Mattes Halfpad

[directpressure]

@Melissa.Van.Doren Can you link that? Is it one of the below? https://www.doversaddlery.com/ultra-…ad/p/X1-19126/
https://www.doversaddlery.com/thinline-trifecta-cotton-pad/p/X1-19298/

I understand the narrow/wide tree information, but I have a medium tree because every instructor/trainer I have asked has said that is what I should get and I am listening to the people that helped me buy my saddle and train me.

The photo is not a very good one with the pad, I currently don’t own a half pad, which is why I am looking for one. My barn has half pads only like the one in the photo, which don’t help very much at all, but they require one to be used and that was probably all I could find (that photo was from a while ago, posted recently but taken a while ago). Again, coming back to the reason I need one. That day when I rode, the horse took off with me and (even though he does that often with everyone) I know saddle fit may have not been helping the case.

[directpressure]

Do you think the ThinLine is too thin? I love the reviews and look of it, it seems well supportive with good shock absorbing, but not too thick, just nervous about the thinness. Do/does you/anyone have a ThinLine and do they know?

[longtimelurker]

Quoting @Madison: "It really depends on what the real goal of using a halfpad is. If it is to absorb impact/provide shock absorption, then the thinline trifecta pad would be a great choice because it gives you the shock absorption without being really thick, but also has pockets to add shims to adjust saddle fit. I have a Mattes quilted pad and a Thinline trifecta and they are roughly the same thickness before shims are added. "

Quoting @Melissa.Van Doren : “With a medium tree, your best bet is a ThinLine Trifecta, without shims.”

Both of those posters have first-hand experience with both pads and seem to have answered your questions . I know it can be overwhelming, but there’s lots of good advice from knowledgable folks here.

[directpressure]

@longtimelurker I am not going against their advice! I am just trying to get the most in depth, fullest answers I am able to achieve. I haven’t been rude or gone against them, I may be re-asking things, but thats merely because it either wasn’t clear or wasn’t what I needed to know. For the pads, do they come with or without shims in them? I am looking to have a half pad to absorb shock and offer some comfortability to horses considering the saddle I ride them in wasn’t fit to them. I would use it on every horse I rode (almost every time unless there is a special occasion) and want to know everything I can know before purchase. Thank you.

[directpressure]

I am reading back now, and have noticed I may have skimmed over a few details noted, and re asked questions/made myself unclear. I apologize, but I am not overwhelmed @longtimelurker. Thank you for looking out for me, but I am aware the advice being given is a privilege and am happy to have access to being able to use this source.

[Scribbler]

I haven’t used a shim pad, just a plain sheepskin Mattes. But as I understand it you can have a pad with shim pickets and choose not to put shims in at all. That would give you the most flexibility, though the pad would be initially more expensive.

I also suggest you go online and learn a bit about saddle fit, and if you can, have a session with a saddle fitter to map at least one horses back.

If you have more of a knowledge base about saddle fitting generally you will be able to evaluate what you need more accurately.

Thinlines sheepskins and shim pads ( which can be made of anything) do very different things and if you can’t trust your own opinion on what you need no one on here can, as we don’t see the horses or the saddle.

[directpressure]

@Scribbler I have provided a picture of my saddle a few replies back if you didn’t notice. The horses are constantly changing, often not the same one. I understand each pad is different, and that you cannot evaluate from not seeing things in real life. Although, the saddle I have has been in the past (bought used from someone who used it for the same thing as me, lessoning and only sold it because they bought a horse and got a custom fit) used for lessoning and variety. I will state this one more time, and one more time only. I am looking for a pad that will bring comfortability and stability to horse and rider when the saddle is placed on the back. Not something too thick, not something too thin, just something to help with a gap or a problem, not longterm, just for a lesson or so. This to help incase the saddle is putting pressure on one point or another during the ride, to provide a bit of a pressure release and shock absorbent feel from the rider. I am not going to go buy a different saddle for each lesson horse (obviously) and the lesson horses at my barn don’t have individual saddles. I know there are pads that are built to be used on multiple horses, and I am just looking to purchase the best one out there, thanks!

[directpressure]

@Jackie Cochran Wow, thank you so much! I will definitely look into it.