Fitted Fleece Pad in Hunter Rings and Mattes Pad w/ Shims

[HunterMarc]

Hi! I was wondering if I could get some ideas/thoughts around using a Mattes pad with shims and a fitted fleece pad in the hunter ring.

I recently bought a new Antares Narrow tree saddle as my Medium tree Antares was too wide. I still need to use a couple shims in a mattes pad with the narrow for my high withered TB. At home while schooling I use a square pad with the mattes pad, if I am to show, I feel it may be too bulky…or maybe not.

What are your opinions or suggestions? Often times when I see hunters, I have not seen any other pad then the shaped fleece pad. I find it hard to believe that I am not the only one with this issue though.

Thank you!

[Man_in_Black]

I personally wouldn’t want to do the sheepskin+fleece because I’m a little neurotic when it comes to turnout and details. That being said, I have seen it done.

I have a silicone pad with fleece edges and a show pad that I use. I’ve also just shown in a sheepskin half pad as well. Some people think it’s out of style, but if it means your saddle fits and your horse is comfortable, so be it.

[KandC]

I’ve done a fleece half pad on top of a fleece shaped pad. It’s a little fluffy, but not obnoxious. It was a cotton Thinline with sheepskin rolls, though.

You could pick up a shimmable shaped fleece pad and add your shims to that- Fleeceworks makes a decent reasonably priced one.

[Soaponarope]

When we had a thoroughbred we had to do this. I don’t think it would be held against you. However, there is a hunter mattes pad. It’s very expensive. You could go with what you have now and maybe put the fitted hunter mattes pad on your Christmas list.

[Soaponarope]

I had a bad experience with the fleeceworks pad. But our Mattes pad lasted for ever.

[AmmyByNature]

Just use the half pad alone. It’s not seen a ton these days but was actually very trendy several years ago. I won a number of big hunter classics at AA rated shows using just a mattes correction pad.

[RugBug]

If your saddle fits with a square pad and a Mattes correction pad, it will NOT fit when you replace the square pad with a fleece pad. You need to figure out how to keep the saddle fitting correctly in the absence of the Mattes or with completely different padding set up.

I personally use a baby pad and a Mattes correction pad on my horse. I have two options for showing: Just the Mattes or a Shaped fleece with a leather Tad Coffin pad on top. This keeps my saddle fitting correctly while allowing me to use show appropriate pads.

[BLBSTBLS]

[QUOTE=Soaponarope;8900815]
I had a bad experience with the fleeceworks pad. But our Mattes pad lasted for ever.[/QUOTE]

My friends client has also had issues with the fleeceworks pad not holding together. She washed it correctly with the suggested special washing soap… the stitching fell apart, pad was replaced, same thing happened… this happened with 4 pads. They finally just gave up with those and ordered an Olgilvy hunter pad now.

That being said, I have seen several hunters within the past week go in just there half pad at the PA National horse show.

[HunterMarc]

Great, thanks for the suggestions.

[WNT]

Toklat also makes a shaped pad that just has faux fleece trim about 2" wide around the pad while the pad itself is quilted. It works well paired up with a thicker half pad, and keeps your saddle from hovering 4" above your horse’s back.

[Huntin_Pony]

Mattes makes a shaped fleece pad with removable shims. Pricey but beautiful.

Alternatively, you can use the Toklat “corona” pad and lay the shims on top, between your saddle and the pad. The shims match the top of the pad and are virtually invisible. If your saddle stays stationary, the shims will stay put. (Obviously try it at home first!)

Good luck.

[HunterMarc]

Do you know the name of this pad? Also someone mentioned Toklat had a “Corona” pad and I can not find it. Thanks

[QUOTE=WNT;8902903]
Toklat also makes a shaped pad that just has faux fleece trim about 2" wide around the pad while the pad itself is quilted. It works well paired up with a thicker half pad, and keeps your saddle from hovering 4" above your horse’s back.[/QUOTE]

[RugBug]

[QUOTE=HunterMarc;8907275]
Do you know the name of this pad? Also someone mentioned Toklat had a “Corona” pad and I can not find it. Thanks[/QUOTE]

If you go into a store that sells Toklat (most), they can order a custom pad for you directly from the catalog. I’ve never heard of a Toklat Corona pad, but I have ordered a Medallion Super Quilt shaped fleece with inserts that would make it equivalent to a shaped fleece with a half pad on top. The salesperson will need to be familiar with the catalog and how to order from them, but they should have an option for you. You won’t see all the ordering options on their website…it’s in their print catalog.