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Post by harleydales on Sept 8, 2006 7:44:17 GMT -1
Surely riding a horse virtually bareback is better? There are NO issues with fitting etc and no muscle pinching. The pad actually helps to rebuild wasted muscle.
Plus it's thick enough for the horse not to be able to really feel your seatbones. It's thicker than a numnah, but not so thick you lose your 'feel'.
At £50 they aren't that much more expensive than a good numnah really. There are others on the market but either a lot more expensive, or not as good. I did a google search to see what else there was and kept coming back to this one.
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Post by jonib on Sept 10, 2006 5:12:50 GMT -1
I bought the Little Joe pad advertised on here. It is the same idea ,and like sitting on a big soft cushion....The only downside is that Betty is quite wide at the moment,and as the pad is thick it stretches the ol' thigh muscles.
But I did manage a 5 minute wander around without stirrups(it has the option to fit stirrups) and felt quite safe,so if nervous nelly me felt safe it must do something...lol
My friends daughter rides bareback a lot,and she has borrowed it twice and loves it....
I shall ride in it for short spells every so often to help with my balance etc....
Just not brave enough to go for whole rides in it....
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Post by felldale on Sept 10, 2006 5:55:58 GMT -1
I've got the Best Friends pad and I love it. Have ridden for hours on Mina with no problems.
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Post by Rowndan on Sept 10, 2006 18:43:06 GMT -1
iv just asked OH if santa would get me one   |
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Post by harleydales on Sept 11, 2006 9:23:26 GMT -1
I was interested in the Little Jo too Joni, but we decided the billet straps were too short for Mr Large Harley!! It looked lovely from the photos I was sent, and certainly thicker than my pad.
If I decide I really prefer the bareback one, I might go for a Little Jo with the longer billet straps.
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Post by jonib on Sept 12, 2006 17:40:43 GMT -1
I am pleased with it.....but have to get a girth somewhere between my 24 inch dressage girth and Bettys 44 inch normal girth....we worked out 34 inches is about right.
There will be 7 riders putting it through its paces so I can report back if you start thinking that way.....
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Post by harleydales on Sept 13, 2006 8:30:39 GMT -1
That would be great, thanks.
Could you get any pics?
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Post by The Moo on Sept 13, 2006 14:07:39 GMT -1
When I used to ride Moo in a folded blanket strapped on with a roller, long before treeless saddles and bareback pads were about, I would only hack out off road in it as this is a section of the Highway Code -
Riding
37: Before you take a horse on to a road, you should
* ensure all tack fits well and is in good condition
* make sure you can control the horse.
Always ride with other, less nervous horses if you think that your horse will be nervous of traffic[glow=red,2,300]. Never ride a horse without a saddle or bridle.[/glow]
Don't know what the law (and insurance most importantly) would think to riding in bosals, parelli type headcollars, bareback pads etc if there was an accident.
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Post by harleydales on Sept 13, 2006 14:33:05 GMT -1
I only have a very short bit of road, and it's a single track road to nowhere so very quiet. Then it's all off-road.
Didn't think about insurance.....mind you, if you fall off and aren't wearing a hat and break your leg, they won't pay out. How would a hat save your leg?
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Post by The Moo on Sept 13, 2006 14:50:37 GMT -1
LOL, it conjures all sorts of images. Maybe you should have mini hats on your kneecaps to keep your ankles safe. LOL
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Post by harleydales on Sept 14, 2006 7:27:39 GMT -1
You could make a full body arnour out of little hats LOL, do you think Barbie ones would do the job?
Nice image!!
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Post by The Moo on Sept 14, 2006 9:17:42 GMT -1
Only if they were in pink.
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Post by harleydales on Sept 14, 2006 10:48:19 GMT -1
Oh absolutely!! Troxel do pink hats!!!!!!!!!
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Post by Debbie on Sept 29, 2006 1:31:36 GMT -1
 Just picturing the ickle pink Barbie hats everywhereInterestingly enough, I have a horsey magazine somewhere that actually quotes a veterinarian saying she's NEVER seen a horse that's cleared for riding (ie no kissing spines, etc) harmed by riding bareback. Its one of our national magazines too. If you'd like I can try to refind the article. The same article pictured an endurance rider with his mule (notoriously hard to fit to saddle), and he chose to ride the mule sans saddle ...for that matter bareback pad too! My only concern with the bareback pads, is that they often have little 'stirrups' that come with them. While helpful for mounting, I could see problems arise if the person riding thought the bareback pad was the same as a saddle. In other words, how well does the bareback pad spin if weight is put unevenly in the stirrups? My hubby was veeery leery of the Cashel soft saddle simply because he couldn't fall free and clear of Lady Bear if he felt himself slipping. He preferred to ride bareback instead so he could clear himself of the horse should he fall, rather than being gripped and becoming tangled with her.
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Post by harveydales on Sept 29, 2006 4:44:09 GMT -1
That's a good point Debbie. Not thought of that. I think I'll stick with my Phoenix and just not use stirrups but know that they are there and can if I need to.
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