Bareback pads?

[JazzTheQH]

I'm trying to find a good bareback pad for my more sensitive-backed mare!

I was thinking about thinline then heard about how the girthing system puts all pressure on one or two vertebrae.
I am now thinking about a Barefoot physio bareback pad as they claim to offer a bit of spine "clearance(?)" and have a v girthing system to better distribute pressure from the girth.
I also saw the a bareback pad made by MD Equestrians that seems similar to the Barefoot pads and claim to have a "spread-over-pull-system" (but doesn't explain what that actually means? Maybe the v girthing system?) also with spine clearance.. and the price is much better then a Barefoot pad.

Just wondering your opinions and thoughts!

 

[Equi]

Why are you looking for a bare ack pad if you think she is sensitive in her back? Has she seen a vet to see why that might be?

 

[sbloom]

I would not go for one of the basic ones. The only ones I recommend are the ones that are geared for pelvic shape or the more structured ones that actually protect the back from the girthing and so have nothing going directly over the spine. Look at La Bona and Omega in the former category, Cavellin in the second.

And yes, sensitive back can mean a multitude of things, I'd want to work with a good fitter and bodyworker, and make sure there's no vet treatment needed. Posture, balance and movement is so important and to be honest not that many bodyworkers and vets are truly up on that.

equitopiacenter.com is a great place to start with info on this.

 

[maya2008]

You don’t need to do up the girth as tightly, because there are no stirrups. All it is doing is keeping the pad on like a surcingle on a rug. For the odd potter about we like the Best Friend ones - with a sheepskin pad under for sensitive ponies. For more, I used to have a suberpad underneath to provide more shock absorption and spinal clearance. That was in a period where the ‘at the time’ saddle was away for a bit to be adjusted.

 

[JazzTheQH]

Why are you looking for a bare ack pad if you think she is sensitive in her back? Has she seen a vet to see why that might be?

She has! She got her hocks injected and it's made a huge improvement. I believe most of it comes from tension because I'm not the most balanced bareback (Doesn't help she's very slippery!) so she gets nervous and therefore holds tension through her topline which I know will improve with time through improving my balance, her confidence, and getting her going in a better way. I figure giving her a bit more padding would be more forgiving for her on my part. Her topline is also not in the greatest shape ATM.

 

[JazzTheQH]

You don’t need to do up the girth as tightly, because there are no stirrups. All it is doing is keeping the pad on like a surcingle on a rug. For the odd potter about we like the Best Friend ones - with a sheepskin pad under for sensitive ponies. For more, I used to have a suberpad underneath to provide more shock absorption and spinal clearance. That was in a period where the ‘at the time’ saddle was away for a bit to be adjusted.

Thank you! Yes, I'm currently trying to find a used saddle and have tried several on her, her current one doesn't fit ideal.. She's a bit of a pain to find a nicely-fitting saddle for lol

 

[sbloom]

If her hocks needed injecting then she'll have been using her whole body in a different way and it would be a great idea to give her some postural work. Vets treat symptoms and then offer the strict definition of rehab which is to return them to work, it's not "return to health".

If you search "posture" you'll find all my ramblings and recommendations on the subject

So many horses aren't quite ready for a new saddle, a bareback pad can be a useful part of the plan, but it sounds like some groundwork for a little while, preparing him as well as possible for carrying a rider