I’m moving my POA to a new barn next month.
We are trail riders and this barn is adjacent to 16,000 acres if State Forest, which equals A LOT of trail riding.
I’d love to get the Thorowgood Endurance saddle, but just cannot afford it at this time.
Have a Thorowgood AP saddle which I love, but I think I need more of an endurance type of pad underneath.
What are your opinions on Gel Pads?
Pros - Cons? Thanks…
I have been informed by others, that they can heat a back up too much, but I have no experience of that. I have only used gel pads in schooling stadium and cross-country jumps, on the theory (mine) that it might absorb some of the shock of my weight behind his shoulder especially on drop fences. I really do think that when the horse is landing off a fence reaching for the ground, that is when rider weight can have a very negative effect on the back
I really don’t believe in using a gel to correct a badly fitting saddle, and the more pad you have under a saddle, the more it can shift around.
Keep in mind the gel in a thorogood saddle isn’t for the horse, it’s in the seat for the rider, and they are comfy on long rides. I have a thorogood jumping saddle and love doing long rides in it.
Any saddle can work for endurance as long as it fits the horse well, and it doesn’t make you sore.
I use just a basic wool pad myself. I don’t like gel pads that trap heat-esp on long rodes. I do use a thinline pad for dressage but always over a cotton square.
Thanks, I didn’t realize that they trap heat.
The saddle fits, but I wanted something comfortable for her when we are on long rides and was wondering what kind would be best.
I do have a rounded Skito pad from my Bob Marshall I sold. Perhaps I might give that a try.
Ditto on trapping the heat.
To get around the heat issue, I use a woolbak pad next to the skin then gel pad or cushioned type pad on top. Or I will use a thin cotton pad next to the skin, then the woolbak and then the gel pad. OR, I will use a thin cotton pad next to the skin, and the gel pad.
I have a Solstice english saddle. So I am not using heavy pads. If I use too much padding it makes my saddle too tight. I can also change the cotton pad to a clean one at the vet checks. The woolbak does a good job at keeping the heat off. I can also change it to a clean dry one too. I don’t have a one size fits all pad. Which is why I continue to ride english. I can change things up if need be.
You will have to find what works best for your horse in your climate, and it depends on what type of training you will be doing that day.
Okay, so it is alright to use a gel pad IF you use a lighter pad underneath?
I assumed by the other posts that a gel pad traps heat, period.
Since I’m using a AP saddle, I was looking for a pad that would be comfortable for long rides.
I ride in the very hot, humid south. And the cotton pad, with a wookbak, then a gel pad on top. You have to make sure it doesn’t displace the saddle and make it not fit. Like I said I just play it by ear, and I can mix it up. The thin cotton pads keep the woolbak cleaner. Woolbak will absorb the heat and sweat from the gel pad. Also I can switch the pads and use clean ones. I make sure all the cotton pads have a lift in the front, and I do pull the pads up and into the saddle so it doesn’t get too flat on the back.
There is alot of sweat going on, and the cotton pads are nice to have, but you can just use the woolbak all by itself with the gel pad. I put the pad next to the saddle, and not on the actual back of the horse, so the heat is less, or not a factor.
I have ridden english since I first started to ride, long long long ago. I think it is the best fit for the horse due to the saddle being able to be custom stuffed.
The cotton pads are not that expensive. So I have several, different colors so I can keep track of which one is dirty or clean or was used last on what horse. The do not have to be washed each time. I like clean pads though, so I keep mine pretty well washed, since they get nasty usually. After a ride here, everything is sweaty and very nasty. I like to switch them out at vet checks. Well for that matter, even in competition on a LD I try to change all my clothes at the vet checks. I for sure switch everything during a 50 also. I think the horses like a fresh clean dry pad, me dry clothes. Even my gloves if it is that hot outside.
I think my gel pad is a roma gel. Not a total down the side type gel pad. Not very expensive. Nice, easy, does its job.
[QUOTE=Huntertwo;4691536]
I’m moving my POA to a new barn next month.
We are trail riders and this barn is adjacent to 16,000 acres if State Forest, which equals A LOT of trail riding.
I’d love to get the Thorowgood Endurance saddle, but just cannot afford it at this time.
Have a Thorowgood AP saddle which I love, but I think I need more of an endurance type of pad underneath.
What are your opinions on Gel Pads?
Pros - Cons? Thanks…:)[/QUOTE]
If your saddle fits properly and the stuffing is in good shape then the less pad the better.
The gel pads DO hold in heat and I personally wouldn’t use one.
I like a pad that wicks moisture away from the horse’s back.
added: And I am SO jealous of your new trails!!
Thanks - We move next month, but unfortunately there is still snow on the ground!
I moved to a barn with an indoor for the winter months, but give me trails any day!!! Way more fun…
This would be the woolback? http://www.hought.com/end.toklat%20hp%20wb%20all.p.eng.pad.html
Impact Gel pads are basically wool pads with a gel layer in the center that conforms to the horse’s back. I have a Mexican Mustang that gets girth rubs from neoprene and has high withers. We trail ride with him and my daughter uses him for barrel racing. The Impact Gel pads works really great and is the only pad that we use for him.
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