Bareback Pad: Secure Seat and Balance Training
Improve your balance and protect your horse's back. Discover softly padded bareback pads with non-slip undersides for riding without a saddle.
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Suede Riding Pad black Pony Subscription
Manufacturer colour: black Size: Pony
Anatomically shaped riding pad which provides a particularly good hold with its suede surface and its leather grab handle. The thick foam padding is stable under pressure and shock-absorbing whilst, at the same time, having an non-slip effect. The soft cushioning and room for the withers makes the riding pad very comfortable for the horse"s back.
Sale price: €151.75 Regular price: €189.95 (20.11% saved)
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Bareback Pad grey red Shetty Subscription
Manufacturer colour: grey/red Size: Shetty
Soft pad with fixed stirrup leathers and stirrups. Supplied inclusive of girth. Additional ring for stirrup leathers only in Shetland size.
Variants from €64.32
Sale price: €71.06 Regular price: €89.95 (21% saved) %
Kids’ Riding Pad black/gray 15"/38 cm Subscription
Manufacturer colour: black/gray Size: 15"/38 cm
Lightweight riding pad for the little ones. Softly padded, front and back cut higher for a good seat. Non-slip, rubberised, grab strap for holding on. Gullet width variable by means of repositionable saddle pads. Adjustable knee rolls at front with touch tape, crupper ring, hardwearing nylon straps. Supplied with grab strap, girth, stirrup leathers and stirrups.
Sale price: €143.17 Regular price: €159.95 (10.49% saved)
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Wintec Kids Pad Subscription
- Safety while riding
- Flexible foam cushion for optimal adjustment
- Non-slip surface for better grip
Sale price: €205.66 Regular price: €219.95 (6.5% saved)
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Rid. Pad AiRide, black, 50 cm Subscription
optimal pressure distribution due to the particularly elastic foam filling perfect grip thanks to synthetic leather seat surface Easy to clean light weight for increased horse comfort excellent direct contact with the horse for a natural riding experience no slipping thanks to bobbles on the underside tearproof strips for secure fastening of the abdominal belt
Sale price: €40.76 Regular price: €54.99 (25.88% saved)
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Soft Riding Pad bordeaux Pony Subscription
Manufacturer colour: bordeaux Size: Pony
Soft riding pad with underside in artificial fur for horse and rider"s great comfort. To provide particularly good support when riding, a handle is provided at the front as well as grippy faux suede.
Variants from €44.62
Sale price: €48.35 Regular price: €59.95 (19.35% saved) Bareback Pad: Comfortable and Secure Riding Without a Saddle
A bareback pad offers a functional way to make riding without a saddle more comfortable and safer. It completely lacks a rigid saddle tree and adapts to the horse's back. As a result, the rider sits close to the horse and can use weight and leg aids precisely. At the same time, the soft material protects the rider's seat bones and the horse's sensitive back from localized pressure.
Which Bareback Pad is the Right One?
A bareback pad is ideal for riders who want to train their independent seat and improve their balance. How versatile the designs can be is shown by the large selection: From sporty shaped variants (as seen in image_f246e6.png), to sturdily crafted pads with secure handles (see image_f24707.png), to traditional, lightweight pads in a classic check pattern (image_f2443a.png), every rider will find a practical model for their training goals.
Safety and Stirrups on a Bareback Pad
Many bareback pads feature D-rings for attaching stirrups and a grab strap on the front. However, it is important to know that stirrups on a treeless pad are primarily for light balance and are not intended to bear the full weight of the rider (e.g., when mounting or posting to the trot). Since the rigid tree is missing, the pressure would be transferred directly to the horse's spine via the stirrup suspension. A mounting block should always be used to get on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride my horse exclusively with a bareback pad?
No, a bareback pad is intended as a training supplement and for shorter sessions. Since it does not distribute the rider's weight over a large area like a treed saddle, riding exclusively with a pad can lead to tension in the horse's back in the long run.
Do I need a special short girth for the bareback pad?
That depends on the girth system of the pad. Many bareback pads are equipped with long girth straps (like a dressage saddle), for which you need a standard short girth. Other models come with their own matching girth.
Does a bareback pad slip more easily on round horses?
Since the pad has no tree to grip the withers, it can slide sideways more easily on very round horses without pronounced withers. A non-slip underside and a well-balanced rider's seat are particularly important here.
Functional Alternative to the Saddle
Riding with a bareback pad is a proven method to check your own seat and train your balance. Due to the lack of a saddle tree, you learn to move with the horse in a balanced way, independent of the reins. At the same time, the padding offers significantly more comfort and grip than simply riding bareback.
When choosing your bareback pad, make sure it has a functional and non-slip underside so that the pad stays securely in place. Integrated handles offer additional safety, especially for beginners or children.