best barebacl pads with stirrups

Best Bareback Pads with Stirrups

Latest posts by Tanya Taylor (see all)

I love riding bareback because it makes me feel at one with my horse and improves my seat and balance. But sometimes, riding bareback can be uncomfortable because you and your horse get sweaty, and it’s hell if you have a bony, high-withered horse.

I find one of the best ways to ride without a saddle is with a bareback pad. So below, I’ll tell you all about bareback pads and how to find the best bareback pads with stirrups on the market. 

In this guide, you can learn:

  • The function of a bareback pad
  • How to choose a bareback pad with stirrups
  • The best bareback pads with stirrups on the market
  • How to use a bareback saddle pad

Bottom Line Up Front

When it comes to bareback pads with stirrups, my top choice is the Challenger Suede Bareback Pad. I love its sleek, streamlined design and the elegant brushed suede seat for extra grip. It’s the closest thing to riding bareback, with just enough cushioning to keep you and your horse comfortable. 

My Top Choices At A Glance

Before we dive deep into the world of bareback saddles and their benefits, first, I’ll give you a quick look at my top choices:

  1. Engle Sheepskin Lined Bareback Saddle Pad: This is my favorite top-of-the-range bareback pad. It’s made from sheepskin, so it’s super comfy and has a molded seat for extra security and comfort. 
  2. Challenger Suede Bareback Saddle Pad: This is my top choice in mid-range bareback pads on the market. It looks smart, gives me plenty of contact with my horse, and is suitable for any riding style. 
  3. Showman Navajo Print Bareback Saddle Pad: This is my favorite budget saddle on the market. I love the unique colors and simple design, which gives me lots of grips and cushioning when riding. 

What are Bareback Saddle Pads?

Bareback saddle pads look like standard saddle pads, except they’re a bit more robust and have fixtures to attach a girth and sometimes stirrups. I love bareback riding because it improves my balance and helps me communicate better with my horse, but sometimes it’s slippery and downright uncomfortable if you have a bony ride.

If you use a standard saddle pad for bareback riding – it will slide right off without a girth or cinch, but a bareback pad will stay attached to your horse’s back. It gives you extra grip and comfort but allows for the increased contact that comes with bareback riding. 

What Are The Benefits of Riding in Bareback Saddle Pads?

riding in bareback saddle pads

Most of us learn how to ride in a saddle and depend on it for our seat and balance. But saddles are bulky and take away much of the contact we have with the horse, and with the extra support, it’s easy to lose our natural riding posture. 

Bareback riding is a fantastic way to regain your natural seat, improve your balance, correct poor riding habits, and get a feel for your horse. When you don’t have a leather saddle in the way – you get to know exactly how your horse moves.

Bareback pads benefit horses, too – they don’t have a tree, so they flex to your horse’s movements. Horses also benefit when they carry less weight and will certainly appreciate a more balanced rider. 

Here is a list of some other benefits of riding with a bareback pad

  1. It stops your seat bones from digging into your horse’s back.
  2. It stops your horse’s bones from digging into you. 
  3. It protects your clothes from sweat and dirt. 
  4. You have more sensory input because you can feel your horse’s body. 
  5. They’re lightweight.
  6. They’re fantastic for summer riding because they’re cooler than a bulky saddle.
  7. They give you more grip and security when you ride bareback. 

How Do You Use Bareback Saddle Pads With Stirrups?

Bareback pads attach to your horse with a girth or cinch, just like a standard saddle, and come with or without stirrups. To enjoy the full benefits of bareback riding many people prefer pads without stirrups, but some riders like to have stirrups as a leg rest.

You don’t use the stirrups on a bareback pad the same way you use them on a standard saddle. When you put weight on the stirrups on a leather saddle – it’s evenly distributed around the saddle and your horse’s back. With a bareback pad, the weight from the stirrups is concentrated in a small area on your horse’s back, so you must be more careful with them – don’t put too much weight on them and use a mounting block to get on. 

