hello everyone! i am in search of a new half pad. i use to use the europa by ovation sheepskin half pad, but i accidentally put it through the wash and it shrunk:(.
soo, i sold it and now im looking for a new halfpad! i dont think i want sheepskin again, just because it holds smell and theyre difficult to keep clean. ive been looking at ogilvy and ecogold, but i cant choose what one i want. its hard because there are such mixed reviews on each. some people love their ecogold, but other people would love to burn theirs. same with ogilvy.
with my horse, i currently use a wilkers half pad (the hunter jumper one) that i bought for an old lease horse a few years ago. my horse does great with this half pad, but its starting to stain and get old so its time to move on from it. my horse has barely any withers, hes a little chubby, and he has wide shoulders. and before any of you guys say i dont need a half pad if my saddle fits, it does fit him. but he gets back sore sometimes, and using a half pad is great with that and he never gets a sore back when i use one.
i have never felt an ogilvy or ecogold before since the tack shops in my area dont carry them. so im not sure how thick each pad is. i know the standard ogilvy half pad is 1" thick, and the gummy pad is 0.5" thick, so if i got an ogilvy i would want the gummy version. because i dont need a super thick pad. THAT will make my saddle not fit. but, the ecogold is also 1" thick. and i also read that both half pads will soften and get thinner when you sit in the saddle, so maybe that wont be an issue? i just dont know.
my horse also is a sweat machine, it could be -20 degrees out and he’ll still sweat. its just the way he is. so, i know the ecogold would be better for that, since it has ventilation and the ogilvy doesnt…
but i just dont know D: im so stuck on this. im thinking im just gonna have to try out both and see how they work.
so what im asking is, what do you guys think i should do- keep in mind the build of my horse. no withers, chubby, and wide shoulders. what do you use on your horse? do you have any problems with either?
i have also read multiple reviews and articles comparing the two, but im still stuck.
I’ve used Ogilvy for the past six years and will never look back - actually got some people at my current barn using them too!
First time I got one was to help my cold backed Oldenburg Hunter. Totally changed how accepting he was to mounting (it was a 10 minute process some days when he was young. He just has a cold cold back. The memory foam absorbs shock and I think it helps him much more than the Mattes I’ve tried. I know my trainers rode him in other pads, but he goes happiest in the Ogilvy. I got their hunter pad with the built in half pad for shows.
I’ve used it on countless other horses, too, and now it’s just a staple in my riding career. My jumper goes in one, my OTTB’s go in it, I put it on my old pony when I hack her out, I just love love love it. I also notice a huge difference in my back/pelvis when I use it. I broke my pelvis four years ago and could always feel how much it hurt when I was riding in a gel pad or something of that nature vs. my Ogilvy.
FWIW I have always used the original pad and not the gummy one.
Maybe also check out thinline pads. Shock absorption without being thick. And you can get ones that are shimmable if you need it in the future.
okay awesome! im leaning a little bit towards an ogilvy just because i love how cushiony it is, i think that would really help support his back so he doesnt get sore. plus a couple people have told me that they dont lose their thickness, unlike the ecogold apparently. if i try both ill definitely try the ogilvy first!!
i was thinking about those too… i just wasnt sure on how much cushion it gave
The Thinline pads aren’t squishy but the material is shock-absorbing. I prefer the Thinline. With the Ogilvy (the original, have not tried the gummy) I feel like I have no contact with the horse’s back and I’m sitting way off them.
I have the Thinline Trifecta cotton half pad, which is not bulky, no sheepskin, and can be shimmed if needed. I’ve had several saddle fitters recommend them and also like that they don’t change the fit of your saddle.
Another vote for thinline. I have a qh mare that can be a tiny tricky to fit but the thinline makes it perfect. (she like yours has almost no withers and wide shoulders)
I’ve heard a lot of great things about ThinLine, but have yet to try them. The ones I have that aren’t fleece are from Skito (it was what my local tack shop carried at the time and worked for the horse I had; I’ve had mine for 10 years and am not sure if they still make them, as their site doesn’t seem to be very helpful, but I like mine) and the foam Roma Pro-Tek pads, which come in a variety depending on what your horse needs. Neither are trendy or stylish, but functional and won’t break the bank.
I second the original Ogilvy half pad. I use it almost every ride, depending on what I’m doing with my horse. It is nice for jumping and impact control, however I do feel like it makes you feel “above” your horse. It does compact after some time but if you are a fan of close contact, this may not be the half pad for you.
On days where I’m flatting and want to feel closer to my horse, I go without. My saddle fits with or without the extra support, so it works for us. There is quite a bit of material associated with them, and the shims are removable for easy washing (I find they pick up dust, woodchips, basically anything like crazy). They are quite pretty though and trendy.
