So i’m looking at investing in an Ogilvy pad as sadly my tried and true sheepskin is coming to the end of it’s days. I know a couple people at my barn have and love them but i’m curious to hear what others think. I’m planning on using the pad everytime I ride and when I show (i’m a jumper) and my saddle fits my horse fairly well (I always use some form of padding) so i’m not worried about it adding a little bit of bulk as i’ve heard they do. But I am curious to know if the gummy is a better more streamlined option than the original 1" memory foam pad? I’m really just looking for that great shock absorption and the “cush” I hear these deliver. If anyone has experience with both options, opinions are appreciated!
I’d go for the 1" memory foam, simply because you can’t change the cover on the gummy pads. That makes it pretty inconvenient if you change barns/colors.
Gummy is for well fitted saddle. Memory foam is supposed to be for not as well fitted saddles.
See if you can borrow one for a ride or two. Mine doesn’t fit under my new saddle at all unfortunately and makes my back hurt like crazy after one ride with it.
The EcoGold pads are a really nice option too, if you can find one to try. I find the Ogilvy like a big pillow under my saddle, and don’t enjoy the feel it gives. My EcoGold pad is much better fitted, and the horses go well under it. Everyone I’ve loaned my EcoGold to has purchased one of their own, including some who already owned other expensive pads.
I recently invested in a Ogilvy half pad (the original, not gummy). I really like it! I ride a lot of different horses, so it has helped my saddle fit to multiple horses. I don’t mind that it’s a little bulkier, it squishes down pretty well, and they really are beautiful and add a lot of style. I have noticed a bit more cushioning compared to the sheepskin I used to use. Anyway, I like it a lot. I’m glad I bought it. Can’t compare to the Gummy though, unfortunately.
I have a regular memory foam one. I like it because you can wash the cover and it’s more versatile in that I bought the rear raisers because I was riding a couple horses that went best in that. I’ve also ridden in someone else’s gummy pad, and although it looks nice, for the money, I’d rather buy a Thinline than use the gummy.
I have a regular memory foam one and I’m not a fan at all. I liked it at first, but then went back to an Ecogold pad one day and realized how far off of the horse I felt with the regular pad. I wish I had purchased the gummy pad, especially given the fact that my saddles fit all of my horses well. Also, I bought the front and rear risers so that I could adjust it for different saddles and I hate those even more…they’re the same thickness as the pad and that makes the pad insanely thick where you put the risers. And even though it squishes down a lot, it’s still way too much under the saddle for my taste.
[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7838825]
I have a regular memory foam one and I’m not a fan at all. I liked it at first, but then went back to an Ecogold pad one day and realized how far off of the horse I felt with the regular pad. I wish I had purchased the gummy pad, especially given the fact that my saddles fit all of my horses well. Also, I bought the front and rear risers so that I could adjust it for different saddles and I hate those even more…they’re the same thickness as the pad and that makes the pad insanely thick where you put the risers. And even though it squishes down a lot, it’s still way too much under the saddle for my taste.[/QUOTE]
I’m glad I curbed my initial impulse to get one. A barnmate has the regular memory foam one and it’s SO MUCH FOAM. I find it impossible to believe the saddle isn’t just sitting on top of it, which was backed up by feeling like I was sitting on an overstuffed couch when I rode in it.
I have to admit I don’t even like the look of them anymore, they’re so distracting!
Can we bring Thinlines fully back into vogue??
I don’t know how else to say this, but IMHO, the heavier you are, the more you are going to like the thicker Ogilvy. I used one when I tried my horse, and felt like I was on a trampoline.
I really liked the Ogilvy on paper, and I do think it does it’s job on my saddle that doesn’t fit great… Unfortunately, I’m not so fond of all the material after all. I’ve been using it for a few months now, and I will be selling it. I just like my fleece pads better in the way it looks and makes my saddle fit/feel.
- owner of Memory Foam Ogilvy
I have a Voltaire saddle that fits my horse nearly perfect (the best out of all the French saddle brands I have tried), but it still has a very slight, slight rock (it can even vary between days). I ordered the regular 1" memory foam Ogilvy, because they touted that it squishes down to 1/8" thickness in places where the saddle already fits well. I did not want to get the gummy because you couldn’t remove the cover to clean it, so you were forced to spot clean it (Ew?).
