Fluffy bareback pads for backing

[Caol Ila]

Sat on Hermosa for the first time on Wednesday. She took it in her stride beautifully, but I used Gypsum's old saddle (adjusted, obviously), and I'd forgotten how much it sucks. I don't think it's the right option for her, or me, to continue the process with aforesaid saddle.

I don't want to spend mega bucks on a saddle for a not-quite-backed 4yo, as we all know she will change a lot in the coming months and years.

Fin's TreeFree Tor isn't great, either. Sits too close to her withers - and that's without a rider. It is very much designed around British natives. Bummer, because it's a great saddle. Would be handy if it worked.

Looking at Christ Lamfelle saddle pads. They seem highly rated on here by posters whose horsemanship and knowledge I really respect. But boy, they are pricey! Might as well buy a Wintec. That is the other option - finding a Wintec or Thorowgood and making it work.

There are similar things out there, like this, https://buckyou.co.uk/product-category/english-style-bareback-pads/, but I can't find independant accounts of people who have used them. They are much cheaper than the Lamfelle pads, but do they work as well?

Thoughts?

Other clever ideas?

 

[Fieldlife]

A TCS?

 

[maya2008]

I use Torsion saddles which are v similar to the Treefree - then I put the Barefoot blocks inside them if the horse/pony does not fit the standard Torsion block. You can print out a template on the Barefoot website to see if one of the blocks would work for Hermosa. If it would, second hand Torsion/Barefoot saddles are easily and inexpensively available second hand on Facebook marketplace or eBay. I use these until the horse is an adult in a settled discipline/amount of work, then I usually get a treed saddle at that point, for jumping even if for nothing else!

I’d happily back in a best friend bareback pad, but an actual saddle for hacking etc is obviously helpful for any sticky moments!

 

[w1bbler]

The lamfelle pads sell for a very healthy price 2nd hand. If you can bare to part with it once its served its purpose you won't loose much money ?

 

[HashRouge]

It's a shame you're so far north - I've a currently unused Christ Lammfelle pad that you'd have been welcome to borrow.

 

[tda]

Seeing how much the Christ Lammfelle pads sell for 2nd hand, I'd buy a new one then sell it on later

 

[sbloom]

I think they're a brilliant thing to have in the tack room, it means you can at least ride when your saddle is awaiting a tweak.

 

[Cragrat]

I tried a Buck You and sent it back. It didn't work for my horse, and I didn't like the edges and bindings - too stiff.

seem to remember somehting about the shims being odd too

 

[Caol Ila]

Sat on her today, using my friend's pad. As I said in the backing 3/4 year old thread, it's not a Lamfelle but made by some other German company. Very comfy. Hermosa felt better in it, as did I.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I bought one and have since used it on all three of mine- for backing and while waiting on saddle fittings and it has 100% earned its price- while a synthetic is about the same cost there's no guarantee that it will fit for more than a couple of months, so I'd be inclined to get the pad anyway on the grounds that when you go onto a proper saddle you still have it in reserve for sudden changes in shape.

 

[cauda equina]

I love my Christ Lammfelle
If I have a worry about his conventional saddle - horse seems not quite right, is it the saddle? - I can test the theory by riding in his CL and seeing if he's the same in that

 

[Hackback]

I love my Christ. The advantages are that its warm and comfy for me and the horse, and easy to put on. Disadvantages are that I think you'd get a soggy bum using it in the rain (plus it would take ages to dry out) and although it has stirrup attachments I don't use them (fear of pressure points) which makes trotting an uncomfortable experience unless it's very controlled.

Also - and I know nothing about backing horses - to the horse it must feel completely different to a saddle, so would you not have to redo the backing process once you swapped to a treed?

 

[DabDab]

I love mine too and it gets a lot of use, either because I don't fancy riding in a conventional saddle that day or because I want to work on seat aids and the CL pad gives slightly different feel to approach an issue from, which is useful in checking that you have definitely trained a seat aid instead of an inadvertent leg twitch or something.

