I typically ride in a natural color sheepskin half pad. I purchased a full shaped pad to use hunting, but really prefer the half pad. I believe that no pad is ok (but who does that?) and that the full shaped pad is ok (in white), so would my sheepskin half pad pass muster?
In our hunt, you use what your horse needs, within reason. While I haven’t seen anyone out in a half pad, I don’t think they’d be sent home for coming out in one. From what I recall, natural colored pads were considered “more correct,” but almost everyone I know hunts in white pads.
You can always check with the master(s) to be sure.
Certainly, you can use one. However, if you are in a fast hunt or you stay out for hours, consider if you really want the salt from your horse’s sweat being in direct contact with your saddle flaps.
I hunt every horse in my barn in a 1/2 pad. 20 of 'em.
Of course.
I hunt my horse in a half pad.
The saddle I usually hunt in is a wintec, so no worries about sweat against leather. Obviously this isn’t traditional, but most of the fixtures we hunt are so muddy that even several members of the staff use synthetic tack.
The other thing you can do if worried about sweat but you need to use a half pad for protection is layer the half pad on top of the shaped pad. My horse now that he is older needs a corrective half pad every ride and it layers fine over the shaped pad. He gets pretty sweaty out hunting and i wouldn’t want to use just the half pad.
I hunt in a very thin (two layers of fabric quilted together, no fill) shaped pad and a wool half pad.
Thanks so much for the replies–very helpful!
(and, I kinda like cleaning tack–so no worries there!)