How I Choose The Best Bareback Pads With Stirrups

CHALLENGER Horse Western Fleece Padded

There are a few essential things I consider when I buy a bareback pad – they’re a piece of safety equipment, after all, so I make sure I choose the right one for my needs. When I buy one, I consider the material, the thickness, and fit, and I check what accessories the pad has.  

To give you a better idea about how to choose the best bareback pads with stirrups, I’ve listed the most important things to look out for below:

1. The Material

Bareback pads with stirrups come in a range of materials – some are more breathable than others, and some offer more comfort and support. Natural fibers such as sheepskin are super comfortable but can be expensive, while synthetic materials are more economical and easy to maintain.

Let’s take a look a closer look at the common materials you find in bareback pads:

  1. Sheepskin or Felt: These are the best materials for bareback pads but are also the most expensive. Sheepskin and felt are natural fibers, so are comfortable, breathable, and give you lots of traction. They effectively wick moisture away from your horse and mold to their back. Natural fiber pads are durable, but you must give them special maintenance to keep them in good shape.
  2. Neoprene: Neoprene is super flexible, easy to clean, and durable. It’s waterproof and comfortable and molds to a horse’s back.
  3. Synthetic Fleece: Synthetic fleece is comfortable, easy to clean, and durable. Synthetic fleece pads are economical but are not as breathable as natural fibers.
  4. Foam: Foam pads are flexible, durable, and highly shock absorbing. They’re super comfortable and contour to a horse’s back. However, foam pads can be expensive and are the least breathable material. 
  5. Suede: Often, bareback pads come with a suede seat for extra grip and security. The suede is durable, but it needs special care and maintenance.

2. Thickness

The thickness of a bareback pad is important, and you can buy thick or thin ones:

  1. Thick Pads: These are perfect if you have a bony seat, hors,e or both. They provide lots of cushioning and help spread the weight around your horse’s back more than a thin pad. The downside to thick pads is they give you less contact with your horse. 
  2. Thin Pads: Thin bareback pads give you the most contact with your horse. I like to use them on round horses with flat withers and in the summertime because they’re less bulky.

3. The Fit

Bareback pads usually come in one size – but each size is different depending on the manufacturer. Some are smaller than others, so make sure you check the measurements for your horse. It’s dangerous if it doesn’t fit because it can easily slip. 

If you have a horse with high withers, ensure the pad has a contoured fit because if it rubs,ity might develop pressure sores in the area. The girth and stirrups are permanently attached to some bareback pads, so make sure they’re the correct length for you and your horse before you buy them.

4. The Accessories

Not all bareback pads are the same when it comes to accessories. Some come with girth and stirrups, and some don’t – so always check because you might have to buy them separately. 

You can also find bareback pads with bags and D-rings attached, which are handy for trail riding and to attach things like breastplates and side reins. Some bareback pads come with a handle at the front, which is helpful for beginners or if a horse has no mane to grab. Always make sure you buy a pad with the right accessories for your needs. 

The Best Bareback Pads With Stirrups On The Market

There’s a whole range of saddle pads on the market, some with stirrups and some without. So, to save you time and money, I’ve listed the best bareback pads with stirrups on the market below.

The Best Top Range Saddle Pads with Stirrups

1. Engle Sheepskin Lined Bareback Saddle Pad

Engle Sheepskin Lined Bareback Saddle Pad

The Engle Merino Sheepskin bareback pad is high-quality, elegant, and one of the best bareback pads on the market. I love it because the seat has 1,1 inches of sheepskin mixed with luxurious cotton, so it has fantastic wicking properties, and it’s super comfortable with lots of support for you and your horse.

The pad is 16 x 23 inches, has a removable seat, and is perfect for all riders. It’s particularly good for bony horses or people who want the comfort of a saddle with the contact of a bareback pad.

Pros

  • It has lots of D-rings for attachments
  • It comes with a breastplate and side reins

Cons

  • It’s one of the thickest bareback pads on the market – it’s comfortable but gives the least contact.

2. Mustang Soft Ride Saddle

Mustang Soft Ride Saddle

The Mustang Soft Ride saddle is made from closed cell foam and gives you the contact of riding bareback with all the support of a saddle. It has a.high rise cantle and lightweight seat with an adjustable handle, and it comes with removable, plastic molded stirrups.  

