Need gel saddle pad advice

[BuckeyeFoodie]

Hi all! Saddle Seat rider here looking for gel saddle pad advice.

I would like to get a gel pad to help with shock-absorbtion on my new mare. I use a nice Ra-Don quilted pad at home, but we ride a lot harder at shows than at home and I’d like a little something extra (can’t use the work pad in competition) to keep her comfy.

There are pads available for cutbacks that are acceptable to show with, but they are foam vs gel, and I don’t think they’re as good at shock absorbtion.

My saddle is a 23" cutback, and I’ve only been able to find one gel pad that will fit the length (and can be trimmed to fit the shape): the Acavallo Light Weight Gel Pad. Does anyone have experience with this pad, or does anyone know of a better alternative?

And before you all ask, yes, my saddle fits her well. I’m just looking to help keep her as comfortable as possible.

Any help you can give me would be great!

[LilDunFilly]

My trainer uses an Acavallo Gel Massage pad for her horses and loves it. She tried other brands, but found a lot of the tacky ones either shredded or got really sticky/gummy/dirty with a lot of use (used under a saddle pad and against the back).

[SonnysMom]

I have talked to my independent saddle fitter who I have known for 19 years. She does not like gel pads in general She feels the gel moves out of the high pressure areas and do not provide support where you would need it. She is also certified in human and equine massage therapy.
In general she prefers a well fit wool flocked saddle. Second choice would be a wool pad/half pad with or without felt shims if necessary.
I know nothing about Saddle Seat. To my knowledge my saddle fitter knows quite a bit about traditional English, Western and Driving. I do not know if she works with any Saddle Seat horses.

[BuckeyeFoodie]

Interesting! I can definitely imagine the shifting happening with gel now that you mention it. Maybe I do need to look into felt… my saddle is well-flocked (with wool!) but I’m tall and heavier, so I’m just trying to give my girl some extra cushion.

In general, pads are “frowned upon” in Saddle Seat, partly because tradition, but mostly because in ye olden times you would only see them in a show ring being used to pad up a low-backed horse, so they have been fairly stigmatized (kind of a “well what are you hiding under there?” situation). Even using a pad in training is more about keeping your saddle clean than actual padding.

[luvmyhackney]

As a former saddleseat show person, we used a Thinline pad and cut to fit under saddle at shows.

Basic English Horse Saddle Pads & Blankets - White & Black

For at home we used sheepskin half pad on a handful of horses that needed to build muscle.

[Demerara_Stables]

I’d also recommend sheepskin over gel. Mattes makes contoured pads with sheepskin under the seat (not the flaps) that don’t have rolled edges so are pretty low profile: https://shop.mattes-equestrian.us/saddle-pads/english-pads/contoured-pad.html (scroll through the photos and you’ll see an example).

They make a lot of different kinds of pads, so you may be able to poke around and find one that fits your saddle perfectly.

[lorilu]

@SonnysMom

She does not like gel pads in general She feels the gel moves out of the high pressure areas and do not provide support where you would need it.

The Acavallo “gel” pad I have has hexagon shaped open “cells” on the bottom. It acts like a gel pad but it’s not “gel”…

[Demerara_Stables]

Required video on half pad materials: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cm-EKZlu8Dd/