Hunter Pads - Numnah vs. Half Pad?

[Laphrena]

I’ve always used a sheepskin half pad to show Hunters in, but have seen people use numnahs too. I don’t prefer the look of them, but what do others think?

I have a TB cross with high withers and am still getting the saddle fit right. I think having just a half pad for shows is not enough padding - to school I use a jumper pad, western 1/2" felt pad that I’ve cut to the shape of a half pad, and then my Ogilvy half pad. I’ve shown with the shaped felt under my sheepskin half pad, but it’s not the best and you can see it.

Also, I’m showing in Canada! Hunters are less… serious… than in the US.

Suggestions?

TIA!

[LJ55]

Most of the people I have talked to have said anything but the big white square saddle blankets that look like mattresses but same over here in New Zealand, hunters shows tend to be pretty small.

also thought I would mention when I got my young horse I was advised against getting a saddle that would eventually fit (she was very scrawny no muscle/fat).That’s why I got a wintec, fits her fine fits me pretty well and doesn’t have any suede so can’t even tell in photos or from far away it is synthetic, but when she has finished filling out I will be investing in a better saddle.

[BostonHJ]

I have to say if you truly need all of that padding, it doesn’t sound like your saddle fits your horse particularly well. Most people now show in a fitted fleece pad (which can be configured with various shims) and that’s it; occasionally I see someone with an EquiFit half pad tucked under the fitted pad.

[kashmere]

I show pretty well everything in just a half pad. Also a monoflap saddle. Whoops! Whatever works for your horse and saddle is right. A white half pad is totally fine. I personally hate most fleece numnahs since I find they never have proper wither clearance or spine clearance and they slip all over the place.

[Backstage]

It’s probably a good thing that your horse has a large wither…that pad combination on my horse would just result in a lot of saddle side-slide! As others have said, it may just be more beneficial to address the saddle fit issue, and then use a simple pad or half pad, depending on your preference.

In terms of other options, I personally like the look of a shaped saddle pad. I have a high-wither version which is quite nice, though not really necessary for my guy. It is made by NuuMed and padding wise is probably thicker than many shaped pads. It looks like this http://www.bahrsaddlery.com/nuumed-hiwither-lightweight-wool-shaped-pad.html. It worked well when I had a saddle that was a touch wide for my horse.

You could also look at options that allow you to tweak saddle fit - this ecogold pad comes with riders that can be used to help with fit issues. https://ecogold.ca/shop/withercare-hunter-pad-560-with-front-risers/

[Sueby]

[QUOTE=Laphrena;8524154]
Also, I’m showing in Canada! Hunters are less… serious… than in the US.

Suggestions? TIA![/QUOTE]

Took a bit of offense to this as I show hunters in Canada. It is not less serious here than in the US. Do you show EC gold? If not, that may be why you get that impression.

Off my soap box now and back on topic:

I use a numnah, which is what almost everyone uses at our rated shows, half pads aren’t really seen much any longer. You may see the odd one, but over all, mostly numnahs. Square pads aren’t seen at all unless it’s a schooling show or clinic. My second hunter uses a numnah with an ogilvy hunter pad.

[Laphrena]

Sorry Sueby, I didn’t mean to offend. I do show EC Gold but lower heights. In Alberta, it seems to be all about Jumpers. There aren’t many riders that show above 3’ Hunters - if you’re jumping that high, you’ve moved over to Jumpers.

I looked at some old pictures of my horse and his half-pad… and he looks very round! I’ll pick up a numnah which I think will be more flattering. Thank you for the suggestions!