Favorite Pad for Treeless Saddles?

[horse007]

9 out of 10 times our customers ask for our recommendations on what pad they should be using with our treeless models. We have tested our saddles with Regular Western Pads (woolen), Skito, Hilason and other local names. Most seem to work well with our horses when we test them. However, thats not the case with our customers. Some pads are just not thick enough, some slip and some are so stuck with the horse that they pull hair. Skito seem to work well. I wanted to reach out to this forum to see there is a pad that works well with your treeless saddle(s) and you would love to recommend. I would love to hear how you got the pad that you have and what challenges that you had with your other pads. All recommendations are valued.

We are working with Skito to develop something specific for our models. We are pretty close to our first prototype. Your challenges (with pads) will help us design a better prototype. I will let the group know how it works (will post videos and photos).

Cheers
Alex
Sales Rep
Maya Saddles

[Cindyg]

I am working on this problem just now.

I have a treeless saddle that I have ridden in happily for about 7 years. It is comfortable to me. It doesn’t slip. It’s not hard to balance in. As far as I can tell, my horse is comfortable with it (and he’s not one to bear discomfort in silence).

My saddle came with a thick felt pad that is velcro’d on the saddle; and this worked fine for years.

But now my horse is older. As he has aged, his back muscles have dropped leaving his spine unprotected. When I take the saddle off, I can see that he has sweated evenly under the entire saddle, including his spine. In other words, the saddle is now touching the spine. And, still, he doesn’t seem to mind.

So, I’m looking for a pad that will lift the saddle off his spine. What I’ve come up with so far is the Corrector. Go to that website and search for “treeless.” He makes a pad specifically for treeless saddles. He does not recommend “regular” pads under treeless saddles.

This is an expensive pad, and he doesn’t accept returns. Also, you’re not going to see it at the local tack shop – so you have no opportunity to see it before you buy it.

But it seems like a really good idea.

Have your clients tried this one?

[AngelainTexas]

Favorite pads for treeless saddles

I have used a Skito pad for years with my old Bob Marshall treeless saddle and I love it. My horse is very picky and he loves it too.

[Auventera_Two]

Toklat Woolback with Ultracell Inserts!!! Hands down, the BEST pad I have ever laid hands on.

[CanterQueen]

I too use Skito pads with my Bob Marshall saddles. We also use the Midnight Dixie sweat pads under our Skito pads.

The only thing I would love to see added to a Skito is a Midnight Dixie incorportated into the pad cover itself. Without the MD – I was hosing and machine washing my pad covers frequently, and that really seemed to increase the appearance of wear. Now I just hose the MD off after every ride and my Skito pads stay looking brand new. :yes:

[pandorasboxx]

I’ve used both a HAF pad (sympanova bottom) and an Equipedic pad (wool bottom) under my FreeWest and my Freeform Classic. I believe it depends on the shape of the horses as to what works the best. I prefer my HAF but both are nice pads.

The HAF works great under both saddles on my round barreled, broad but slight A shaped mare with medium withers. Even sweat marks, with the spine dry.

The Equipedic works best on my older gelding who has a very broad barrel, swayed back and higher withers. I believe it conforms easier to his shape but I may have to get shim inserts to keep the front of the saddle from dipping. His back had more muscling last year but he was laid up for a serious injury and lost a good bit of topline so now has a more dippy back. He kept the large barrel.

I use the thinline on top of both for shock absorbtion and anti-slippage.

I’ve heard great things about Skito esp. the ability to customize all aspects of it.

[GallopingGrape]

skito!!

[Huntertwo]

Skito pad

[horse007]

Thanks Guys…Learned a couple of new names…

Thank you guys ( AngelainTexas, AuventraTwo, CanterQueen, Pandorassbox
GallopingGrape, Huntertwo, Nin) for sending the names of your favorites. Skito seems to have got the most nods. I am glad that we are working with them on the prototypes. They are very nice people to work with too. We are excited. They dont have anything in real non-slip matrial. We are trying out 95% wool and one with something else (with different grain patterns to resist slippage).

Pandaorsboxx and AuventraTwo, how is the slippage on the woolback pads…does it provide traction?

Nin, we used Corrector for evaluations. We are looking for a more economical option. For treeless, either the pad or the saddle needs to provide spine clearance. So if you have a saddle with spine clearance panels, it should atleast provide you spine protection. Slippage is another problem though.

Pandoraboxx, what kind of shim inserts are you trying? For our model MS1201 we are looking for ideas on how to provide firm pommel shape without putting anything hard in the saddle itself. What “thinline” are you using for slippage protection. That might be a good addition to whatever pads we end up suggesting to our clients.

Thank you so much guys for your help. As promised, i will be posting videos/photos of our evaluation results. It might help others in the group…

cheers
Alex
Sales Rep
Maya Saddles

[sublimequine]

How funny, I was just going to make a post about Maya Saddles! I love how they have some models that look really like “traditional” western saddles, but don’t know anyone personally who has tried one, so was curious about personal experiences.

I’m hoping to eventually save up for a treeless western saddle (have an English and an Aussie now… I miss riding western! ), and the price is definitely right on the Mayas, and your company, OP, seems very knowledgeable and constantly working to improve your saddles.

Slippage is definitely a concern with me, though. I have slippage issues even with treed saddles, as my mare is low-withered and very very very broad (x-wide to xx-wide tree in her treed saddles).

