Attaching a number to a saddle pad: UPDATE post 47

[Lord_Helpus]

Just had an idea.
This comes from my days of braiding – when I had everything I would need in my braiding kit:
Darning needle (or just a big one)
Needle threader (for those of us who have bad eyesight)
Yarn (any color you want, but white will blend in with the number).

Thread needle with yarn. “sew” the number to the saddle pad with one “through and back through” – front to back or back to front. Make a double knot and cut off extra yarn.

If you want to make it look pretty, just get a hole punch so that the yarn goes through the prepunched hole in one direction and your punched hole in the other.

DUH! How easy is that?!?!?

I cannot be the first person to think of this…

[eclipse]

Honestly I’d just wear your number on your back! after announcing for many years we all would love love love you for it plus it’s easy for you to grab some yarn and tie it around your waist… Next time I venture back into jumper land that’s what I’m going to do… I fully despise those tiny bridle/breast plate numbers and adore riders who just go old school and wear their back number!

[Chuckles]

this is what breed show riders use on western pads

http://www.amazon.com/b?node=490652011
Breed show exhibitors use these to attach the number to prevent snags on the expensive woven show pads. Anything that has a laminated or plastic cover is not preferred by judges because of the glare. These tack gun things hold the number invisibly and and securely.
Just an idea

[Lord_Helpus]

But my trainer is riding my young jumper (who is for sale, which is why horse needs a perfect ride) and he (trainer) will not put a number on around his waist. So I have tried to put it on the pad, but I clearly do not have aptitude for the job.

[Lord_Helpus]

[QUOTE=Chuckles;8190906]
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=490652011
Breed show exhibitors use these to attach the number to prevent snags on the expensive woven show pads. Anything that has a laminated or plastic cover is not preferred by judges because of the glare. These tack gun things hold the number invisibly and and securely.
Just an idea :)[/QUOTE]

That was one of my original ideas, but the number would not stay tight against the pad.

[arlosmine]

Spray paint number on horses butt. Problem solved.

[Chuckles]

So full on disclosure, I show breed shows and don’t use this (because I could never get the thing reloaded). They use really short tags and the pads are thicker.I use safety pins. Point the opening down incase they come open when you ride. That makes it less likely to catch on. It is no big deal,and I can readjust if it is crooked.
What kind of pad is going on (contoured or quilted underpad?)

[Equibrit]

Adhesive/Tape ?

http://www.123stitch.com/Craft_Glue_Tape.html

[Peggy]

I kind of like the yard idea. Or the velcro one, which is what I was thinking about before I read through the whole thread. If the velcro was sewn on to the pad, it would start to pick up stuff when it was washed and loose its attachment capability. Plus you’d have to pick a side to which your number would forever be attached, since visible velcro on the non-numbered side would be tacky.

On the sides, in dressage I was taught to attach the number so it would be on the outside (judge’s side) when you made your first turn after the first halt. That would apply whether the numbers were attached to the bridle or the saddle pad. So, yes, that would mean swapping it to different sides for different tests. I was at one dressage show where they gave us two bridle numbers, one for each side. Kind of overwhelmed my horse’s delicate TB head, but he didn’t care. In jumpers I just put it on the left, unless it was monogrammed, and recited the number to the back gate person. Although at many of the county shows, they know the people and horses and more-or-less go by first names.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=Peggy;8191685]
I kind of like the yard idea. Or the velcro one, which is what I was thinking about before I read through the whole thread. If the velcro was sewn on to the pad, it would start to pick up stuff when it was washed and loose its attachment capability. Plus you’d have to pick a side to which your number would forever be attached, since visible velcro on the non-numbered side would be tacky.

On the sides, in dressage I was taught to attach the number so it would be on the outside (judge’s side) when you made your first turn after the first halt. That would apply whether the numbers were attached to the bridle or the saddle pad. So, yes, that would mean swapping it to different sides for different tests. I was at one dressage show where they gave us two bridle numbers, one for each side. Kind of overwhelmed my horse’s delicate TB head, but he didn’t care. In jumpers I just put it on the left, unless it was monogrammed, and recited the number to the back gate person. Although at many of the county shows, they know the people and horses and more-or-less go by first names.[/QUOTE]

My horse wears a breastplate, so I just put the number they give me on the breastplate. I have a reusable number for the halter for out of stall excursions so I don’t have to remove it or remember whose is whose.

