Good day to you all!
I have had lots of you ask me about my riding equipment so I thought this little post would be a great starting point! If you have any questions or would like any further information on any of these, please feel free to get in touch! I am not paid to promote these products so these are my personal and honest reviews.
I teach many of my students with a bareback pad; sometimes to teach a better seat and balance, quite often, to allow the horse's muscles' height and tone to develop evenly through training to allow for the best saddle fit. By riding in a bareback pad, we are able to work on the horse's symmetry without worrying about poor or less than perfect saddle fit.
My favourite bareback pad
I like to ride in a bareback pad which offers a good spinal clearance and adequate padding to make the horse and rider as comfortable as possible. A high withered pad helps to prevent pressure on the withers whilst riding. Finally, it's important to find a pad without a slippery seat! I find that the cotton canvas material and grips on the Skito pad is the best out there! The materials used are durable, smart and comfortable to ride with.
A Skito bareback pad is the best alternative to a saddle in my opinion. I have found so many bareback pads are not really made for serious riding. These are the real deal!
Get in touch with Skito here: https://www.skitosaddlepads.com/
(You may need to request a custom order. Let them know Alex from Sense Equine sent you over!)
- choose a high withered pad
- ensure the pad has forward billeting
- use a thin cotton pad (or reindeer hide!) to keep your pad clean
- remember the foam panels may need replacing every 2 years or so
Hidey-hi! I love my reindeer hide!
In these photos, I have paired my bareback pad with a reindeer hide. I have found that the hide is great for weight distribution, cushioning Frost's back during our rides and keeping him warm. They are beautiful too! I would recommend that hides are stored in a dry place to avoid moulting! After riding, I air dry the hide and brush with a natural bristle brush to soften it up again once it is dry.
Saddle up - the bareback rider's choice
As an avid bareback rider, I understand it isn't always easy finding "The One" when looking for a saddle.
There are so many different brands and styles, it's sometimes overwhelming to even start looking. Often, the go-to is a treeless saddle, because of the similarities. I have now ridden in alot of saddles...and it has become apparent that one saddle is becoming a firm favourite amongst bareback riders! It isn't treeless, but made with a lightweight carbon fibre tree which is flexible and comfortable for the horse and rider. This saddle allows a "close" feel to the horse, whilst offering security in its seat with a soft knee padding, rather than a big knee roll. It is the Ibero Verano by Deuber & Partner.
I am a certified Deuber & Partner fitter and retailer, so you lucky things can buy or enquire about these beautiful saddles through me directly. The Ibero Verano can be purchased here through the website >>>
Riding skirts; dry, warm & beautiful!
Riding in the rain baby! Yes! I love it... no fair-weather riding here!
How? Why? I hear you ask! Well, because I have an Arctic Horse Riding Skirt, of course! These skirts are made in Alaska - and believe me, they know a thing or two about keeping warm and dry over there. Since owning and wearing my skirt, I have been able to ride in all weathers, keeping myself and my horse dry and warm. Most recently, Frost and I rode in 40mph winds and bitterly cold rain across marshland and through woodland. We finished our ride as we started - albeit with a cold nose! For windy weather, you can use some handy little straps to keep your skirt from flapping. If you ever worry about the skirt spooking your horse, it really isn't too different from having a rug on them.
You can get hold of an Arctic Horse Riding Skirt here: https://www.arctichorsegear.com/
(They are sometimes in hibernation over the winter months but do get in touch with them! You can mention Alex, from Sense Equine recommended them 😉 I'd appreciate it!)
So, there you have it! These are my three "must have" pieces of equipment when riding into the Autumn and Winter months!