I love this saddle because it’s lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. It relieves the pressure of riding bareback but allows plenty of contact and is highly shock absorbing. It’s flexible and versatile and fits horses of any size.

Pros

  • It’s super flexible and versatile
  • It’s fantastic for trail riding

Cons

  • The girth not included
  • It’s not very breathable

3. Acerugs Premium Bareback Riding Pad

Acerugs Premium Bareback Riding Pad

I love this brown bareback pad with white trimmings from Acerugs. It gives me maximum contact with my horse and has a brushed suede seat for extra grip, security, and comfort. The cinch straps and stirrups are made with premium leather, so they’re soft, supple, and durable, and it has a thick synthetic fleece on the underside for extra comfort. 

This premium saddle pad comes with high-quality aluminum stirrups, a fleece lined-leather girth, and a sturdy leather handle at the front. It’s 26 inches long by 32 inches wide, the adjustable girth measures 52 to 62 inches, and the stirrups are 28 to 36 inches long.

Pros

  • It’s comfortable
  • It comes with stirrups and girth

Cons

  • The girth isn’t very tight, so is not suitable for narrow horses

The Best Mid Range Saddle Pads

1. Challenger Western Bareback Pad

Challenger Western Bareback Pad

The Challenger Western bareback pad has a durable Cordura nylon rip-proof lining, a thick synthetic fleece underside, and lots of cushioning. It has a square design, 28 x 30 inches, and lots of wither clearance, so it’s perfect for bony horses.

I like this pad because it is easy to clean and comes with saddle bags, so it’s ideal for trail riding. It also comes with an adjustable fleece-lined clinch and removable stirrups. 

Pros

  • It comes in 4 colors

Cons

  • You might have to punch holes in the girth for larger horses.

2. Professional Equine Breathable Anti-slip Bareback Padded Anti-Slip Neoprene

Professional Equine Breathable Anti-slip Bareback Padded Anti-Slip Neoprene

This bareback pad from Professional Equine has a contoured design which is fantastic for horses with prominent withers. It has a grippy neoprene underside to prevent it from slipping and an easy-to-clean breathable upper.

I like to use this pad in the summer because it’s breathable and effectively wicks moisture away from my horse’s body. It is 24 x 34 inches with a removable 32-inch clinch and includes a set of 4 and 3-quarter stirrups. The pad is thick and flexible with a durable hand strap, and it also has bags on the back for water and other items you need on the trail.

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • It comes in 5 colors

Cons

  • You might have to add extra holes on the girth to fit narrow horses. 
  • You cant remove the stirrups

3. Challenger Suede Bareback Pad With Stirrups

CHALLENGER Horse Western Suede Leather Saddle Bareback Pad

This attractive, streamlined, turquoise and black bareback pad from Challenger is 28 x 15 inches and weighs just 3lb. It comes with a 32-inch long, leather, fleece-lined girth and durable 5-inch wide, removable aluminum stirrups. 

I love this saddle because it’s one of the thinnest on the market, so you have maximum contact with your horse. It’s well made, shock absorbing, and has a front handle and suede seat for extra grip and security. This pad is thin yet comfortable and makes me feel safe and secure when I ride without a saddle.

Pros

  • One of the thinnest bareback pads on the market
  • It’s streamlined and attractive

Cons

  • Not suitable for bony horses
  • The stirrups are short, but there’s room to punch more holes.

The Best Budget Bareback Pads

1. Tough1 Premium Bareback Pad

Tough1 Premium Bareback Pad

This premium bareback pad from Tough1 is 20 x 12 inches and weighs just 3 lb. It’s made with a 600 denier durable nylon outer shell and a synthetic fleece-lined bottom, and it has plenty of D-rings so you can attach bags or a breastplate. 

I love the design of this pad – it has a sturdy hand strap and a padded pommel and cantle for extra comfort and security. It’s comfortable and easy to clean and comes with adjustable molded plastic stirrups. This is a fantastic bareback pad for the price and comes with any positive customer reviews.

Pros

  • It’s comfortable and secure
  • It’s easy to clean

Cons

  • It doesn’t come with a girth
  • The stirrups are not very secure.

