Non-slip for the sensitive backed horse

[Libby416]

So my dilemma is, my large shouldered, big moving mare is constantly losing her saddle pad.

My girth is tight, and thankfully after going through the saddle search of hell, she has a really well fitting saddle.

But still we lose our pad. It slips back underneith the saddle. I ride in a baby pad and a thinline pad, but the baby pad slips out underneith the thinline. Happens even when I use my Ogilvy pad, which supposedly has a non-slip underside.

So my question is, what is the best non-slip pad for horses that are sensitive? She hates those Professional choice girths so I’m thinking the rubber is out.

Help! I’m out of ideas!

[SolarFlare]

I hate baby pads - they always seem to slip and bunch even if the saddle fits.

Can you try a pad with a bit more structure, like a contoured wither? I really love the Ogilvy profile pads (not the baby pads). Is the saddle moving at all with the pad?

If you can put something with just a bit more thickness than a baby pad underneath, I’ve also had good luck with bamboo fabric on the underside - the Fenwick square pads and the EquineLUX pads both have this and they stay put.

[egrubbs]

Same issues…I bought a new saddle and have a new anatomic girth on the way. Our problem was due to lack of scapula room through previous panels on our saddle. New one has been cut out. Fleece girth was also contributing to the problem.

[Libby416]

[QUOTE=SolarFlare;8984434]
I hate baby pads - they always seem to slip and bunch even if the saddle fits.

Can you try a pad with a bit more structure, like a contoured wither? I really love the Ogilvy profile pads (not the baby pads). Is the saddle moving at all with the pad?

If you can put something with just a bit more thickness than a baby pad underneath, I’ve also had good luck with bamboo fabric on the underside - the Fenwick square pads and the EquineLUX pads both have this and they stay put.[/QUOTE]

Saddle stays in the same spot, as does the thin line. It happens with my Smartpak pad too, now that I think about it.

When you say Bamboo fabric, is it like the Fleeceworks baby pads?

[Libby416]

[QUOTE=egrubbs;8984471]
Same issues…I bought a new saddle and have a new anatomic girth on the way. Our problem was due to lack of scapula room through previous panels on our saddle. New one has been cut out. Fleece girth was also contributing to the problem.[/QUOTE]

My saddle also has the shoulder cutouts, but maybe thats it. I do use a fleece girth though, maybe that has something to do with it??

[egrubbs]

I use the smartpak 30 dollar fleece one and it’s like bacon grease on a clipped horse! I normally use a non-slip but a properly fitting saddle and this new girth should fix the problem. It’s not slipping as much with the new changes. When I demoing saddles…I totally had a roll off the side saddle slip and all because of the girth!!! It was plenty tight too!!! My bet is the girth!

[soloudinhere]

My sensitive backed horse was fine with the acavallo nonslip gel pads which are very very soft/squishy: http://www.saddlery.biz/acavallo-therapeutic-active-soft-anti-slip-gel-pad

For his newest saddle I ended up getting a couple acavallo pads with gel that sticks them to the saddle and the pad underneath. I replaced my thinline with this and voila, no more saddle pad migration. I did finally give up and sell my ogilvy baby pads - hated them, but the $17 smartpak lite pads are perfect.

[SolarFlare]

[QUOTE=Libby416;8984508]
Saddle stays in the same spot, as does the thin line. It happens with my Smartpak pad too, now that I think about it.

When you say Bamboo fabric, is it like the Fleeceworks baby pads?[/QUOTE]

I’ve never had a problem with my Thinline slipping either (one of the posters after me I think said he/she switched out the Thinline).

Here’s the Fenwick pad I have: http://www.fenwickfarm.com/products/products.aspx?id=13
(I have the white bamboo pad). It has a microfibre top which seems to give a little bit of grip to the saddle, and the bamboo for whatever reason seems to stay still on the horse. They dry really quickly and wash up very well. My friend gave me this one used a few years ago and it’s still going strong - I use it the most of all my pads.

I don’t have any of the Fleeceworks pads so not sure if they’re the same.

