Would it be hard to ride bareback with a regular saddle pad that doesn t strap onto the horse?

Honestly, it's really not that big a deal. If anything happens, you fall off. Just give it a go, if you had good balance then you should be fine but you'll probably have more grip riding totally bareback. I've seen plenty of people ride at shows with just a English saddle pad, I've done it and it's alright.

I'm sure you COULD use a regular saddle pad instead of a bareback pad but it would be pretty pointless unless you have impeccable balance and your seat is like velcro to the horses back. When riding bareback there is no saddle stability so you will slide around a little with the horses natural movements and if you are doing anything more than a walk that saddle pad is just going to slip around and you will have to keep adjusting it which will only become frustrating. So unless your horse is super boney or has a really weak top line, I'd suggest scratching the pad and just sit directly on the horses back, otherwise, invest in a real bareback pad.

In my opinion bare-back pads are dangerous, I really wouldn't recommend using one only because they don't grip the horses back, strapped or not and you could slide around. I mean you could use a regular saddle pad, but again you'd be slipping around a lot. I would only use one if the horse has a really boney back just to make it comfortable for the both of you. Other than that it'd just suggest riding with nothing but a bridle/halter what ever you use to controls him. :)

There are pads that are made for bareback, but I'm pretty sure you can use English saddle pads though it might slide around a bit.

I've done it a bunch actually, I had a really high withered mare like 20 years ago, and sometimes I'd throw a pad on her to go for a walk around the property.

As far as really riding, more than wandering around for relaxation, go without the pad or get the real thing.

use a half pad, but be VERY balanced and very centered, one girl does it at our barn because the pony she rides has the highest withers it looks painful even with a half pad XD And she would canter and it would just slip all over cause she moves alot when she rides bareback, be sure you are still and aren't always adjusting your self.

better to forget about the pad and go commando...no pad, or blanket they will only make you fall off.