That said, I just kept some heavy white upholstery thread handy and I always sewed my numbers on when I had jumpers going (I was the lowly groom…). There’s a holepunch in my dressing room door for this purpose and it takes about a minute total including two seconds for seam ripper removal.

[red_mares]

[QUOTE=Chuckles;8190906]
http://www.amazon.com/b?node=490652011
Breed show exhibitors use these to attach the number to prevent snags on the expensive woven show pads. Anything that has a laminated or plastic cover is not preferred by judges because of the glare. These tack gun things hold the number invisibly and and securely.
Just an idea :)[/QUOTE]

What about a quilter’s basting gun? Same thing except they’re more expensive and the tacks are only 1/4" - 1/3" long.

[Dewey]

Looks as if there’s a niche for a square jumper pad with plastic number sleeves. Any enterprising entrepreneurs out there?

[soloudinhere]

I think Back In The Day ™ we also used to use straight pins, the kind with the squeeze backs like you’d have on a lapel pin? Probably not that comfy for the horse if you kicked it while riding, which I think is why I started sewing mine on (that and I lost the pins all the time…)

[Lord_Helpus]

This quilters basting gun may be a brilliant idea! Most jumper riders use square quilted pads and then use extra padding under the saddle if needed, so a 3/8ths long tack might be perfect.

I Googled it and saw what it was, but the information did not include what the shank does after it goes through the material so it stays in position. Does it bend? Also, what are the tacks made of and how are they removed?

I knew that the collective minds of COTH’ers would have great ideas!

ETA: The reviews of the quilters basting gun were not great. But there is such a thing as a “Microstitch basting gun” which seems similar and gets great reviews. Research is continuing. I need a life.

[kdow]

@Peggy;8191685

I kind of like the yard idea. Or the velcro one, which is what I was thinking about before I read through the whole thread. If the velcro was sewn on to the pad, it would start to pick up stuff when it was washed and loose its attachment capability. Plus you’d have to pick a side to which your number would forever be attached, since visible velcro on the non-numbered side would be tacky.

Put the fluffy side of the velcro on the pad so it’s less likely to collect stuff (as opposed to the ‘hook’ side of the velcro) when not covered. If you used white on a white pad and just used little velcro dots instead of big strips, it might be less visible than you’d think.

That said, if you want to use magnets and they’re not working, you’re just not using strong enough magnets. My housemate has some quarter sized ones that will hold together through about half an inch of wood, a saddle pad and number would be no problem. (I actually had to cover a couple in duct tape to make little gripping tabs because if they accidentally get stuck to some things they’re a bear to get off. For showing I’d probably cover them in white or pad colored ribbon by making a little pocket and then sewing it closed. If you use the smaller ones then that makes them easier to find in a tack trunk, too.)

[red_mares]

@Lord Helpus;8191847

I Googled it and saw what it was, but the information did not include what the shank does after it goes through the material so it stays in position. Does it bend? Also, what are the tacks made of and how are they removed?

Not sure I understand your question. The tacks are like the little plastic thingys (can’t think of a better term :lol:) that hold a pack of socks together. They are just light weight plastic, easily cut with small scissors. They are like their retail counter parts, only smaller. Don’t over think this.

[GaMare]

[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;8190670]

But…what side does everyone pin their number on? I go on the left side. Is that normal??[/QUOTE]

I was taught that you always pin your number on the side of the gate manager as a courtesy.

[Kalele]

Are magnets out of the questions (plain ones, not the jeweled ones necessarily)? The ones here I can put on either side of my hand and they are so strong they won’t fall off through bone and muscle.

[BAC]

[QUOTE=Lord Helpus;8190486]
Equibrit, I know about those — they are for Western Pleasure hunter under saddle classes and are not cool for jumpers.

1. The pads are not square
2. The pockets reflect light
3. The jumper people must have something against Toklat, since the name is written on every number.

I think I will take it upon myself to come up with a way that does not involve stabbing yourself (the ‘royal’ “you”) with diaper pins. Then I shall patent it and sell my new thingys on Etsy for $50 each.[/QUOTE]

I would use the Toklat pads that Equibrit posted, I was going to suggest them too. There is no requirement that a jumper MUST use a square pad and its surely the easiest solution to your problem.

[Tha_Ridge]

[QUOTE=BAC;8193756]
I would use the Toklat pads that Equibrit posted, I was going to suggest them too. There is no requirement that a jumper MUST use a square pad and its surely the easiest solution to your problem.[/QUOTE]

So fug though.

OP, maybe I missed it, but what’s the problem with safety-pinning the number? That works for 95% of the population.