If a saddle fits, would using a Thinline or a Mattes pad increase pressure?
Yes they can alter the saddle fit.
So is it bad to use a Thinline or a Mattes pad for concussion absorption for the saddles that fit?
Ideally the saddle should be fitted with the half pad if you’re planning to use one.
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I would think that if the saddle truly fits then a Mattes pad would make it tight. The Mattes tends to be fairly thick. Kinda like putting thick hiking socks on while wearing dress shoes that fit well with trouser socks. This could cause him to become backsore.
The original thin Thinline that isn’t attached to a pad plus the current saddle pad is probably fine as it won’t add much thickness.
So a thinline pad, just the plain thinline material, doesn’t alter the fit and I find it provides a bit of no-slip action too which is nice. The thinline trifecta pad will alter the fit slightly, lifting the front a hair, I like it for a saddle that wants to rock ever so slightly as a good fix while waiting for the fitter to come out.
The mattes pad very noticeably lifts the front and narrows things up. It absolutely changes the fit and if you want to use it for anything other than adjusting the fit, then have your fitter fit your saddle with the half pad.
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Half pads are intended to alter the fit of the saddle. A sheepskin pad can fill in an overall loose saddle and a shimmable half pad can give more targeted support.
Any half pad will alter the fit of the saddle by the amount of thickness of the pad, that’s just logic.
If there is wiggle room in your saddle that is just gine.
Honestly if your saddle is freshly flocked and fitted to the horse I am not sure how much extra protection a half pad gives. Memory foam tends to disappear anyhow.
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A lot of horses object to half pads if the saddle fits. They stop feeling soft in the bridle or they don’t want to go forward. It just doesn’t leave enough room around the withers.
Half pads are great when the saddle is just a touch too wide though. It can fill up the extra space and make the horse more comfortable.
Of course half pads change the fit of the saddle. Why else would you use them?
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For the shock absorption.
My fitter wants me to discontinue using the half-pad I have which is a Thinline. She says it changes the fit.
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When I am fitting saddles, I try to ask to see the pads before doing the saddle fitting. Even the thinnest of pads can affect the horse. I personally do not really like the just the black thinline pads especially with a horse with a decent wither. I find that they really do not flow with the horse’s anatomy and cause pinch points.
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You ride badly enough that you are creating significant shock on the horse’s back?
Your fitter is probably right. Listen to your fitter. That’s why you hire her.
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That’s how they are marketed. I agree silly concept. If you ride decently not needed, if you don’t what use is an extra half inch of foam?
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I think people are over-simplifying a bit:
https://thehorse.com/115636/saddle-pad-science/
You may not need any pad at all - but then again, you may find one or another helpful for a variety of reasons. No one right answer here, I think.
But OP tells us their saddle fitter thinks the pad is messing with saddle fit. Whatever the benefits of pads ( this article recommends sheepskin) those benefits are cancelled if the pad makes the saddle fit wrong.
You pay the fitter for her professional opinion. Follow her directions. If a problem arises, the. Take steps with a different fitter. I wouldn’t start by second guessing her unless you’ve heard of issues with her from multiple firsthand sources.
I tend to agree that a well fitted English saddle is Inherently shock absorbing, and that the rider’s balance, symmetry, and use of aids plays more into Back soreness than most saddle tweaking can solve. I’m sure this is extremely frustrating for Saddle Fitter’s, the ones I have talked to have told me in confidence that of course they are limited…and being able to suggest that the way someone rides is causing the issue would create problems for them. They try to stick to the saddle mechanics, but there is a rider factor as well.
Right. I get that.
I’m just questioning the idea that only a crappy rider would ever use a half-pad (???) or that the whole idea of saddle pads is inherently “silly.”
I might agree that gazillion-dollar pads with all sorts of supposedly magical properties are over-marketed and probably overused, but that doesn’t mean that pads in general have no legitimate use.
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This thread is timely for me, as I’m going through some saddle fit issues and was curious to read responses… but I had to stop at this particular response since it kind of seems insulting to anyone that uses a Thinline or shock-absorbing pad…
I ride with a Thinline in all my horses across the board. I wouldn’t knock it and definitely wouldn’t assume people using it are riding poorly… Edward Gal rides in one… So seeing someone in a Thinline, that’s not the take away I personally arrive at.
They have therapeutic uses as well. My vet suggests Thinline for any horse that is jumping and eventing. I originally bought a Thinline to use for a horse that had KS. I’ve seen enough of a positive reaction that I now make it part of my string for all the horses I ride, not just the horse mentioned above. No matter how good of a rider you are, if you’re on their back, you’re causing some form of pressure and concussion. The Thinline helps with that.
I’ve personally noticed a BIG difference riding with and without the Thinline when you’re doing gallop sets and jumping - especially in drops or going downhill.
YMMV.
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I’ve certainly had horses that preferred having a half pad to not having one. One preferred the thinline, the other a Mattes. The rest don’t seem to care. That said, the horses that went in half pads had their saddles fitted with those pads on.
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