Ogilvy Half Pad

[mvp]

[QUOTE=fordtraktor;7307082]
MVP, is this your Skito pad? http://www.marystack.com/skito-equalizer-pad.html

If so, maybe you should just get another one! Looks nice! I am tempted myself! Does it not change the saddle fit much?[/QUOTE]

Probably is. But mine is way old and the cover is more cheesy/polyester fugly. Don’t care. That thing has worked for a long time. And as a marrofact, I got my Skito pad at Mary’s Tack those 150 years ago!

I have spoken to Tom at Skito and he’s a nice guy who believes in his products and customer service. Here’s a link to them and his contact info: http://carouseltights.com

I can’t tell you if you should get this one (or a Thinline or a gel pad or a sheepskin thing). The magic really is in the cushioning substance inside the pad. IMO, you have to test-drive any of these pads to know.

I’m surprised to hear that a Thinline can do all the shock absorption described above because it’s…… thin.

[gk1123]

I wouldn’t invest in a black one. I’ve had mine for 2 years and it has turned a strange purpley color due to the sun bleaching the black fabric and fading it. It’s still 100% usable but it bugs me particularly and I wouldn’t show in it anymore. Personally, I think I would go with the gray one this time around.

[hoofbeats]

I also feel that the grey might be better at hiding dust than the black.

[fordtraktor]

[QUOTE=mvp;7307736]

I’m surprised to hear that a Thinline can do all the shock absorption described above because it’s…… thin.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it can. I bought one originally because I was at the QH Congress back in 1996 and saw them demo it – they took an egg and dropped it on the Thinline from a couple feet up and the egg didn’t break. It wasn’t any boiled egg either as they then proved by dropping said egg on the concrete. Sold me on the product! Pretty effective demo!

[authentic_pony]

If there’s any way you can try an Ogilvy half pad before buying, I would recommend it. It really is a different feel from other half pads. Half of my barn has them, and I have tried my hardest to love them but I just can’t get on board. They definitely do change the fit of the saddle, they make me feel off-balance because the cantle sits higher than I’m used to, and I feel like I’m sitting way too high up. I dont see the purpose if your saddle fits correctly.

Their baby pads are the bomb though. I LOVE them, they’re basically all I use.

I ride in a Thinline and while it is thin, the horses do love them. I’d like something a bit thicker and right now am looking at the EquineLux half pads. Seems like a happy medium between the Thinline and Ogilvy, they don’t break the bank and right now they’re 25% off so it won’t be a huge blow if I dont like it.

[pattnic]

mvp - For your purposes, I would also go with a ThinLine pad. I started using one when I was having back problems and it definitely helped. If you “squish” a ThinLine pad between your fingers, your fingers will not touch (or at least, they will not feel each other through the pad). It doesn’t “bottom out”, but it also doesn’t alter saddle fit (or does so very minimally). Every other sheepskin or memory foam type pad I’ve done this with bottoms out - I can feel my fingers in contact with each other through the pad - and many of those do alter saddle fit.

Of course, if you love the Skito pad and it works for you, then it might be worth it to get another… but the ThinLine pads are pretty awesome.

[pattnic]

[QUOTE=authentic pony;7309413]
…right now am looking at the EquineLux half pads. Seems like a happy medium between the Thinline and Ogilvy, they don’t break the bank and right now they’re 25% off so it won’t be a huge blow if I dont like it.[/QUOTE]

Link?

[mvp]

[QUOTE=pattnic;7309506]

Of course, if you love the Skito pad and it works for you, then it might be worth it to get another… but the ThinLine pads are pretty awesome.[/QUOTE]

It’s not that I love the Skito pad, but rather was in a committed relationship with it for a long time. Yes, there were dalliances with other pads-- a gel pad, a cool, but saddle-fit-corrupting gel and sheepskin pad, several different sheepskin pads (also fit-corrupting) and one of those Beval’s felt-n-sheepskin pads. (I still own that one, keep it in my little black book as insurance.)

My point, however, is that I haven’t dated any new saddle pads in like a decade. Maybe new technology makes the current ones hotter!

[SquishTheBunny]

I have a grey and a white one. THe white one is probably 4+ years old and washes up great. The grey one is about 3 years old and has white trim. They both clean up very well and would recommend it as a very good quality product. I don’t need either of mine anymore because I have a custom fit saddle, but keep them around incase I ride in someone elses saddle or other horses. They are well worth the price.

For saddle FIT, I recommend the ecogold pads as you can build up certain areas without it being too thick in others. So these pads would be better if, say, you needed to build up one area over another (ie shoulders). The quality is inferior to the Ogilvy IMHO, especially because the pricepoint is the same, but this product works better for actually adjusting specific issues, while the Ogilvy is great for filling in small gaps and making a comfortable ride for the horses back.

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=mvp;7309583]
It’s not that I love the Skito pad, but rather was in a committed relationship with it for a long time. Yes, there were dalliances with other pads-- a gel pad, a cool, but saddle-fit-corrupting gel and sheepskin pad, several different sheepskin pads (also fit-corrupting) and one of those Beval’s felt-n-sheepskin pads. (I still own that one, keep it in my little black book as insurance.)

My point, however, is that I haven’t dated any new saddle pads in like a decade. Maybe new technology makes the current ones hotter![/QUOTE]

The plain, no frills Thinline will be great for the purpose you describe. Doesn’t come in pretty colors, though

[mvp]

[QUOTE=Lucassb;7310745]
The plain, no frills Thinline will be great for the purpose you describe. Doesn’t come in pretty colors, though :([/QUOTE]

So this one?

http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/ThinLine-Half-Pad-P1241.aspx?gclid=CObY-brkrrsCFaE1QgodGGsAVQ

It is fugly and black and thin…… just like my new old cat!

[Lucassb]

[QUOTE=mvp;7310829]
So this one?

http://www.adamshorsesupplies.com/ThinLine-Half-Pad-P1241.aspx?gclid=CObY-brkrrsCFaE1QgodGGsAVQ

It is fugly and black and thin…… just like my new old cat![/QUOTE]

Yep, that’s the one. Congrats on the new old cat! (My new one is young, but also black and thin…)

[mvp]

[QUOTE=Lucassb;7310934]
Yep, that’s the one. Congrats on the new old cat! (My new one is young, but also black and thin…)[/QUOTE]

If you all will indulge me on some personal history.

Sigh. It’s the end of an era…. fluffy, big half pads and a bigger cat. She was around for many of those various pads. Now that chapter in my life is closing again…. this time with the demise of the Skito.

ETA: The cat was 14 pounds with thick, short fur and penchant for luv. She was both black and white. She would have been a great saddle pad herself.

[enjoytheride]

Thinline usually has seconds available on their website for much cheaper. By seconds they mean the edge might not be even or the letters are blurred but I can’t tell the difference in my pad.

I have a half pad for my jumping saddle and a full pad for my dressage saddle and if I ride without it my mare lets me know. Immedietly.

[lando]

I am not a fan of the Ogilvys, we used to have several in the barn and were a nice item to have because when done up in the barn colors they looked quite flashy. However there was a notable difference when we switched to the saddle right pads, my self I found my posture changed, and my horses were more supple through their backs. As noted they are quite thick and do result in the saddle fit changing.

I do agree that their baby pads are awesome though.

[Perfect10]

MVP, I saw a Skito pad on English Tack Trader on FB yesterday. It may still be available