Half Pad Woes

[KandC]

Mare came up really tight through her withers on chiropractic adjustment, likely due to saddle fit. Unfortunately, due to finances/she is a lease, a custom saddle is not in her immediate future. I’d like her to be comfortable though.

Currently, she’s in a 36 cm Prestige Nona Garson with an Ogilvy pad to raise the panels off her shoulders. It fits ok. She’s the most comfortable she’s been. Vet and trainer agree it’s an ok combination but could be better.

We’ve tried: Beval wool (ok), Thinline Trifecta (hated it), Ogilvy (likes it best).

Previous riders have used Beval wool and a Tad Coffin half pad.

So I’m looking for a princess and the pea situation: lift the saddle while providing minimal padding near the withers. Also, I’m a snob :lol: so I really don’t want to do the foam risers. Next step was to try a fleece half pad (Mattes or Fleeceworks).

Suggestions?

[Madison]

I use the Mattes shimmable half pad without the sheepskin, which allows you to adjust the shims in front and back pockets for maximum flexibility.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/b/7332

I believe ECG (??) makes a knock-off that is cheaper with similar design, I’ve seen it at Dover.

[ToTheNines]

I have two with very broad withers (shoulder blades) and a dip behind the withers. I have a fabulous Tad Coffin saddle that runs on the wide side, but all of my horses love.

Get a half pad you can cut with scissors. I have used Thinline, Lamicell, and another one I forget the name of. Place pad on horses back. Lift up a bit and make sure it is exactly where it will be when used with saddle. Trace behind bulge of shoulder blades with marker. Trim off that part. Use the side you traced and cut, as pattern for other side.

The cut out part will be a sort of scallop, almost like this ) but flatter at the top and not curved back in at bottom. I like the curved fetlock shears for the cutting job.

If the pad I have shaped in this manner is thin and the horse needs more half pad, I get a Dover half pad – the one that opens all the way down the back – take out the shims that come with it, and put my shaped half pad in it.

Use with a nice baby pad at home. The Thinline one I did is best for shows, when used with a fuzzy shaped hunter show pad.

This is an example of a pad you can modify as described above:
https://www.thinlineglobal.com/shop/english-saddle-pads/thinline-english-contour-best-shock-absorbing-saddle-pad

Need a photo?

There is a new half pad being advertised that they call the “S-curve” pad i think, but I am not 100% happy with its shape. But same concept as mine.

[emeraldcity]

http://www.freestridersaddlepads.com/

[NotAtTheBarn]

I have been really happy with my Thinline Trifecta pad. It can be shimmed up in the front or back depending on your needs. https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/b/6794

[fourfillies]

I did exactly the same as to the nines with a Thinline and a shimmable Fleeceworks. Worked well and passable to show.

[KandC]

Unfortunately, she hated the Thinline with or without shims- I have the Trifecta. I was thinking about trying the sheepskin version…

[IPEsq]

The Saddle Right pad is not very thick and will provide some lift off the withers. I was able to do a trial through Running Fox. Didn’t wind up working for me, but may be something worth trying here.

http://www.runningfox.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_images.tpl&product_id=124&category_id=25&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=44

[Mia_Sorella]

Never tried one myself, but have heard great things about the Prolite pads:

http://www.prolitepads.com/index.php

[buck22]

I was going to suggest a SaddleRight pad. You can find them in good condition used sometimes too. They distribute the pressure of the saddle + rider evenly, so if its just a question of pressure points from a close but not-so-perfect fit, it may work well for you.

I have a prolite pad for my driving horse’s harness saddle and he is very happy with it as well, though its not on the same level as a Saddle Right pad in terms of weight distribution.

[Belmont]

Have you tried the Ecogold Flip? I quite like mine due to it being less bulk than the Ogilvy, and it provides enough comfort and cushion for me.

However, I plan to sell it for an Equifit or Invictus at some point.

[Peggy]

You can trial an Invictus via Mary’s Tack and Feed, IIRC. I like mine–can feel the horse better than with my (admittedly fairly old) SaddleRite pad.

