Considering getting a half pad. How thick is this version of a Prolite pad? Does it help with saddle stability? Is it spine free? Is it shimmable? Im trying to decide between this or the Thinline Trifecta Cotton half pad.
It is spine free, not shimmable to my knowledge.
Have you looked at the Equine Comfort Products Cotton Half Pad? It is shimmable, it comes with 3 sets of shims. It is also has the spine channel. It is one of the most popular pads I have found.
Indy…I also need something that doesn’t affect saddle fit. …as in making it more narrow…and does the Equine Comfort Pad protect the horse’s back well?
I have both and prefer the Trifecta as it’s less bulky. I don’t like a big thick layer of sheepskin between me and the horse. My saddle slipped forward more with the Prolite pad.
Not a fan of the Equine Comfort half-pads. Their shape does not work with my horse.
YMMV.
I have a round Arab, with withers and a forward girth groove. I’m leaning toward the Thinline!
That pad probably isn’t shimmable, but they sell dressage pads that are and I own one. Hands down the best pad I’ve ever owned. Its great for stability on my role poly guy, and the shims are easy to take in and out if you need to use it on multiple horses. The basic pad is pretty thin, and spine free, and my shims came in two different thicknesses.
[QUOTE=autumn50;8272220]
I have a round Arab, with withers and a forward girth groove. I’m leaning toward the Thinline![/QUOTE]
The Trifecta is shimmable. You do have to buy the Thinline shims separately. Unless they have changed the design, the shims are a bit difficult to put in. Be sure to get the right size for your saddle! I’ve never used anything but the Thinline shims, but you could probably make wool felt ones to fit.
I sell Prolites, the dressage relief does not have shims. However the multi and the tri pads are plus they have the material in the pad. You can take out the shims and use it as a relief pad. They are spine free. Let me know if you have any more questions.
I have the Thinline Cotton Trifecta and my saddle fitter just gave me the Prolite Tri-Pad to try with a trial saddle.
The Thinline is heavier and a little bulkier, but more stable. The shims are sold separately.
The Prolite Tri-Pad shims are included with the pad, which is convenient. I think it comes with 2 shims for each pocket.
I find that I need to wiggle the Prolite pad around to get it in place as it doesn’t have a spine and I’m particular about where it sits. The Thinline pad can attach to the saddle, which is what I did, so I never had to worry much about it when I tacked up. Neither are supposed to affect saddle fit, but the Prolite is definitely lighter weight and thin. In fact, I had to squeeze it because I thought at first the saddle fitter had handed me a cotton thing just to hold shims. Not so, there is definitely something in there!
As a side note, I had to google the Prolite pads to see which one I had, and the Tri-Pad looks blue in the images, but it’s not. It’s black, but the blue shows you the shape of the shims.
This is one of the reasons I gave up on the Prolite pad – it was NOT stable on my horse, very hard to get centered in the first place, and then it would move around/slide back.
The Thinline doesn’t do that, though I should note that I have the one with the sheepskin trim, which helps hold it in place.
[QUOTE=eponacelt;8272282]
That pad probably isn’t shimmable, but they sell dressage pads that are and I own one. Hands down the best pad I’ve ever owned. Its great for stability on my role poly guy, and the shims are easy to take in and out if you need to use it on multiple horses. The basic pad is pretty thin, and spine free, and my shims came in two different thicknesses.[/QUOTE]
Everything I ride goes in a Prolite, which I much prefer to the Thinline pads.
I love Prolite and have no issues with it moving around. I don’t use Thinline anymore.
Actually. …I guess I don’t care if I can add shims. There are few different versions of Prolite pads…I’m specifically interested in the Dressage Relief pad…how thick is it, and is it spine free? It looks shaped to accommodate withers…The Prolite website says it’s ultra thin and ultra shock absorbing.
They are about 1/4" to 1/2" thick. The spine area is just the fabric of the pad to hold it together. However, mine is the wide version. I have it because it offers more relief for the horse.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8272598]
I love Prolite and have no issues with it moving around. I don’t use Thinline anymore.[/QUOTE]
Me too. I have one shimmable one and one non shimmable one. No problems with the fit for either.
Has anyone also had good luck with the Prolite keeping the saddle from slipping, either forward or side to side? and did it make a definite difference in how your horse felt under saddle?
To stop my saddle from shifting side-to-side, I use this Prolite pad:
http://www.prolitepads.com/non-slip-saddle-stay-pads/27-saddlestay-pad
I used to have a Thinline, but didn’t like how hard the material becomes in the cold during the winter months (mare got very grumpy!). Granted it does soften up once it’s warm…but it wasn’t worth the mare rage getting to that warm point.
This pad feels like a “warm” Thinline, is quite thin so doesn’t add bulk, and is quite large so pulls easily into the gullet of the saddle (and stays there). The best thing I’ve found for forward saddle slippage is a flexible neoprene girth–doesn’t get pulled forward into the girth groove.
It didn’t help slipping but that was fixed with Chiro for horse and rider and working on crookedness
If you don’t need shims. . . and you’re worried about slipping, the Grip Tech half pad or the Air Ride half pad from Equine Comfort Products are also quite good. Both spine free with a bit of grip, the Grip Tech is a little thicker than the Air Ride.
The only thing I don’t like about the Pro Lite pads is that they never seem to stay in one place. . . The Thinline alone stays more still than the one with the cotton/sheepskin.
Indy…thanks. The Air Ride may work well and it’s a decent price. I just don’t want anything bulky under the saddle.
