A friend sent me this link to the new Wilker’s half pad- she knows I love to color-coordinate everything, so it’s right up my alley.
However, as they’re new, I can’t find any reviews for them… Has anyone used one or seen one?
Thanks!
http://www.wilkers.com/new-products.html
(it’s the first one!)
Hi there,
We sell them and love them! They are thinner than the Ogilvy pads and less slippy because of the flannel on the bottom.
They are also a little more structured and seem to fit the saddle a bit more than other pads. . . I know that sounds weird, but they don’t look huge under the saddle is really what I’m saying.
The other wonderful thing is that they are made by Wilkers who get things done super quickly as well as having wonderful customer service! We love everything they do!
We are also doing a holiday special with a half pad, matching quilted pad (A/P or Dressage) and a custom bonnet all to match.
Any comments on cleaning? The Ogilvy has a cover that comes off for washing but this looks like one piece and says “spot clean only” which concerns me!
A friend has one. It’s nice but seems very thick with a ton of padding. Very pillow like.
ETA: though she got it close to a year ago so it may have been an earlier thicker version.
Following this as I’m considering one as well…
We’ve been selling a ton at my tack shop. We just did matching custom colors for a whole barn. They wash and wear very well.
[QUOTE=shedllybip;8388683]
We’ve been selling a ton at my tack shop. We just did matching custom colors for a whole barn. They wash and wear very well.[/QUOTE]
A whole barn and not one person’s saddle fits within padding up?!
Not all Ogilvy’s are washable. The gummy pad for example. These are one piece, but clean up quite nicely. I wash mine on gentle and hang to dry.
We have been doing a lot of big custom orders as well. Even as a saddle fitter, I find that arguing against trainers and trends is impossible. If we won’t order the matching pads, someone else will. The reason I love the Wilker’s pad is because it is thinner and doesn’t seem to create any unnecessary pressure points. I always try to encourage proper saddle fit first, but if a college team or large barn wants matching pads, I have to take the word of their trainers that they need/want them.
It’s spot clean recommended, but I have washed mine, and it washes great. I know someone else at the barn who also washes theirs with no problem. I do allow it to air dry, though.
I agree with IndyEquestrian, the fit is really good. (At least for my saddle, I can’t speak for others.) Overall, it’s a very nice pad.
Wilker’s has a more detailed description you can read for yourself:
http://shop.wilkers.com/hunter-jumper-memory-foam-half-pad/
The description says the memory foam is 1" thick. Does it compress a lot? That seems thick… I ride now with a fairly standard sheepskin 1/2 pad - Mattes and another one I got at a Dover tent sale, so I can’t remember the name - but this looks like it might be a little better looking for shows.
I’m worried about the thickness a little though. Any experiences?
Er, so these are great because they’re thin enough to not really do much?! Uh… duly noted I guess. Doesn’t that beg the question of why bother? Is being matchy matchy really so important that all semblence of logic goes completely out the window?
I mean, can you imagine everyone in your workplace going to the podiatrist and ordering matching orthodic shoes just for the look of it?
At some point, it’s just so silly. Well fitting saddles don’t need half pads. From the looks of it, this doesn’t do much of anything except maybe narrow the space of your saddle slightly. What is the POINT of doing that unless your saddle is a smidge wide? Just to look the same? Then getting matching A/P pads! I mean… it’s getting ridiculous now.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with wanting to match.
As far as whether to use a half pad or not, everybody has their own personal preference and has a right to their opinion. Speaking as someone who has seen and uses this half pad, I don’t think it’s too thin or too thick. I think it is just right. When it comes out of the package, it appears thick, but once it is placed on the horse, the parts of the half pad that the saddle sits on compresses to about 1/4". I like the idea of trying to make it as comfortable as possible for my horse when I am riding.
[QUOTE=vxf111;8389404]
Er, so these are great because they’re thin enough to not really do much?! Uh… duly noted I guess. Doesn’t that beg the question of why bother? Is being matchy matchy really so important that all semblence of logic goes completely out the window?
I mean, can you imagine everyone in your workplace going to the podiatrist and ordering matching orthodic shoes just for the look of it?
At some point, it’s just so silly. Well fitting saddles don’t need half pads. From the looks of it, this doesn’t do much of anything except maybe narrow the space of your saddle slightly. What is the POINT of doing that unless your saddle is a smidge wide? Just to look the same? Then getting matching A/P pads! I mean… it’s getting ridiculous now.[/QUOTE]
Have you heard the expression, “don’t yuck other people’s yums”? Don’t want one? Don’t get one! It’s that easy! No need to disparage those who make that choice, whatever their reasons. I just don’t seem harm in it, if the horse and rider are both comfortable and happy.
[QUOTE=longtimelurker;8389723]
Have you heard the expression, “don’t yuck other people’s yums”? Don’t want one? Don’t get one! It’s that easy! No need to disparage those who make that choice, whatever their reasons. I just don’t seem harm in it, if the horse and rider are both comfortable and happy.[/QUOTE]
Don’t post on a public internet BB something that isn’t open for public discussion?!
I like and use half pads when there’s a need for them. One of my current saddles sits slightly low in the back. I have a shim pad that I use that does a nice job making the saddle level. I have used mattes pads for shock aborption on saddles fitted with the pad.
