In my boredom over the last few days and weeks, I've magically gotten it into my head that my 18.5" dressage saddle really needs a larger half pad than my current Thinline Trifecta (no rolls) in Medium. One of my friends swears up and down I need the full sheepskin comfort pad, but I'm not sure I'm totally sold on that.
My needs for the dressage saddle are (currently, until it sees the saddle fitter) rear shims to raise the balance just a little bit. I don't feel a ton of difference in Bailey with or without them, but I kind of like the little bit of change I feel in my own position when using them. I strongly prefer my Trifecta pad to the Contour pad I have simply because it stays up off of the withers better, but I do always have it as a fall back...
Basically, send help. And please, please, add your voice in the comments below!
So, Internet... What does your horse wear for a half pad, and why?
My needs for the dressage saddle are (currently, until it sees the saddle fitter) rear shims to raise the balance just a little bit. I don't feel a ton of difference in Bailey with or without them, but I kind of like the little bit of change I feel in my own position when using them. I strongly prefer my Trifecta pad to the Contour pad I have simply because it stays up off of the withers better, but I do always have it as a fall back...
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| Over used pre-saddle fitter photo. |
Basically, send help. And please, please, add your voice in the comments below!
I am so boring and old school on this haha! I feel like if a saddle fits properly it doesn't need anything, so I mostly try to find saddles that fit as best as possible. But in the real world sometimes we need to pad things. I have used a sheepskin pads with shims (that were placed by a saddle fitter) and my mare HATED it. I've also used just a plain sheepskin with no shims as a temporary measure on a saddle that needed a re-flock. I've never tried the Ogilvy/memory pad thing to be honest, so I'm not much help there. Whatever your horse likes best! If your horse doesn't care... do want you like best ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the very smart perspective! I really like that "old school concept" of saddles fitting, but my red horse in particular seems to loose topline anytime I'm not on a super regular schedule (and since it's winter... I haven't been) so calling the fitter when she's not fit seems like a good way to give myself a panic attack when the horse herself doesn't seem to have any real complaints.
DeleteI'm not really into the sheepskin thing (mostly due to maintenance), or the memory foam thing (mostly due to disbelief that it doesn't bottom out)... but I do also feel like my very forgiving horse deserves some kind of shock absorption between my often floppy Ammy butt her back. Ack, I am all indecision!
I use a very basic Roma fleece half pad, not even one of the fancier versions. I use it not for saddle fitting - I'm very picky about working with a saddle fitter to make sure the flocking is adjusted regularly - but for impact and softening up his back. Prior to the half pad, I used a thin gel pad that accomplished some of the same things.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amanda! Do you notice a difference with the additional layer, or is it more for insurance?
DeleteI do notice a difference. He's looser through his back for sure. It has been more and less pronounced at various points in our history, depending on a lot of factors.
DeleteVery good to know. Thank you much! My saddle fitter is all about the thinline and sheepskin, but she hasn't seen the dressage saddle yet and I'm loath to drop over 200$ on a pad when there's very reasonable pads like your Roma on the market...
DeleteI use a plain thinline (no quilting, sheepskin, etc.), anything else slides around too much on my round mare! My higher withered horse gets the plain thinline plus a fleece pommel pad.
ReplyDeleteI've never used a pommel pad before, but I love both of my Thinline pads for sure! My plain one does sit down on Bailey's withers, so perhaps I should look into the pommel pad... I've seen them in catalogs for years but have no actual idea what they're for which is embarrassing.
DeleteThey help lift the front of the saddle off the withers and give a little extra cushion in that area :)
DeleteI just bought an Ogilvy gummy pad because (1) they're pretty and (2) I found a crazy good deal on it. My saddle fits my horse pretty well, but the last two rides that I have had on him with the addition of the pad have been really incredible - he seems happier, and I've had significantly less back pain, which leads to overall tension in my riding.
ReplyDeleteCrazy good deals are my downfall. I wish someone had a program where they'd send you a pack of the various half pads so I could try all of the different kinds without making myself really, really poor. I'm so glad your pony likes his fancy new present!
DeleteAlso OMG is your horse's show name actually Allons-y?! Can we be friends? Because clearly our Doctor Who horses need to be friends (Bailey's show name is Come Along, Pond)
DeleteThat program would be awesome! Dressage Extensions should get on that, they already have a bit trial program. And yessss, we should absolutely be friends!!! Come Along, Pond is a freaking awesome name!!!!
Deletei have a shimmable prolite half pad, and a sheepskin half pad. love both!!!
ReplyDeleteI will add Prolite to the list of brands I'll have to look into :)
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