I rode in a few times and wanted to love it, but I hated it. It puffed my saddle up and away from my horse. I was sitting on a cloud, and while that seems nice, it was deplorable. When I ride, I want to feel the horse under me. This muffled that communication and it was a major bummer. It also made my saddle a bit pommel high, so I was somewhat pushed in a chair seat.
You said your friends have some – Borrow one before you make a $200 mistake. Make sure it fits your horse with your saddle: Does it make it tilt forward or back? Does it cause pressure points? Does a test ride really give you something better than your old sheepskin?
Don’t buy the koolaid, unless you really need to drink it.
I’ve been seeing more and more of them on facebook pages for sale lately. I guess many are realizing that spending 4-6 grand on a French “close contact” saddle, then stuffing a futon under it, might not be a well thought out plan. 
[QUOTE=ToTheNines;7838890]
I don’t know how else to say this, but IMHO, the heavier you are, the more you are going to like the thicker Ogilvy. I used one when I tried my horse, and felt like I was on a trampoline.[/QUOTE]
Er, I’m not heavy by any means but feel no difference between the gummy and 1 1/4".
I love mine, but I have a wicked bad back and it’s the only thing that absorbs any impact riding may have on my back. You have to try one for two weeks I’d say.
I do like the ecogold flip pads, once my ogilvy starts to wear I may grab one of those.
I have to say, I would pass on an Ogilvy pad. I’ve used one once and I did not like it at all. I don’t think that it helps saddle fit much, especially because the majority of people I see using them have saddles that fit decently, so adding the Ogilvy pad just creates for more issues. I also don’t particularly like the look of them.
They’re just much too bulky for me, I love the close contact feel and they really take away from that.
Another vote against the Ogilvy. I had one for a few months because my friend raved about hers.
I found it to be bulky. Once you are in the tack you must tighten your girth because it gets thinner. Even after a tight girth I felt too much movement of my saddle. Speaking of girths, be prepared to buy a bigger one as it is very difficult to get it buckled with all the bulk. Try someone’s pad before you invest in one.
As someone with a really bad back (thanks scoliosis) I’ve been really happy with my Ogilvy pads. My saddle fit my horse pretty well to start with so I opted for the thinner of the regular foam pads and have had no issues with it drastically changing my saddle fit. Generally I too am a fan of a closer contact feel, but nothing has helped my back nearly as much as the Ogilvy has. The shock absorption has been great for me. I loved my Thinline but this has been even better for my back. I’ve actually felt like my saddle is more stable as well - I never have slippage or shifting issues.
As with all things, they’re not for everyone. It really depends on your horse and your needs.
I need to edit my post above. Maybe should have said that IMHO the worse your back is OR the heavier you are, the more you will like the Olgilvy! Or maybe just keep my trap shut with my personal opinions! But for me, it did feel too unstable – had trouble keeping my balance in a light seat. But my saddle is flat , so that may be part of it.
I really like my gummy pad for my custom fitted saddle. I found the original one to be much too thick under a custom fit saddle. The original seems to work well for older style saddles, and poorly fitted saddles.
I got my first one (memory foam) in July and love it. I’m a Jumper as well… My saddle fits my horse the best a saddle can without ordering a brand new one custom and with my horses sensitive back I figured this would be great alternative I was originally using a wool half pad with the thinline ultra pad. The Ogilvy I found worked much better for my horse. The first couple rides will be interesting as you feel the difference in the ride along with the horses movements but then it becomes normal and when you don’t ride in one it feels wrong and almost jarring.
I got a black one with colored trim and piping and I have noticed from daily use the trim is fading, so I bought some cheaper covers to keep on the pad for daily use (also use a pillowcase cover) and then the actual Ogilvy covers for show. There are some great Etsy sites that make some super cute covers that fit the Ogilvy pad.
I hope to get another one for Christmas that has a white cover on it and that I can keep clean and only use for shows. They are great pads and found they really worked well with me and my horse and for some of the other horses in the barn made a big night and day difference for them.
