Bareback pads

Hello all!

I'm just wondering if any of you have ever used a bareback pad, and if so, which one was it and how did you like it?

I was looking at some last night, and the Comfort Plus - http://www.horsetackco.com/Bareback-Pad-by-Comfort-Plus.html - looks interesting. I'm not looking for one with stirrups.

I've got one I got from a friend she used it when she was a kid so it must be 40 years old. It's an inch thick and wool both sides and I think stuffed with horsehair, and has a simple strap to fasten. I tried a Cashel saddle, but it wasn't half so secure or comfortable. I think you need to try them before you buy. Mine is really secure and comfortable and is basically just a thick pad with a strap.

I quite like the look of this one
http://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/acatalog/Best_Friend_Bareback_Pad.html

I've had a lot of bareback pads. Here's some pro's and cons of the ones I have had.

The ones with stirrups slip. They are very dangerous (back to that later)
The ones with suede are really nice but reallllllly overpriced. They make your seat stick to the pad and are mostly worth the mo ney.
Cashel saddles slide around. I hated it for anything more than a walk. I felt really insecure in one but once I took the stirrups away it was a big comfy pad, but very expensive for that.
The handles on bareback pads are also dangerous. They can make the pad slide so I always cut mine off to be safe and make sure no ones trying to cling to them for dear life.
I got one of these last year http://www.naturalride.com/ It's got a gullet so the stirrups are secure. It virtually fits on every horse I have ridden with the change of a cinch. I've done everything from jumping to long gallops down the lane in it and it stays secure. You can also make good use of the holy s**t! handle thats part of the gullet. The seat wears well and doesn't slide around or bunch up. Well worth the money. It's just like a treeless saddle if you ask me. You can buy them at pleasant ridge http://www.pleasantridge.ca/natural_ride.htm , how far are you from there Cyndi? I know it's like a 4 hour drive from here but I love going to that tack shop. Theres free shipping to non rural route addresses in Canada.
Reinsman also makes a very nice non-slip bareback pad with their tacky-too stuff. Google it, they are relatively inexpensive but no stirrups.

In all I have 3 bareback pads. One thats wool and real old. I like it but it doesn't have stirrups and does slide. One that is suede that my friend gave me that is the parelli brand. It's very well made but makes the horses sweat a lot and quick. It also does not have stirrups. The third is the natural ride and I definately would pick it any day. No sliding and you can mount from the ground without worrying about needing something big to climb up onto if you aren't nimble.

Thanks ladies!

Jackie, the Comfort Plus is a "Best Friend" pad too. I was reading a review of them, and the person who did the review did mention the nylon strap that goes across the horse's back, under the pad. She thought it would rub against the horse, but it didn't. The best friend pad that you had a link to is their 'regular' pad, and I noticed that the nylon strap on it is on top of the pad, not underneath like the 'comfort plus'. Interesting.

Sydney, I am less than two hours from pleasant ridge saddlery. I noticed on their website that they were getting the natural ride in. It looked interesting to me, but it does remind me a lot of a treeless saddle, which I already have. I suppose I should just go down there sometime and check it out. Good excuse to go down there I'd also like to go there and check out the special Wrangler (I think) riding jeans.

Speaking of riding jeans, have you or anyone else in here every tried the Horsewoman Spirit riding jeans? They look "sturdy" with the knee patches and all. Or are "riding jeans" of any brand just a hoax?

They have them in I am pretty sure. I don't think they have updated their site in a wile.
Think of it as a bareback pad with a stirrup stabilizer. Bareback pads with stirrups, without something to stabilize them slip around if you lean one way or the other and can be very dangerous. Please keep that in mind when looking for a pad.

Honestly, I just ride in whatever I am wearing. I love full chaps for the summer because I wear shorts and put them over top when I ride english.
I believe the riding jeans have a seam someplace other than the inside of the leg so they don't rub and grippy material on the knees and butt to help you grip the seat better. I've never had a rub from jeans, the stirrup yes but I've been in the saddle almost all day some days. I would think they would be just like breaches only with some sort of "special" overpriced material to line the seat/knees and such. Their prices do not look bad on their site though, they may be worth a try.

Wranglers are the only riding jeans. All others have a double seam on the inside of the leg. Anyone pretending to be a cowboy and wearing Levi's is a fake! I ride in Wrangler 'Lucy' style jeans, I find them very comfortable, I get them a size bigger than my regular size to make them more comfy.

I have just purchased a Barefoot bareback pad for Trelawny - looks really comfy..... so when I get it I will let you know how we get on. http://www.barefoot-tack.co.uk/barefoot-ride-on-pad-163-p.asp
I only have wranglers too! - Or whatever I happen to be wearing at the time (loose and comfy)- I am slob at home to be honest....... but no Levis - most uncomfortable jeans ever for riding!

I have the best friend pad, I really like and I can actually sit my horses foxtrot better than in a saddle with it.

Oh Jo!!!! I recently saw the Barefoot bareback pad on a Barefoot site from Quebec! I had never seen one before. It caught my eye, that's for sure. Would love to hear what you think of it!!

Nags, do you have the regular Best Friend pad, or the Comfort Plus? I like that the regular one has the strap going over the top of the saddle, not underneath.

I have the regular one. I really like the microfiber top, really keeps me stuck to him, even when he throws in a buck.

My guy is 14.3 and I have had to put extra holes in the full size pad to get the girth to fit properly.

My mare is the same size as your horse...more or less. I was told by the breeder that she was 14.2, but while at the trainer's we measured her and she was 14.3...but with having no defined withers, we were kind of guessing where to measure her from. Is your guy round? My mare is.

Did you have to add the holes higher or lower? Was the girth too long or too short?

The girth was too long, so had to put extra holes higher up so get it tight enough.

My boy is round, but he has a bit of muscle wastage still around his withers from before I got him. He doesn't have much in the way of withers, the pad fits my other horses as well, welshies, a cob/draft and 2 TB's.

Hi Cyndi - will certainly let you know how we get on - its looks really comfy which is why I went for it - but also the girthing system makes sense and doesnt put pressure on only one part of the spine - although as I understand it bareback pads dont need to be girthed as tight anyway - will definately let you know how we get on - its on order so should get it within the next couple of weeks - hopefully my back will be sorted out by then

Hi Cyndi, tried the barefoot ride on pad yesterday and I have to say I am really pleased with it. I am surprised at home comfy it is - and how unbothered Trelawny was with it - he's a very comfortable horse to ride bareback - but whether I am comfortable for him is another matter. I havent been on him for a while because I am having treatment for 4 locked vertebrae and riding is actually quite uncomfortable atm - but I couldnt resist trying out this pad and I would recommend it. The only thing I found was that his barefoot 'dressage' girth that normally fits his saddle was a tad too long - not a problem really - but it might mean that someone else might need to buy a shorter dressage girth to go with it. Will get some photos