[RugBug]

I use a Mattes with custom shaped inserts. Saddle fitter cut the front inserts so they are much narrower from top to bottom as we didn’t want any more bulk under the stirrup bar or around the withers. This has worked for me.

I have used a thick Tad Coffin wither relief, Beval wool, Thinline, ECP, Ogilvy, Toklat Super Quilt, Fleeceworks…you name it and I’ve probably tried it with one horse or another.

The only one that both my horse and I have objected to was the Ogilvy. I felt so perched over my horse instead of around her that when she protested, I was happy.

I currently want to try the Thinline Sheepskin correction pad…but that’s a lot of money just to give something a try.

I’ve heard some good things about the Cloud Nine saddle pads but have no practical experience with them.

[Pokerface]

My horse responded great to a shoulder relief girth. It helped the saddle stay where it should and gives her shoulder lots of room to move. I got the pleather tekna one through Amazon. We won’t be going back to regular girths!

[Write_amp_Ride]

This Fleeceworks pad is nice because it doesn’t have the fleece to add any bulk and you can add inserts front and rear. This is a reasonably priced choice, too.

http://marystack.com/fleeceworks-perfect-balance-quilted-half-pad/
http://marystack.com/fleeceworks-plus-foam-rear-inserts/

Incidentally, Peggy mentioned the Invictus pad; Mary’s Tack is able to trial those locally but sending them out of town isn’t feasible. There is a version, the Equality, that is shimmable. It offers outstanding shock absorption for a very thin pad.
The Toklat Matrix pads are nice and come in a huge array of choices. All things being equal though, the Fleeceworks is a great economical choice. Hope you find the perfect one for your mare!

[SonnysMom]

So you mentioned: chiropractor, vet and trainer. You did not mention saddle fitter. Find a good one and have your saddle fitted to your professionally. A good fitter can you you with the right pad/half pad and shims in the right places. Tell them upfront that you don’t do foam risers.
Ask if you can send pictures of your horses back before they come so they have a good idea of what to bring with them.
A good independent saddle fitter is worth their weight in gold.

[IPEsq]

[QUOTE=Write&Ride;8919766]
This Fleeceworks pad is nice because it doesn’t have the fleece to add any bulk and you can add inserts front and rear. This is a reasonably priced choice, too.

http://marystack.com/fleeceworks-perfect-balance-quilted-half-pad/
http://marystack.com/fleeceworks-plus-foam-rear-inserts/

Incidentally, Peggy mentioned the Invictus pad; Mary’s Tack is able to trial those locally but sending them out of town isn’t feasible. There is a version, the Equality, that is shimmable. It offers outstanding shock absorption for a very thin pad.
The Toklat Matrix pads are nice and come in a huge array of choices. All things being equal though, the Fleeceworks is a great economical choice. Hope you find the perfect one for your mare![/QUOTE]

Bit of Britain will ship out trials of the Invictus pad.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8919925]
So you mentioned: chiropractor, vet and trainer. You did not mention saddle fitter. Find a good one and have your saddle fitted to your professionally. A good fitter can you you with the right pad/half pad and shims in the right places. Tell them upfront that you don’t do foam risers.
Ask if you can send pictures of your horses back before they come so they have a good idea of what to bring with them.
A good independent saddle fitter is worth their weight in gold.[/QUOTE]

This is what I would do. I would forget all the “hype” half pads and have a fitter come shim up a plain old shimmable “shell” pad. If you want to splurge a bit more you could do a mattes sheepskin or a saddlerite or other type shimmable pad. But without an experienced fitter to help you figure out how/where to shim, it’s not as useful. And just shoving a non-shimmed, one consistent thickness pad under there is unlikely to help in the same way as clever shimming.

[Licious]

A 36cm Prestige is pretty wide, if you are needing the half pad to lift the front, what about having your prestige adjusted down to a 35cm? This is usually ~$120, might end up costing less than a new half pad.

Just a thought?

[jen-s]

I agree with Licious. I have a 35cm Prestige, but my mare is 1/4 Clyde. Can you post pics of your horse’s back without the saddle and then with the saddle (with/without any pads) when it’s girthed up?