Just got an M2 Lite pad by Reinsman to try…thought the slight build up in the bars was nice without being overdone like the swayback pad (we don’t need that) Verdict is still out on heat build up. FWIW the sweat pattern was nice but the waffle impression was weird…
Just wanted to see what others thought. I do have a Diamond wool felt pad but decide to try this for the slight saddle shift we experience from time to time.
TIA for your input!
I’ve been using a tacky tack pad (one of the ones that has no blanket or felt over it, just the foam over the mesh/waffle stuff) for several years-no problems, the horse that always has a nice sweat pattern always has a nice sweat pattern, the horse that often has a not so nice sweat pattern has a not so bad sweat pattern. I also use wool felt and sheepskin and generic cotton English pads depending on my mood and the weather and the saddle I’m riding that day.
I havent noticed any problems for the horse using it. I have a similar English AP shaped pad that I seldom used because the straps on it were annoying, not to mention superfluous, so I cut them off. Those suckers do not slip or travel around, so why the heck put straps on it?
It is a great convenience being able to hose the thing off, too. Longest rides taken with this type of pad has been, I dont know, fifteen miles or so, maybe? Since I live in the Deep South and routinely ride in temperatures around a hundred and heat indices higher than that, I would expect that if they could cause significant heat buildup that my horses would have blistered backs. They dont.
Jeano, thank you sooo much!! I was questioning my purchase since there seems to be much debate over the material to put on a horses back. I trust your input, esp being in the south and so will try it again.
Any concern over the waffle weave pattern appearing on the horses back or just ignore it?
My only issue with the “tacky” material has been in the springtime when the horses are shedding out. . .the hair just seems to cling. Sweat may rinse away, but the hair sticks.
Still, I have a few pads with that material (one is Reinsman with microsuede-type top, the others are a different brand with a rougher nylon top) and they work very well.
Thanks Jolly Badger. I will keep that in mind. I am apprehensive about scalding my mares back in the heat, but so far it doesn’t seem to be a problem.
I have a Reinsman Tacky Too pad. I really like it for the ease of cleaning and it fits nicely on my horse. But I only use it for short rides. The one time that I did use it for a longer ride (23 miles) I noticed my mare had skin sensitivity where the pad was. During the ride I experienced more slippage from side to side. I don’t know whether my mare was irritated because I had to keep adjusting the saddle or if in fact it was from the heat. Prior to this I had ridden her in all temps with no problems, but they were shorter rides.
Amy
Hate the stuff. I have 2 of them, they caused white hairs on two different horses. And I can’t tell what they did to the 2 greys
We also ride in the deep south, central Georgia. Hot or hotter
If you need to help keep your horse back cool get a Dixie Midnight or the knock off (to try cheap to see if you like it) to use under your good wool pad. These are also hosed off and it will keep the underside of your pad like new.
I have one, used it a while, didn’t much care for it. My mare particularly didn’t much like it, don’t know whether it was the heat or the feel of rubber. I think it’s floating around in my basement somewhere.
But then, I hate all things neoprene.
Thanks all for your input. Tried it today and it did pretty well. No humidity here though and it wasn’t overly hot. I will probably stick with wool when it comes to longer rides tho…
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