Bareback Pads

Why Ride in a Bareback Pad?

There’s something beautifully honest about riding with less between you and your horse.

No rigid tree, no heavy leather and no layers of straps and fittings.

Just you, your balance, and your connection.

A well-designed bareback pad can be one of the simplest tools for building feel, relaxation, and trust — for both horse and rider.

What a Bareback Pad Really Does (And Doesn’t Do)

A bareback pad isn’t a saddle replacement for every situation.

It doesn’t distribute weight like a well-fitted treed or flexible saddle or provide security through stirrups. It doesn’t “hold” the rider in place.

And that’s partly the point.

Because when we remove rigid structure, we invite softness, awareness, and responsibility in our own body,

A good bareback pad:

• Cushions your seat bones

• Protects your clothes

• Offers grip (especially suede)

• Allows the horse’s back to move more freely

• Keeps things light and simple

It’s a minimalist approach to riding — and that simplicity can be powerful.

For the Horse: Freedom and Feel

Many horses visibly relax when the heavy saddle disappears.

Without a rigid tree or hard panels, there are fewer pressure points. The pad can be girthed more loosely than a saddle, allowing the ribcage to expand naturally with breath.

For horses who:

• Have struggled with saddle fit

• Are in rehab from back soreness

• Are young and still developing

• Have changing body shape

• Have become tense during saddling

…a bareback pad can feel like a fresh start.

High-withered horses may benefit from a supportive treeless pad underneath to prevent pressure at the wither, but overall, the design is forgiving and adaptable.

Sometimes less structure allows more relaxation.

For the Rider: Building a True Seat

Riding without stirrups changes everything.

A bareback pad encourages:

• A deeper, more independent seat

• Better balance

• Softer hips

• Improved timing

• Greater body awareness

When we can’t brace into stirrups, we learn to sit with the movement instead of against it.

It’s honest riding and that honesty builds skill.

(Important note: Most bareback pads are not designed for stirrups. Without a rigid tree, stirrups can concentrate pressure directly onto the spine.)

Everyday Practicality

There’s also something wonderfully practical about a bareback pad.

• It’s light to carry to the paddock.

• It’s quick to throw on.

• It’s ideal for shorter rides, pony rides or relaxed hacks.

• It pairs beautifully with neck rope riding for softness and trust.

For those quiet sunset rides… when you just want to wander and feel your horse breathe under you… it’s often the perfect choice.

Choosing a Bareback Pad

Not all pads are equal…

Look for:

• A shaped spine seam that clears the wither

• A design that prevents girth pressure pulling onto the backbone

• Quality felt or padding that absorbs shock

• A grippy top surface like suede

• Strong, well-positioned girthing

Simple doesn’t mean basic. It still needs to be thoughtfully made.

A Pad Designed with Horses in Mind

The LightRider® Bareback Pad was created with this philosophy — light, kind and practical.

It features:

• A curved centre seam to suit higher withers

• Girth attachment points that avoid direct pressure on the spine

• Changeable English or Western girthing options

• Front and back D-rings for practical use

• 16mm quality felt under real or synthetic suede

• Regular adult and small sizes (for children and small poines)

It’s especially helpful for:

• Re-starting or starting young horses

• Giving sensitive horses a softer option

• Riders wanting to improve their seat

• Those who value lighter, more natural gear

There’s a time for a well-fitted saddle and there’s a time for simplicity.

If you’d like to explore riding lighter, the LightRider® Bareback Pad is available through the Natural Horse World Store.