OP, do you have any pictures of your saddles on horses you’d be willing to PM me? I love to see saddles in action when I’m considering them!

[matryoshka]

I ordered a Skito pad online. They asked for the type of saddle (Bob Marshall), my weight, and the type of riding I’m doing (trying to do endurance with an eventual goal of 50 milers). They came up with a recommendation as to pad type and thickness, which I purchased. I chose the color and asked for a little extra length to account for saddle bags. I wanted to get the dryback option, but the owner of the horse I’m leasing says he does best with natural materials, so I got wool instead.

My custom Skito designed for me and my saddle arrived in about 4 weeks. In the mean time, I made do with a pad that had wither relief and a channel (purchased from Tractor supply) that I’d been using with my Abetta endurance saddle. When the Skito arrived, I felt much more confident that the horse was comfortable and rides have been going well. At this point I’ve used it on a variety of horses, and all are rounding their backs nicely, showing no signs of hollowing or discomfort at any gait, uphill or down. I’ll be using it on a Friesian later today. Woohoo!

Other Skito users have told me that I can customize the pads myself to lessen the width under my thighs as necessary. It’s pretty cool that one can modify a pad for rider comfort (as long as horse comfort isn’t compromised).

Skito’s are pricey. I looked at it as an investment in the health of my horse’s back. It’s why I chose that particular saddle, and why I chose that particular pad. Still wish I’d gotten the dry-back version, especially since the horse I leased got kicked, required surgery, and will be out of commission until spring. Now I’m working to get a 4-year old Arabian mare going well enough to consider competition next year. I’ll be starting her in a treed saddle (Abetta) for later transition to treeless. I’m too new to treeless to trust it to stay centered during a sideways leap.

[winona]

My group of friends uses either Skito or HAF. I have nothing but good to say about the Skito and would go that route again.

[horse007]

photos…

sublimequine, i couldnt figure out a way to send attachment through PM. Will post the photos of a couple of different models and send a link to you…

cheers…

Alex
Sales Rep
Maya Saddles

[morganmare]

Toklat

I use the same saddle pad as A2. I love the Toklat Woolback with the ultracell foam inserts. I have not had any issues with my treeless saddle slipping with this saddle pad.

[shalomypony]

I use a Skito with a thinline with my Bob Marshall.I put the thinline on his back first then the Skito,works well.

[horse007]

thanks (and link to the photos)

Thanks guys for sending your responses on pads. Skito wins …:). We have our skito prototypes on their way to us. Will post the results in 2-3 weeks.

Per Sublimequine’s request, I managed to have our IT guy post a couple of photos on our site. These photos show our saddles on a draft horse, a pony and a mammoth donkey. Check out the photos at http://www.mayasaddles.com/samplephotos . Click on the photos to enlarge.

Happy riding !!

Cheers
Alex
Sales Rep
Maya Saddles

[sublimequine]

[QUOTE=horse007;3566902]
Thanks guys for sending your responses on pads. Skito wins …:). We have our skito prototypes on their way to us. Will post the results in 2-3 weeks.

Per Sublimequine’s request, I managed to have our IT guy post a couple of photos on our site. These photos show our saddles on a draft horse, a pony and a mammoth donkey. Check out the photos at http://www.mayasaddles.com/samplephotos . Click on the photos to enlarge.

Happy riding !!

Cheers
Alex
Sales Rep
Maya Saddles[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the photos! That donkey’s saddle is absolutely gorgeous… it doesn’t even look like a treeless! :o

[pandorasboxx]

Pandoraboxx, what kind of shim inserts are you trying? For our model MS1201 we are looking for ideas on how to provide firm pommel shape without putting anything hard in the saddle itself. What “thinline” are you using for slippage protection. That might be a good addition to whatever pads we end up suggesting to our clients.

Alex, I haven’t gone the shim route yet. While Equipedic has inexpensive shims, I do have a riser pad in my locker that I will give a try first. Btw, the Equipedic shims are inexpensive, which is nice considering how pricey these specialized pads and accessories can get.

I did have a Toklat woolback with openings for ultracell inserts. I sold it because it was too thick under my legs and seemed more “slippy” than my HAF or Equipedic. Very nice pad, but didn’t work as well under the Freeforms as I’d hoped.

The Thinline I’m using is the endurance model. Seems to work great for shock absorbtion. I don’t put it straight on the horses backs because of the heat factor but it works great on top of the pads. I use it because I was concerned about possible slippage and stirrup pressure, which I hadn’t experienced but wanted to head off at the pass.

[horse007]

Guys, As promised, i got the video for you. We used a Hilason pad on this one. Will be posting a video with Skito pad as well. Skito pads are working fine in our testing. We have got high density foam (1" thick with 95% wool fleece). We used Super Cinch for testing. You can actually mount on the horse without needing a booster. Here is the link for the video
<object width=“425” height=“350”> <param name=“movie” value=“http://www.youtube.com/v/FU6_kFT-yUU”> </param> <embed src=“http://www.youtube.com/v/FU6_kFT-yUU” type=“application/x-shockwave-flash” width=“425” height=“350”> </embed> </object>

Posted 2 videos up there…let me know what you think

[Cindyg]

Will you repost the links to the videos. I’d like to see them.