't know about the others (and some of them are more expensive).
 
sbloom said:
Only the Cavellin has enough structure to take stirrups and even then it's not really what it's for. Yes, absolutely, they can create pressure points - flexibility versus pressure reduction, it's all a trade off and why we mainly ride in saddles. I would direct you to those with more structure, most people who have a CL don't know about the others (and some of them are more expensive).
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Okay, thank you - good to know.

Back to the drawing board.
 
sbloom said:
Only the Cavellin has enough structure to take stirrups and even then it's not really what it's for. Yes, absolutely, they can create pressure points - flexibility versus pressure reduction, it's all a trade off and why we mainly ride in saddles. I would direct you to those with more structure, most people who have a CL don't know about the others (and some of them are more expensive).
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Yeah, I hadn’t heard of the ones you mentioned above but did go and look them up.
 
teddy_ said:
Okay, thank you - good to know.

Back to the drawing board.
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They're all good options, but you need a full treeless if she wants to ride with stirrups for more than gentle pottering about (ie mainly in walk). But if she was prepared to use an Equitex (the Riding Pad? No info on it on the website but looks like the one) then presumably she's not wanting to use stirrups anyway?
 
teddy_ said:
Ahh okay.

I don’t know if I’m brave enough to go stirrup-less on a not long backed four year old WB 🤣!
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The Total Contact Saddle is designed for stirrups. I have no idea how it works but I think it was Wow did a pressure test on it and it didn’t seem to have the pressure points you’d think it would. There’s a good thread on here about them. I’m really tempted to get one for when my horse is coming back into work as her saddle definitely won’t fit and we don’t have a saddle fitter on the island, only ones who visit a couple of times a year.
 
sbloom said:
I think it's perferable to have something that actually supports our pelvis, so La Bona, Omega, Cavellin etc. Lots love the Christ Lamfelle and many use just a thicker numnah etc but I'd not recommend it. If we can sit in neutral, without tension, then it's SO much better for the horse, they can move
Click to expand...
 
Sorry quotes going nuts.

She doesnt actually need to ise stirrups, she just wanted something to cushion him. She has a lovely still seat when bareback and he moves beautifully
 
I have an Equitex numnah to use under my saddle, and love it. Seemingly my horse does too. When I was looking for a bareback pad ( as with OP's sister, for occaisional stirrupless use) I was really excited to try the Equitex Bareback pad. Luckliy I sat on one at a tradestand, on the wooden horse, and hated it. It didn't cusihion my seat bones at all. I bought a Christ Lamefelle instead, and love it.
 
Slightlyconfused said:
Sorry quotes going nuts.

She doesnt actually need to ise stirrups, she just wanted something to cushion him. She has a lovely still seat when bareback and he moves beautifully
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So it's not back to the drawing board then? You just need a good bareback pad :), do go have a good look at the three I mentioned.
 
I tend to just use a half pad between me and Fergus if I'm riding bareback these days. I avoid anything structured that would interfere with either of us.
 
Peglo said:
The Total Contact Saddle is designed for stirrups. I have no idea how it works but I think it was Wow did a pressure test on it and it didn’t seem to have the pressure points you’d think it would. There’s a good thread on here about them. I’m really tempted to get one for when my horse is coming back into work as her saddle definitely won’t fit and we don’t have a saddle fitter on the island, only ones who visit a couple of times a year.
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I use a TCS on one of mine. I like it, he moves well in it, and it's been good for him. It doesn't work for every type of horse, but it's a good option to try.
 
I like the Best Friend Bareback pad. We do sometimes stick an Equitex or similar under it on a more bony equine though!
 
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