I arrived to the stable on a cold and misty day over the weekend. Maddy mare, taking her morning siesta~
Since I have not been able to use a saddle, bareback riding pads are the way I ride the mare, at present.
I was looking forward to our solo ride this day, as I was going to ride some new paths in the myriad of pathways, in the oasis acres, next door.
Firstly, I was pleased as punch* that I really felt secure *on this new pad...it has a nice wither relief area that helps to keep it in place. Along with the Anti microbial material, that is non-slip.
I chose to use my Sheepskin "Half Pad" under the bareback pad, as
my mare is ULTRA SENSITIVE and the stitching of the bareback pad- right on her spine- may bother her.
I normally use wither relief pads only on her + Sheepskin. Anything else-leaves marks, patterns and sometimes pressure bumps!
This half pad is a "correction pad" I bought...wayyy back when...I first got the mare and the saddle almost fit her!
It has neat pockets that I shimmed with the "Ultra Thinline", pieces.
I used the two perfectly placed RINGS- at the front of the bareback pad- to secure the sheepskin pad.
I also added my mock grab strap( a lunging device) so -I may have something to grab, AND hang an essential piece of equipment off of...my camera!
The seat area is nicely designed out of the "ThinLine"developed material. At the back of the pad, the 2 rings are placed perfectly for a saddle bag to sit. It is not in the way of you sitting there and-it stays off the horse too!
Tacked up, away we rode!
We came to a hill, I was excited to find a hill, in my new "Valley Riding" places.
AND WOW....a nice HUGE-O-plowed field at the top, with a cool sawdust track around the edge.
We looked left and we looked right...to spy, oou la la, a nice fresh pile of Apples!
I INSTANTLY thought of Juliette's horses, Pie and Sovey and how they routinely go get treats, on the trail rides at specific places!
We went straight on over to investigate the inviting pile of sweet smelling apples...
....to find that many BEES also thought them sweet smelling, so we moved on rather quickly.
We saw a blind nearby...ouu, it's a TRAP!
THAT is why the apples are places there...but, no one home today for this ride..good thing!
Onward and forward we went discovering some new areas and back on home.
We had a really nice time out and about , the mare and I. Only having one or two problematic areas, that were somewhat slick and closed in. She is so claustrophobic and also hates to slide..it hurts when one gets off balance.
She IS NOT the perfect trail horse with how she has difficulty staying upright!
For her, to do so, means to MOVE THE FEET FASTER...haha, how Typical-of a Thoroughbred!
Sooo, my findings with this bareback pad, made by "THINLINE" are:
I like the design, the materials, the girth is also made of Anti microbial-nonslip material,and seems wide enough at 4 inches.
It is placed nicely on the pad -though- of course, I'd rather have and English billet.
This one has nice stretch to it, ON BOTH SIDES. So you may EVENLY raise it to be the same on both sides. That was smart designing.
I find this important for a bareback pad because, with no tree...using a latigo type cinch, makes the girthing on side, uncomfortable for the horse plus- it makes a bareback pad move to the side you cinch up...every time, creating shifting pads.
And I really disagree with moving any saddle , by hand-shoving/pulling it over to straighten it!
Ouch, that hurts, plus makes hairs bend over..and that pisses my mare off, making the saddling experience -distasteful!
Here is the view, after we rode out. Notice the sleight shift of the girth
(I bought a Black Sheepskin too, so I may let one dry out in between uses)
It did not move any farther than this, but for me, I will try to remedy it, either with my sheepskin girth cover,
to make sure the buckle has no-contact with my mare's skin.
OR-
I may take the girth to my favorite Upholstry shop, near my home,and for $5-10, I will have a keeper made, like this below~
So...the other thing I LOVE about the Thinline material being what I sit upon on this pad ...
You may decide how "sticky" you wish to be on it, verses a cloth /suede covered bareback pad.
Both my sister and I have a pair of full seat riding breeches.
(above you can see the seat of the pant on bareback pad's top material)
When she came to ride with me last week, and used the "Thinline" bareback riding pad, she had her deer skin seat, F.I.T.S. breeches on.
If she were bothered by the mix of the Thinline material and the Fits combo...I would have heard about it!!
In stead, she got me to trade horses with her, to see how nice it felt.
As I watched her slip around and have a small boat looking pad under her, riding the "Cashel Soft Saddle" I realised, how hard it has been to ride the "Soft Saddle", all these years...like learning to ride a warm blood, with big lofty gates! It really has a cushy, soft ride but -With Spring- plus, slippery!
I have ridden in the ThinLine bareback pad twice now, on my mare. The day I went out last Misty weekend, wearing my full seat breeches...sticking to the mare nicely,
(no need for loose legs and such, without stirrups)
and finding that I could actually post easier,with the neat grip on my inner thigh.
And the second time I rode, last Monday, with normal cloth breeches. A little less grip- security but still, not as slick as the Soft saddle.
So there ya have it...my review.
I really love it, I hose it off afterwards and it is non porus. Should be with me a long time as an essential piece of my riding gear!
Hope you are having a lovely Autumn day all!
FOR ANOTHER FABULOUS REVIEW On The ThinLine pad- written concisely, and detailed VISIT=
CALM, FORWARD, STRAIGHT, blog!