Can't say I've ever found it uncomfortable to trot in, even on the pony who has quite a buzzy up and down trot (though obviously that is what I'm always trying to school her away from, so I suppose it's not like we are bouncing around in her natural rhythm)

 

[DabDab]

Also - and I know nothing about backing horses - to the horse it must feel completely different to a saddle, so would you not have to redo the backing process once you swapped to a treed?

Nah, I've backed a lot of horses bareback and although you obviously have check they are ok with the feel of the treed saddle before just hopping on, it's pretty rare that a horse already used to the concept of having something on its back will react.

 

[sbloom]

Also - and I know nothing about backing horses - to the horse it must feel completely different to a saddle, so would you not have to redo the backing process once you swapped to a treed?

It's not at all uncommon for a horse that has been backed in a treeless saddle to need a light rebacking, a proceeding with caution, if they are swapped to a treed saddle later on.

 

[DabDab]

It's not at all uncommon for a horse that has been backed in a treeless saddle to need a light rebacking, a proceeding with caution, if they are swapped to a treed saddle later on.

What do you mean by not uncommon?
Someone doing a good job of backing and producing a horse should proceed with caution with any new thing asked of it of course, but a well rounded youngster really shouldn't have an issue with it unless the treed saddle is a poor fit or there is something specific that they don't like the feel of (e.g. air panels or whatnot).

I always find it curious that people will happily chuck a treeless saddle on a horse used to a tree but not the other way around.

 

[Red-1]

What do you mean by not uncommon?


I always find it curious that people will happily chuck a treeless saddle on a horse used to a tree but not the other way around.

Nope, I've had 2 horses unsettled when first sat on in my Christ Lammfelle pad. It is one with the extra padding too. They were unsettled at the different feel from me, I think. It didn't take long to get over it though.

I don't use a bareback pad with stirrups. I don't think they are stable enough, never mind the weight distribution.

 

[sbloom]

What do you mean by not uncommon?
Someone doing a good job of backing and producing a horse should proceed with caution with any new thing asked of it of course, but a well rounded youngster really shouldn't have an issue with it unless the treed saddle is a poor fit or there is something specific that they don't like the feel of (e.g. air panels or whatnot).

I always find it curious that people will happily chuck a treeless saddle on a horse used to a tree but not the other way around.

I mean that as a saddle fitter I find that some, possibly a majority, of horses bought to me for a new treed saddle, who have previously been in a treeless, need a much slower approach than their owners think they do and it should be treated like a light re-backing. If the horse takes to it instantly then you've not lost anything. The saddles are a good fit.

 

[Caol Ila]

I'm overly worried about her being unsettled by a transition to a treed saddle. Not much unsettles her. Are you still moving to Central Scotland, sbloom?

Looking at the Lamfelles. I'm kind of drawn to the Iberian one (obviously!) but it is a fair bit pricier than the normal one. Can anyone who has experience with them advise?

This one apparently takes thing called a half tree. Is that any good? Worth considering?
https://www.horsedream.co.uk/collections/bareback-pads/products/premium-plus-bareback-riding-pad

 

[sbloom]

Are you still moving to Central Scotland, sbloom?

Yep, there's even a chance we could complete before Xmas, but I'm not holding my breath. Once we complete, 3-4 months to actually move to Biggar.

 

[Caol Ila]

I used to live near-ish Biggar. That was our postal area, anyway.

You will probably be here when Hermosa is ready for a real saddle. If North Glasgow will be on your beat. There's definitely a saddle fitter shortage around the city.

 

[Peglo]

Nope, I've had 2 horses unsettled when first sat on in my Christ Lammfelle pad. It is one with the extra padding too. They were unsettled at the different feel from me, I think. It didn't take long to get over it though.