[Scribbler]

My pads will usually slip on my big shouldered mare if I don’t have the billet keepers in use (meaning the ones at the bottom of the pad, not up at the shoulder). The saddle is fine, but the pad just starts to move backwards and out from under it. So I used billet keepers. Unfortunately not all billet keepers align nicely with my saddle, so this can pull the pad a bit. I have considered unstitching them and resewing them in the optimal position. My favorite billet keepers are on a BR pad; they open and close with velcro, so you can do your girth up and then close the billet keepers over them.

I have just bought a shaped Ogilvy cloth pad, which looks like it should stay more secure, although it also has billet keepers in case it doesn’t.

I have ruled out sticky or grippy pads for my very fussy mare as I think the torque of the rubber gripping her hair would make her very, very, unhappy.

[hunterjumper98]

I am all for the Ogilvy baby pads and profile pads! Saddle pads slip like nobody’s business on my clipped guy, but all of my Ogilvy baby pads stay nice and secure. I have tired everything in the book to stop slippage including purchasing a super nice Smartpak no-slip girth, using a multitude of no-slip pads, and even trying the sticky grip stuff under my saddle pad, but nothing gave my guy comfort while staying in place quite like my Ogilvy pads.

[hunterjumper98]

It won’t let me edit my post, but tried instead of tired lol.

Also, while it is on my mind, have you had your saddle fitted to your horse? It could be possible that the slippage is due to a shoulder that is too tight.

[Libby416]

Saddle fits very well, which is why I really only use baby pads and the thinline.

I think it really might be the firth now that I’ve had some advice from you guys. What are your favorite non-slip girths that don’t have the hair-pulling neoprene?

[hunterjumper98]

My favorite girth is: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/smartpak-air-neoprene-girth-9889

It is neoprene, but my sensitive gelding seems to prefer this girth because of the wide bottom that distributes the pressure. It also never pulls his hair out or chaffs even though it is neoprene. Super nice girth for the price!

[bmj13]

Get one of the Gel-Eze blue wrap things. They are supposed to be used under wraps, but they work great under saddle pads. Our horse has a weird build so the pads move around. Our Chiro recommended we get one.

http://marystack.com/gel-eze-under-bandage/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA-f3CBRCbluKf4vu008kBEiQAl-iGq5PXmo-qwmU6eeWp7dNO4irEw991ucnQ3nIAr9HbH7kaAp7D8P8HAQ

[Xctrygirl]

Cheapest and easiest answer

Cut to fit

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Duck-12-x-10-Select-Easy-Liner/16486843

Emily

[RedHorses]

If I’m reading your post correctly it’s just your baby pad creeping backwards under the stationary Thinline and saddle - is that correct?

If so, what you need is a non slip pad between the baby pad and Thinline. Thinline pads are supposed to be non slip, but I have found that some pads do slip out from under mine. I go to the dollar store and buy a roll of shelf/drawer liner like what’s in the Walmart link above. I cut a 16" piece and put it between the Thinline and cotton pad and it keeps everything in place. This way you don’t have to worry about what your sensitive horse will tolerate.

[Libby416]

[QUOTE=RedHorses;8986020]
If I’m reading your post correctly it’s just your baby pad creeping backwards under the stationary Thinline and saddle - is that correct?[/QUOTE]

Yep correct. Hmm I’ll have to get that.

Has anyone tried the Thinline girths? Thought maybe if I got something like that or like the Cahsel soft touch girths I could help stop the slip too.

[ParadoxFarm]

I love the inexpensive SmartPak air girth as well. I even have been able to ride without my breast plate with that girth. But your problem seems different if your saddle stays in place.

Shires pads also have the velcro girth keepers, which is nice. Maybe a more substantial pad will help.

[mountainhorse]

EcoGold non-slip pads or Thinlines are two my go-tos for well fitting saddles that need some grip on the pad.
Just a sidetone, make sure your girth isn’t overtightened as a result of you (or anyone else) trying to ‘tighten it down’ so it doesn’t slip.

[StormyDay]

I am not sure if it is still a problem but a few years back several people had some serious issues with the thinline girths snapping/breaking while they were riding. after seeing this happen to several people I would not trust a thinline girth.