New Half Pad- Ogilvy?

[RBH411]

I’m looking to update my Mattes half pad- it’s starting to look a little too used for shows. I see so many people using and talking about Ogilvy half pads, I have to wonder if I should consider one instead of another Mattes, but I’m not sure it will do what I want, hence the below…

My gelding has some withers and not the strongest of top lines, so the Mattes with rear shims has worked well for us. I like the idea of the memory foam in the Ogilvys though, just am unsure of what the foam air raiser pad inserts are. Do they act just like any other type of shim? Any other thoughts?

[541hunter]

I have an Ogilvy. It’s very cute. But I wouldn’t say I LOVE it. I ride lots of different horses so I needed something that I could transfer from one to another but it doesn’t work for quite a few of the horses I ride, particularly those with bulkier withers/shoulders – it just adds too much in front. It really is like riding on a cloud, and I’m starting to realize I don’t really like that feeling so much. I feel very separated from the horse. Maybe if I had the gummy version, it would work better.

Couldn’t tell you about the inserts – I haven’t toyed with those before.

[Elementgrl2]

You should try the new Acavallo Memory 1/2 Pad you can get it normal or with front riser, rear riser and middle riser built in. It’s also half the price of the Ogilvy pad.

[QUOTE=RBH411;8094690]
I’m looking to update my Mattes half pad- it’s starting to look a little too used for shows. I see so many people using and talking about Ogilvy half pads, I have to wonder if I should consider one instead of another Mattes, but I’m not sure it will do what I want, hence the below…

My gelding has some withers and not the strongest of top lines, so the Mattes with rear shims has worked well for us. I like the idea of the memory foam in the Ogilvys though, just am unsure of what the foam air raiser pad inserts are. Do they act just like any other type of shim? Any other thoughts?[/QUOTE]

[Cabaret_SK]

I love my shimmable Thinline pad.

[Horse_are_my_life190]

Another vote for thinline. I feel ogivly is a fad. There is no science out there (that I have found) to back up how it works. If anything I would think the memory foam would compress and create pressure points as you ride. Just my opinion though. I could be wrong.

[eclipse]

I still prefer my mattes sheepskin 1/2 pad. We used an Ogilvie on my horse (while I’m waiting for my new saddle trainer thought the Ogilvie would help) all it did was create worse pressure points and little bumps on my horses back! Vet and saddle fitter recommended removing the Ogilvie and using the sheepskin mattes by itself… Rubs and bumps have disappeared .

I still believe that sheepskin is some of the best material (hospitals use it still ) and Ogilvies are a fad and can be much too bulky!

[morsekg]

[QUOTE=RBH411;8094690]

My gelding has some withers and not the strongest of top lines, so the Mattes with rear shims has worked well for us. I like the idea of the memory foam in the Ogilvys though, just am unsure of what the foam air raiser pad inserts are. Do they act just like any other type of shim? Any other thoughts?[/QUOTE]

I have the front inserts for an Ogilvy - they are literally the same foam as the pad, but only fill the front or the back with an extra 1" layer. They worked for me for a while (with the 1" thickness half pad, not 1 1/4" that’s standard), although it was really hard to girth my saddle since it sat so high when I started. The bad part with these inserts is that they aren’t adjustable. My horse’s workload increased since his brother was out of commission and this caused his back to change and the inserts became too much but without wasn’t enough. I ended up back with my trusty Mattes pad. So unless you expect your horse’s back to remain that shape I wouldn’t recommend it.

I agree that in general I’m just kind of meh on my Ogilvy half pads (I have one 1" and one 1 1/4") and I always consider selling one or both but haven’t yet. I like the feel for my back but it doesn’t always help my saddle fit (especially when the saddle fits well without), sometimes I feel like my horses can’t feel subtle cues as well, and I like the spine clearance the Mattes creates.

[Appsolute]

I am THRILLED with my Prolite pad.

I have a mattes pad, and a thinline, and had been switching between both on my horse - never noticed much of a difference in the way she went.

And then I tried a Prolite pad - and WHOA, suddenly she was really swinging from behind, and just felt great.

