I rode bareback and bridleless for the first time ever (!) on Saturday, and noticed the above mark while I was doing it. Of course my initial reaction was to panic that it is an acquired leukoderma. Spoiler alert, it is not.
After consulting with Mary, we deduced that it is likely a result of friction from my bareback pad slipping back during my lesson on Thursday for the following reasons:
1) I've never noticed it before, and I can see over his back, so it is likely new since Thursday.
2) Thursday was my second bareback ride.
3) He's clipped.
4) The pad slipped back during the lesson, and it's likely that the sewn-on handle was under my crotch during the ride.
5) As Mary said, "You're a flyweight, you have a good seat, and it was one ride. It's way more likely to be friction than pressure."
The problem, now, is solving that problem. He's not sore, and the white hairs will stay until he sheds out (unless I let it continue and kill the pigment cells - which I won't!), so I won't have a barometer to guide me and tell me if there is friction there or not. I'm going to try various combinations of pads, including my half pad, to see what works. If I can't figure it out, I'll figure out how to borrow a saddle.
It's always something!
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| PS - I am going to put these up on the blog this week! |
Why not just put a saddle pad under your bareback pad? Or maybe you need a breastcollar for your bareback pad? (That makes me giggle!)
ReplyDeleteI've never really used a bareback pad. Is slippage a common problem?
I have heard from more than one person that bareback pads can rub, but I've never used one. Maybe they're more meant for fun rides than serious schooling?
ReplyDeleteGranted, I don't jump and do a ton of real work when riding bareback, but why not just not use anything? I haven't used pads before so I don't know how much slippery it really is.
ReplyDeleteBareback pads slip like crazy. Don't suppose anyone has that fancy thinline bareback pad laying around?
ReplyDeleteMmmm....caramel is it? nom nom nom..
ReplyDeleteoooh candy! and yea, the slipping/rubbing is definitely a concern for my own bareback pad too...
ReplyDeleteWas there a horse anywhere in this post? All i saw was the caramel. Unless you put the caramel on the horse? They're about the same color...
ReplyDeleteI second JenJ, I didn't see a horse anywhere in this post because I was severely blinded by caramels....
ReplyDeleteI honestly find riding bareback without any sort of pad 1,000 times easier than using one. As far as hair regrowth Calm Coat is your best friend :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen numerous posts online with people using a breast collar with their bareback pads. You could give that a shot + add another pad underneath the bareback pad :)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck any chance I can get you to make them in January and I buy some in January :P
ReplyDeleteAgreed with some of the other commenters about pad slippage - any reason your using it instead of nothing at all? I imagine Conner's probably pretty comfy anyway :) I knew someone in college who rode bareback with just a saddle pad (not hooked or secured to anything other than her just sitting on it) which I always though was a little odd...but I guess if you're trying to keep your breeches clean??
ReplyDeleteThe Thinline bareback pad does not slip at all. Anyone you could borrow from temporarily?
ReplyDeleteThat happens to Suzie quite a bit - even if I am just bareback with no pad.
ReplyDeleteI've always used a pad under the bareback pad for longer rides. Especially on the cobs though you end up feeling like your sitting on a big puffy couch and about a mile from your seat having any influence at all. I wonder if one of those super thin (and cheap!) no slip pads might be the ticket?
ReplyDeleteWow, I have not run into that issue before. Both my pads are the fluffy fleece kind so maybe that's why. I wish you were closer, I have a couple saddles sitting at home for Roscoe to grow into that you could try.
ReplyDelete