Gelpads and Halfpads

[directpressure]

I have been looking for a good half pad for a while now, and loved the gel pads before finding out they don’t provide as much support as they seem. If you were to stand on a gel-pad it is moving around, and wobbly, why wouldn’t that be the same case for the saddle? It moves! Although, I have recently found a new half pad, cheaper then the typical gel pad which is a regular fleece one, with a grippy bottom and on the sides of the half-pad it features gel highlights. In this saddlepad the gel is on the side, providing support to the sides of the saddle, but the thing gripping the horse is the grip on the bottom and the fleece so it is different. Do you think this is good for the horse, or gel as a whole is just not a good horse match.

Here is the link to the fleece with gel padding on the side half pad, what do you guys think? I do not want to waste my money on something that won’t benefit my horse and I. I have been looking into getting an Ogilvy as well, and will eventually, just not right now and this is more in my price budget, what do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/Kavallerie-Ai…avallerie&th=1

[sisu27]

I use an Acavallo gel pad and think it is amazing. I can’t see how much wobbling would occur?? Maybe we are talking different types but mine is honey comb and relatively thin. What I like is that it can’t compress to form hard spots like memory foam and most other pads. My old guy loves it (or so I think as he feels so much free-er.). He did not feel like that with Ogilvy, Thin Line etc.

I think Acavallo makes the pads that are gel+ something else as well. Personally I would not buy a technical pad that I could not touch and feel.

[directpressure]

@sisu27 Thanks for the response! Yeah I totally get what your point is, it seems great! The half-pad I linked is a bit cheaper then most, and has gel inserts. What do you think about that one?

[Madison]

Different halfpads and gel pads serve different purposes. Why do you need a half pad? that will help people make suggestions. For example, the Ogilvy pads are really thick, if your saddle fits your horse well, there is no room for an Ogilvy. So, with my young horse that my saddle fits, I use a thinline for a little bit of back protection. But with an older horse I am riding, whose back is a little lower, I use an Ogilvy to help the saddle fit and give him a little more cushion.

[Scribbler]

Is the general consensus that one always needs a shock absorbing pad for jumping?

My Passier dressage saddle has very soft flocking, and for a while was a titch wide in the gullet so I used a sheepskin Halfpad. Maresy grew into the saddle finally this past year and I now just use an Ogilvy cloth baby pad (for the nice high wither cut). She seems very comfortable.

However maresy also outgrew her jump saddle so it kind of floated around on her back. I’d been using that with a sheepskin Halfpad pad as well. And actually hadn’t been jumping in it for a while just practicing two point

If I go shopping for a new jump saddle should I assume it needs a Halfpad and fit for that, or is it fine to use a well fitted wool flocked jump saddle with just a cloth pad? If we worked back up to jumping it wouldn’t be more than two feet for a very long time

[directpressure]

I understand what you are all saying, but you aren’t quite answering my question. I can explain, because I haven’t above, that I am looking for a reasonably priced half pad. I will be using it for jumping and english mainly, I will also be using it on a variety of horses. The one I have linked in the original post is the one I am looking into, it seems very nicely priced for the quality. No, pads don’t always need to be shock absorbent, but I do not see harm in one having that highlight. My question is, what do you think about the half pad above? Brand, sizing, durability for an english 17 in saddle, and for comfortableness for a horse. If you do not have a direct answer to that, whatever you respond will most likely not be of much help. I love the brand Ogilvy for a magnitude of reasons, but I am now looking into a comfortable, lightweight half pad with support and grip and the one I linked above seems all that. I just would like some other equestrian input on it before going and buying it.

[Bogie]

@directpressure

I understand what you are all saying, but you aren’t quite answering my question. I can explain, because I haven’t above, that I am looking for a reasonably priced half pad. I will be using it for jumping and english mainly, I will also be using it on a variety of horses. The one I have linked in the original post is the one I am looking into, it seems very nicely priced for the quality. No, pads don’t always need to be shock absorbent, but I do not see harm in one having that highlight. My question is, what do you think about the half pad above? Brand, sizing, durability for an english 17 in saddle, and for comfortableness for a horse. If you do not have a direct answer to that, whatever you respond will most likely not be of much help. I love the brand Ogilvy for a magnitude of reasons, but I am now looking into a comfortable, lightweight half pad with support and grip and the one I linked above seems all that. I just would like some other equestrian input on it before going and buying it.

I’ve never heard of the brand. It looks like other popular brands but although their website says they are “#1 rated gel pad” I am suspicious. Personally, I don’t like Ogilvy pads. They are very thick and change the way a saddle fits. If you have your saddle fitted without one, adding one will make it too narrow.

If you don’t have a particular need for a gel pad, I’d buy a nice sheepskin half pad as the offer nice cushioning. If you want a gel pad specifically, the Acavallo are nice (and reasonably priced). Other “known” brands are Stephens, Thin Line (these are nice), Supracor (this is what I use).

I love my Supracor pads and you can sometimes find them on eBay (used) for a nice discount. They are spendy but they last forever and they offer excellent impact reduction and help keep your horse’s back cool.

[Bogie]

@Scribbler

Is the general consensus that one always needs a shock absorbing pad for jumping?

My Passier dressage saddle has very soft flocking, and for a while was a titch wide in the gullet so I used a sheepskin Halfpad. Maresy grew into the saddle finally this past year and I now just use an Ogilvy cloth baby pad (for the nice high wither cut). She seems very comfortable.