2. Showman Navajo Print Bareback Pad With Fleece Bottom

Showman Navajo Print Bareback Pad With Fleece Bottom

I love the look of this basic bareback pad from Showman. It comes in 8 traditional Navajo colors and has a thick, comfortable, Kodel fleece underside. It has a durable English-style girth and leather wear patches to protect it from the Western-style molded plastic stirrups. 

I love this saddle because it’s super versatile – You can remove the stirrups and girth and replace them with your own if you wish. I like the basic design, it’s comfortable to ride in and has a secure grab handle at the front. The pad measures 26 x 38 inches and fits medium to large horses.  

Pros

  • It comes in 8 unique Navajo designs
  • It’s comfortable and secure

Cons

  • It’s not suitable for small horses
  • The stirrups are long, but you can replace them with your own. 

3. Tough1 Bareback Pad With Accessory Bag

Tough1 Bareback Pad With Accessory Bag

The Tough1 bareback pad has a 14-inch seat and has everything you need for a day on the trail. It comes with two large, detachable saddlebags, a grab handle, plenty of D-rings, and has a durable 600 denier poly outer shell that is rip-resistant and easy to clean.

I like this pad because it fits well and has a foam pommel and cantle, so you feel secure when riding. The Tough1 bareback pad comes with adjustable, plastic molded stirrups and is available in black and brown. 

Pros

  • It comes with detachable bags
  • It’s super durable

Cons

  • The stitching is a bit flimsy
  • It doesn’t come with a girth

FAQs

Question: How do you ride with a bareback pad?

Answer: The important thing about riding with a bareback pad is that you must use a mounting block to get on your horse. Some bareback pads come with stirrups, but they will make the pad slip around your horse’s back if you use them to mount from the ground. 
If you ride in a bareback pad with stirrups, you must treat them as leg rests rather than balancing aids. The stirrups on bareback pads are not designed to withstand uneven pressure, and they can make the pad slip when you ride if you don’t use them correctly. 

Question: Are bareback pads good for the horse?

Answer: If you use them correctly, bareback pads have many benefits for horses – they’re lightweight and flexible, so they move with your horse’s movements. They also provide horses with extra cushioning if the rider has prominent seat bones because these can dig into their back. 

Question: What does a bareback pad do?

Answer: A bareback pad provides extra cushioning, grip, and security when you ride bareback. It’s much thinner and lighter than a saddle, so it gives you more contact with your horse and will protect you from the sweat and dirt from their back.

Best Bareback Pads with Stirrups: Conclusion

My top choice in bareback pads with stirrups is the Challenger Suede Bareback Pad. I love this pad because it looks great, and the thin design is comfortable but really gives me the sensation of riding bareback. 

Bareback saddle pads are a fantastic piece of riding kit – they help you stay safe on your horse’s back without the bulk and weight of a saddle. Riding with a bareback pad will help you improve your communication with your horse and help you become a better rider. So, if you like riding bareback, invest in a bareback pad for extra security and comfort for you and your horse. 

Resources

  • Admin. “When To Use A Bareback Pad in Therapeutic Riding.” Lessons In TR, 17 June 2019, www.lessonsintr.com/2017/09/17/when-to-use-a-bareback-pad.
  • Cerulli, Paige. “Bareback Riding – It’s All about Balance.” Equine Wellness Magazine, 11 Feb. 2019, equinewellnessmagazine.com/bareback-riding-its-all-about-balance.
  • dr-joyce-harmanaimmediacom. “The Biomechanics of Riding Bareback.” Practical Horseman, 24 Aug. 2020, practicalhorsemanmag.com/health-archive/the-biomechanics-of-riding-bareback-11762.
  • Haviris. “Bareback Pads, Why?” The Horse Forum, 13 Nov. 2020, www.horseforum.com/threads/bareback-pads-why.39102.
  • Horse, The Cheshire. “Bareback Riding for Better Balance.” The Cheshire Horse, 13 Aug. 2020, blog.cheshirehorse.com/2020/08/13/bareback-riding-for-better-balance.

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