I always use a half pad and only Sedelogic - it’s one of the few brands on the market based on and developed after an extensive actual research. The merino pads are bulky & make my horse’s back sweat like crazy, gel distribute the weight unevenly, foam is not breathable…I have the full Sedelogic saddle pad which I use over a simple baby pad and I don’t have to worry about the saddle not fitting perfectly my changing 5y WB (this has been confirmed by my saddle fitter, who’s also an international dressage rider).
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My older mare is VERY sensitive. She had problems with pain around her heat cycles, and as we were working on reducing that she became… excessive… in her thoughts about saddle fit. If she is unhappy with saddle fit even with the girth still unbuckled, she will lie down or flip over. She gets pads with built in sheepskin underneath because then pads wrinkling relative to each other is not a concern. She’s so sensitive, it is in no way a concern for responsiveness and feel.
My youngster had a pad with built in sheepskin while waiting for her own saddle because it just made the fit of the saddle a bit better, but she’s currently definitely a no sheepskin girl. She is learning responsiveness and not as innately responsive as the older one - and not using the sheepskin makes communication with her clearly more ideal.
I’ve tried all sorts of half pads (thinline, sheepskin, memory foam, etc.) and I felt NO improvement in my horse. If you need one to shim a saddle, go for it. But if you are getting one just to add cushion or because you think you should have one, I wouldn’t bother. Mostly a waste of money IMO.
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I just had my 1.5 yr old saddle fitted/reflocked, and asked the saddle fitter that same question. I noticed many Olympic dressage riders used half pads, which was curious since I assumed their saddles were custom fit for their horses.
She said that a number of European saddle brands, even when custom fit, are made with the idea that they would be used with a half pad. My saddle is a Passier that was custom fit to my boy; I asked if adding a half pad would be like wearing thick socks with shoes that fit well. She said it’s more like having an orthotic in the shoe - extra padding, but doesn’t mess up the fit.
I like the idea of a half pad - I think changes in the back are smoothed over by the adaptability of soft sheepskin more than they are by firm leather. And I think cushion makes them more comfortable, just like cushy socks feel more comfortable to me, even while wearing shoes that fit well.
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This is the reason I opted for serge panels. They mold to a horse’s back much more readily than leather.
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Love serge panels - my Black Country Vinici had them. I believe they’re also cooler in summer, warmer in the winter than leather.
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