However maresy also outgrew her jump saddle so it kind of floated around on her back. I’d been using that with a sheepskin Halfpad pad as well. And actually hadn’t been jumping in it for a while just practicing two point

If I go shopping for a new jump saddle should I assume it needs a Halfpad and fit for that, or is it fine to use a well fitted wool flocked jump saddle with just a cloth pad? If we worked back up to jumping it wouldn’t be more than two feet for a very long time

You do not need to use a shock absorbing pad unless 1) your horse is older and you are looking for more protection 2) you are jumping a LOT of fences. If your saddle fits, a regular saddle pad is just fine. Half pads have become trendy so now everyone things they need one! I remember when gel pads first came out and we all wanted one. Turns out they were hot and didn’t do a great job of absorbing shock, but we thought they were the bees knees.

I use a Supracor pad because it doesn’t change the fit of my saddle, my first flight horse is 19, and because I foxhunt so I’m in two point a lot of the time. I use it the rest of the time because it’s very easy to keep clean and it keeps his back cool.

FWIW, my saddle fitter likes to add a good quality sheepskin half pad on older horses whose backs may have dropped a bit. He feels they are more comfortable with one.

[Jumping31]

Equigel is amazing! It is thin enough to put on another half pad on top. It is completely gel and covered in a light cloth and it is amazing for distributing weight and supporting the horses back and allowing a huge amount of motion. It is soft but supportive and really therapeutic for the horse as it can be used to offer heat or cold pack. After using this, I’ve never gone back to regular ole sheepskin half pads!

[directpressure]

I am not looking for a gel-pad everybody, not sure if you don’t understand or not hahaha. The half pad linked isn’t very thick, has fleece and gel shock absorbent sides to it. The whole pad is not gel. I am very surprised you haven’t heard of the company before, they have been popular for ages and almost every equestrian I know is aware of them. I do jump a good amount of fences, and I am looking for a half pad like so. I will be looking into a fleece works one or sheepskin too, but this one isn’t expensive. I need opinions on this one SPECIFICALLY. Not others, please everyone, do you not understand?

Thanks for all the responses! <3

[ToTheNines]

I linked to it after your post, and like the look of it very much. I have a wide-ish saddle, with which I use different half pads for different horses.

I put the pad in my Amazon cart, and am also hoping for some reviews! it is so reasonably priced compared to the Acavallo.

[directpressure]

@ToTheNines Thank you for that opinion, exactly what I was looking for. I am waiting on some more reviews, and it is also waiting in my cart before I make a decision to purchase or not. If you see anything let me know! I can definitely do the same!

[AmmyHunter]

@directpressure

I am not looking for a gel-pad everybody, not sure if you don’t understand or not hahaha. The half pad linked isn’t very thick, has fleece and gel shock absorbent sides to it. The whole pad is not gel. I am very surprised you haven’t heard of the company before, they have been popular for ages and almost every equestrian I know is aware of them. I do jump a good amount of fences, and I am looking for a half pad like so. I will be looking into a fleece works one or sheepskin too, but this one isn’t expensive. I need opinions on this one SPECIFICALLY. Not others, please everyone, do you not understand?

Thanks for all the responses! <3

Here’s a tip, when it seems like no one else understands, the problem might be the question not the answers . . . And getting snarky with people who tried to help will not encourage more responses. If you only want reviews of that pad, your original post needed to be a lot more clear, and it might help to go back and edit your first post and the title to focus the responses.

Also, just FYI, I’m not familiar with that brand but the pad you linked to and the Ogilvy would fit totally differently, so if this one would work with your saddle fit, the Ogilvy likely wouldn’t and vice versa.

[directpressure]

@AmmyHunter Thanks for the tip, but it isn’t needed here.

[Bogie]

Methinks this poster may be selling this pad …

[directpressure]

@Bogie I wish I was selling this pad lol, I am sadly not though.

[spaceagevalkyrie]

Well then.

[outside_leg]

Haven’t heard of the brand, and in my experience fleece is often a poor substitute for sheepskin. I’ve had success with gel pads on certain horses, but I used a combo of gel and genuine sheepskin, which offers better support. But you said you’re not looking for recommendations on other pads, just opinions on this one. So here’s my advice: trying to save money on an inferior product often means wasting that money because you’ll just need to replace it with a better made/more supportive/etc. product sooner rather than later. Save your money and buy the right halfpad. Preferably one that a reputable saddle fitter/vet recommends based on your horse’s specific needs.

[directpressure]

@outside_leg and others…

My gosh, I have stated above multiple times I DONT RIDE THE SAME HORSE EVERY TIME. This is for a magnitude of horses. People on forums just aggravate me, I will no longer be responding.

[ToTheNines]

I just ordered one, and thank you for the link and suggestion. It looks like a good half pad for an excellent price. Same idea as the Acavallo, but so much less expensive.

I ordered the one without the sheepskin rolls, but otherwise the same half pad as your link. I ride four horses in a wide-ish saddle, and the horse I am buying it for has a thin-ish tall-ish wither, very wide shoulder blades, a slight hollow behind the shoulder blades, and a very wide flat back. I will let you know how it works. He and I do not like the Ogilvy memory foam pad at all – gives a very unstable feeling because of his wide back and I am not very heavy. So far he has liked my Thinline with the quilt lining the best. But it is not quite enough. He also likes a special halfpad I made for him, with “scallops” cut out at the shoulder blades. All of these with a baby pad.

I will post a review. It is supposed to get here tomorrow. The fast shipping on Amazon is a miracle to me sometimes.