I heard that because they are not strapped on as tightly as a saddle and since they slide around so much that the stirrups are not safe because you fall of easier... is that true? Has anyone ever had any problems with them?

They are also not safe because there is no solid tree that will keep the pad from sliding side to side if you were to put more weight in one stirrup than the other. Thus, it is extremely easy to end up under your horse's belly from the pad tilting completely over, no matter how tight you put the girth.

Besides, it's not "bareback" if you're using stirrups, that's cheating! :)

No, they are not safe, but for the exact opposite reason you state. They are usually made of nylon, which will NOT break, at all. Just like Nylon halters, if it gets caught on something- Or you get caught on it and horsey takes off- the horse (Or you) will break before it does.

No. They aren't safe.

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But for a VERY different reason.

A bareback pad with stirrups is bad because it puts uneven, bad pressure on a horse's spine. Which isn't good.

So do what I did :) Get a pad with memory foam in the seat and a strap to grip on the front with a breast collar. Mine has purple flames on it and it's REALLY comfortable :)

I have the Cowboy Justus bareback pad, which was discontinued, but you can probably find one if you look hard enough.

Own my own and LOVE it!

As said before they are not safe because of the material they are made of.

If you need stirrups to ride bareback, you are probably going to put too much weight in the stirrups rather than using your seat and balance. Because a bareback pad does not grip the horse as well as a saddle, it has a tendency to slide from side to side.

So yeah, its a little unsafe. If you need the stirrups to maintain your balance, you are probably going to put too much pressure on one side, and the entire saddle is going to slip in that direction.