I don't use a bareback pad with stirrups. I don't think they are stable enough, never mind the weight distribution.

mine was pretty unsettled by me riding bareback but it was something I was keen to do. She was better with me on the pad but same, it took a couple of rides for her to get used to it.
I also don’t use the stirrups. But I love my pad. It was expensive but worth it.

 

[BBP]

I'm overly worried about her being unsettled by a transition to a treed saddle. Not much unsettles her. Are you still moving to Central Scotland, sbloom?

Looking at the Lamfelles. I'm kind of drawn to the Iberian one (obviously!) but it is a fair bit pricier than the normal one. Can anyone who has experience with them advise?

This one apparently takes thing called a half tree. Is that any good? Worth considering?
https://www.horsedream.co.uk/collections/bareback-pads/products/premium-plus-bareback-riding-pad

I have the Iberian. I find it puts you in an excellent position, is pretty secure for unexpected evasive manoeuvres (away from sparrows usually) but you need a strong and stable core to ride well in it (I think you are a climber so imagine you to be okay in that department?), I find prolonged periods without stirrups to be detrimental to the horse otherwise. Certainly I will need to get fitter before backing my youngster in mine.

 

[Caol Ila]

Pony or full size? I’m 5’4 and a size 10 at most (depending on manufacturer) and she is 15hh ish and as short backed as you’d expect of a PRE. Probably pony?

 

[Peglo]

Pony or full size? I’m 5’4 and a size 10 at most (depending on manufacturer) and she is 15hh ish and as short backed as you’d expect of a PRE. Probably pony?

I think the pad sizing is more for the size of human. I got a pony and i’m a size 10 (mostly also as I like comfort) and it hugs me nicely.

 

[Caol Ila]

Very helpful, guys.

I never needed that £400 anyway. But when all of HHO agrees, it’s probably the right thing to do.

 

[DabDab]

I mean that as a saddle fitter I find that some, possibly a majority, of horses bought to me for a new treed saddle, who have previously been in a treeless, need a much slower approach than their owners think they do and it should be treated like a light re-backing. If the horse takes to it instantly then you've not lost anything. The saddles are a good fit.

Ah ok, possibly just a terminology thing - I wouldn't call that rebacking, just giving them time to adjust to a new piece of kit, it's not like it is a do-over from a training aspect. Possibly what I mean by backing is not the mainstream understanding, there are certainly plenty of equestrian terms suffer from the 'depends who you ask' syndrome!

 

[tristar]

i have selection of thoroughgoods, the one i backed recently i used an old tg as it it very light.

personally i would only use something that is totally solid, that fits well, ie., no possibility of tipping, unbalancing the rider, provoking bucking etc. and gives the rider confidence to concentrate on riding the horse forwards, also not giving the horse the idea that it can shake off a less than stable load.

and keeps the rider where they should be to give clear aids

 

[Caol Ila]

That makes sense when you have a selection of Thorowgoods or Wintecs to hand. If you're a one (or two) horse owner, you often don't.

I don't want to ride in the bareback pad forever! (though my friend, who's pad I am borrowing at the moment, uses it 99.9% of the time and only uses her saddle on 3 hour + hacks). I might be able to get Gypsum's leather tree saddle fitted to Hermosa but that will be easier to get right once she is slightly ridden away. I find it to be a tricky saddle because it can look great on the horse unweighted, then totally changes shape and fit once your butt is in it. Maybe that's the leather tree.

 

[Taliesan]

I have a CL Iberica and a Premium Plus that I use for my horses (only I cut all the girth straps off them and have a TCS underneath instead).

If you are a size 10 then definitely go for the pony and not the horse size if you want the pad to be snug. I am a size 10/12 usually and the pony pads fit me nicely.

I absolutely love riding in them and find the pads much more comfortable than any saddle. I've done long hacks, dressage and jumping in mine all with no issues. You get what you pay for and the CL is definitely a product well worth the price tag.

After using mine a few times what I would say is brush it after every ride with a sheepskin brush if you can as it will help keep the fleece in good condition.