But the idea that everyone should make their saddle 1/4 to 1 inch narrower because IT’S BARN COLORS is nutty. And could lead to “harm” for the horse if the saddle fits without the narrowing. If people wanna discuss nutty things on the internet, I’m going to comment. That’s how a bulletin board works. They’re not a place for people ONLY to post in support of something. Nor can you call “none of your business” when someone makes a factoid public.
Indy/Shelly own tack shops/are saddle fitters?! Meaning they are someone who I presume knows something about saddle fit. The fact that they’re outfitting entire barns with half pads seems a little crazy to me. They’re got got their reasoning (someone else will do it if they don’t) so fair enough-- but that doesn’t make it not a little bizarre that someone who knows something about saddle fit thinks an entire barn of horses/saddles that I presume she hasn’t evaluated would do ok with all the same half pad. Which suggests, perhaps, either this pad don’t do much but look pretty and matchy-- or else a bunch of horses are about to get backsore in the name of vanity.
I suspect the former, having seen the pad. I can’t imagine it does much. It’s a single thickness of foam with fabric sewn on to it. I cannot imagine there is any science whatsoever to suggest it makes any horse more comfortable. If it overly narrows the saddle, it probably does the opposite.
I have plantar faciitis. Should everyone in my family wear the inserts I’ve got? We’ll all match!!!
[QUOTE=vxf111;8389734]
Don’t post on a public internet BB something that isn’t open for public discussion?!
I like and use half pads when there’s a need for them. One of my current saddles sits slightly low in the back. I have a shim pad that I use that does a nice job making the saddle level. I have used mattes pads for shock aborption on saddles fitted with the pad.
But the idea that everyone should make their saddle 1/4 to 1 inch narrower because IT’S BARN COLORS is nutty. And could lead to “harm” for the horse if the saddle fits without the narrowing. If people wanna discuss nutty things on the internet, I’m going to comment. That’s how a bulletin board works. They’re not a place for people ONLY to post in support of something. Nor can you call “none of your business” when someone makes a factoid public.
Indy/Shelly own tack shops/are saddle fitters?! Meaning they are someone who I presume knows something about saddle fit. The fact that they’re outfitting entire barns with half pads seems a little crazy to me. They’re got got their reasoning (someone else will do it if they don’t) so fair enough-- but that doesn’t make it not a little bizarre that someone who knows something about saddle fit thinks an entire barn of horses/saddles that I presume she hasn’t evaluated would do ok with all the same half pad. Which suggests, perhaps, either this pad don’t do much but look pretty and matchy-- or else a bunch of horses are about to get backsore in the name of vanity.
I suspect the former, having seen the pad. I can’t imagine it does much. It’s a single thickness of foam with fabric sewn on to it. I cannot imagine there is any science whatsoever to suggest it makes any horse more comfortable. If it overly narrows the saddle, it probably does the opposite.
I have plantar faciitis. Should everyone in my family wear the inserts I’ve got? We’ll all match!!![/QUOTE]
Oh, it’s not the discussion that bothers me. I guess I just think there’s a way to discuss things without calling other people’s choices “silly” and “nutty.” If someone wants a matching saddle pad “just to look the same” – and IF it has no adverse affect on their horse – why call them ridiculous?
[QUOTE=longtimelurker;8389758]
Oh, it’s not the discussion that bothers me. I guess I just think there’s a way to discuss things without calling other people’s choices “silly” and “nutty.” If someone wants a matching saddle pad “just to look the same” – and IF it has no adverse affect on their horse – why call them ridiculous?[/QUOTE]
Cuz it is? I’m not talking about what one person thinks looks good. I am talking about an entire barn buying half pads with no one once looking at any of the saddles to see if they need them. Because they might not. And if they don’t, all that padding could make the horses backsore. But I guess they’ll look matchy! Everyone can get matching bottles of robaxin!
I have one I actually won through Wilker’s on their facebook page. It came SO fast, especially considering I didn’t even pay for it! Like within a week I had my custom pad, it was awesome.
The pad itself is really high-quality. As others mentioned, it’s not as thick as the Ogilvy pads, but I actually like that better as it’s not creating a ton of bulk under the saddle, but you still get the benefit of a 1/2 pad and the memory foam. I always use mine over a baby pad, and while the flannel bottom is white, it’s stayed relatively clean. I haven’t needed to wash mine yet and I’ve had it since June. My base color is grey though, so that might have something to do with it.
Here’s some pictures of mine…
Brand new: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204587758834061&set=o.88857709412&type=3
Couple months used, and slightly “compressed” after a ride: https://www.facebook.com/groups/EnglishTackTrader/permalink/976789685720801/
Wow, never expected a heated debate on this! 
I work with a saddle fitter every 6-8 months, but I just had my tree replaced on one saddle and my Lami-Cell pad just doesn’t seem to be cutting it, something is off… glad that this pad is more pliable, hopefully it’ll be a good solution til my fitter is back in town.
I won’t lie, the colors are what drew me to it 
I shouldn’t have looked! I was playing around with the oglivy color combos (regular pads, not half pads) earlier today. Been looking for something that fits a bit better under my huntseat saddle than my dressage pads.
It’s really not my place to question a trainer who orders 10 pads so her horses match. Even if in my opinion none of the horses need them, that’s not my place. So now I’m supposed to question what a trainer wants? Had I been asked - yes I would have gone out and given my 2 cents worth. But I wasn’t asked. I gave a price. Took their money. Ordered the pads.
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