Prolite has shim-able versions as well - if you do a search, you will see a number of saddle fitters on her recommend these pads.

http://www.prolitepads.com/

[horsegal301]

[QUOTE=Horse_are_my_life190;8095159]
Another vote for thinline. I feel ogivly is a fad. There is no science out there (that I have found) to back up how it works. If anything I would think the memory foam would compress and create pressure points as you ride. Just my opinion though. I could be wrong.[/QUOTE]
Sold my ogilvy… didn’t think it was worth the $$. Sure, it’s cute, but with even mediocre sewing skills, you can make your own half pad (of any brand) cover.

[Kalele]

If you want to go Ogilvy I’d suggest borrowing one to see how it works with your saddle and horse. The memory foam especially can make saddles slip depending on how the horse is built.

[Belmont]

I didn’t hate my Ogilvy, but I didn’t love it. It slipped to the right a lot (I see it do that in other people’s pictures too), and it wasn’t flattering with my saddle. It was also very bulky. I did get my grubby hands on a Lami-Cell at a Dover Sale, and I’m going to get one of those. Felt great under the saddle on the dummy, and it was the perfect thickness. It’s also sleek.

Great thing about Ogilvys? GREAT resell value. I sold mine for almost as much as I paid 6+ months later with a decent about of use.

[akhunterrider]

I just ordered an Ogilvy today. A stock one from Farm House. It should be here Monday. My new to me saddle should be here tomorrow. I’m going to try the pad with my saddle, but if it doesn’t work I was told I could return it. Otherwise I’m sure I can easily sell it. I’ve wanted to try one forever and I finally am. I am unsure of if it will work, but at least after this I’ll know.

[largo]

I just got my Ogilvy a few weeks ago and I’ve been sadly disappointed. I love the colors and the material but something about it just isn’t quite working. I’ve been riding a lot of horses recently and it does the trick for some of them but I think with the front raisers it creates some pressure points in my guy’s shoulders… without the inserts the saddle sits a little low so I need something more inbetween. Something else seems a little off too but I’m not sure what yet. I may return to my trusty fleeceworks.

[borntobewild129]

i like my ogilvy for my horse, he’s not weirdly shaped and i have used it on other horses and sometimes it just doesnt work. but as long as it works for him i dont care

[StormWarriorC]

I love my Ogilvy, I really do. I’m a huge fan of the brand, and the product. It has worked beautifully for my cold backed horse, and he goes so much better with the Ogilvy under my saddle - so much so that I bought one of their hunter shaped pads to use at shows. He goes beautifully.

It’s going to be an individual thing. It’s going to be just what works best for you, and your horse. There’s a horse at my barn who hates Ogilvy, Thinline, and anything but his regular gel under a felt pad. I would borrow one to see what your horse likes.

[RBH411]

Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions! It definitely gives me more to think about!

[cswoodlandfairy]

I have a high withered TB and I use to use a Mattes pad with a Thinline ultra under if for shock absorbency. I was reluctant at the time to get an Ogilvy because they seemed to be a fad, but after doing some researching and reading reviews I decided to give it a shot. Got one made and I will never go without.

I even tested it where I rode in it a week, was AMAZED at the difference in my horse (who also gets easily back sore) and then tried one day flatting without it and it was the most jarring experience I ever had. Even my horse was pissy by the end of my ride. Since they I never ride without it.

The Ogilvys can also be shimmed in case its needed, I think the shims are only $25?!?

I was the first one at my barn to get it and after I raved about the difference and my trainer saw it she tried it for a super back sensitive horse and it was a night and day difference and she no longer rides without and tells her students to invest in them if their horses need something.

[french_fry]

I like the Lami-Cells and they are so affordable.

I really like the look of the Acavallo pads as well, they seem to have a lot less bulk than Ogilvy pads, which I am not at all a fan of.

[akhunterrider]

I got my Ogilvy in yesterday and I rode in it last night. I have a fairly large shouldered horse who wears a pretty wide saddle, so I was skeptical of the Ogilvy being too much. However, I am very happy with it, at least after only one ride. It didn’t effect the fit of my saddle negatively. I felt like it had good cushion and shock absorption, which is what I was wanting.

The materials and quality of the pad are very, very good. My only big complaint would be the price, which is the only reason I have thought about sending it back.

[ALTERthepress]

I had an extensive conversation with my saddle fitter the other day, and he was vehemently against the ogilvy pads. Apparently they often cause the saddle to shift around too much on the horse’s back, and are just generally more of a fad and less of an impressive product.