Assuming the saddle fits the horse, what are the best pads in your opinion with the intent of protecting the back for a horse in regular work? Just looking for input… A regular square pad with wither relief of course but how about gel etc… All feedback welcome
Gel is pretty awful as are memory foam pads.
As a saddle fitter, if someone wants a little extra protection for their horse I recommend a Thinline or Ultra Thinline pad. They are thin enough so they don’t impact the fit of the saddle at all, AND they have one of the best shock absorbing materials available to equestrians right now. They are pricey, but worth it if you are really concerned about a little “extra.”
[QUOTE=StoppaniSaddles;8745461]
Gel is pretty awful as are memory foam pads.
As a saddle fitter, if someone wants a little extra protection for their horse I recommend a Thinline or Ultra Thinline pad. They are thin enough so they don’t impact the fit of the saddle at all, AND they have one of the best shock absorbing materials available to equestrians right now. They are pricey, but worth it if you are really concerned about a little “extra.”
https://www.thinlineglobal.com/shop/english-saddle-pads/thinline-english-contour-best-shock-absorbing-saddle-pad[/QUOTE]
^ This.
I dug my heels into the sand (my saddle fits fine, I don’t need it, etc) for the longest time until my friend let me borrow hers - now I won’t ride without one. There is a definite difference in their way of going for my TBs.
Before Prolite, I was a fan of Thinline. Then my mentor told me to try the Prolite. My back felt better and I am sure my horse’s does too. One time I had a fellow barn mate borrow my Prolite, so I used the Thinline because it was handy. I got off after about 15 mins to grab a spare Prolite.
I love our Thinline ultra & our horse hasn’t complained about it either.
Im getting excited about the Invictus Pad http://invictus-equestrian.com/ the technology behind this pad is absolutley amazing! Its called D30 Technology http://www.d3o.com/materials/how-d3o-technology-works/ this stuff is amazing so the material is soft and pliable when handled normally it gives to soft pressure etc but if you strike it the molecules line up and instantly form a firm resistant surface it goes hard, plus it absorbs the energy.
They are making all sorts of stuff out of this material including cell phone cases and body armor etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jw0Kky6sZCA
[QUOTE=StoppaniSaddles;8745461]
Gel is pretty awful as are memory foam pads.
As a saddle fitter, if someone wants a little extra protection for their horse I recommend a Thinline or Ultra Thinline pad. They are thin enough so they don’t impact the fit of the saddle at all, AND they have one of the best shock absorbing materials available to equestrians right now. They are pricey, but worth it if you are really concerned about a little “extra.”
I have a horse in training that loves memory foam!! I get that it doesn’t do well with temperature changes but don’t tell him. If I try something else, (me thinking I am smart and that another pad would make the saddle fit a little better) he threatens to buck. Switch back to the memory foam and everything is fine. Yup! The saddle fitter we used called him “The Prince and the Pea!”
Have you ever done a “hammer” test on the Thinline or any other pads? I have. Put your hand on a counter top and the saddle pad over your hand and drop a hammer on it. I did this with about 6 different pads. Some pads, the hammer bounced. The Cashel and another foam pad were the worst at bouncing but my hand was protected. The equalizer memory foam and the Ogilvy were fair. Hammer didn’t bounce much and my hand was fine but I could feel the hammer a little.
The worst one, by far, was the Thinline. It really hurt my hand! The energy has to go somewhere. If it doesn’t rebound, either the pad “absorbs” it or it is transmitted to what is below it. Seems the Thinline must send it into what is below it.
Try it and see what you think. Or try a piece of candy. I used peppermints. The candy did not survive under the Thinline.
I’m another person who’s not a big fan of Thinline. My DD uses one on her mare because the saddle wouldn’t fit with anything else. However, if there’s any wiggle room at all, I prefer a gel foam pad. The one my gelding (and I) like the best is a pad called Gelite by the company that makes Equigel pads. The material is also used in pads for wheelchairs, per the company’s website. I usually have some hip/muscular pain after riding in the saddle that fits my gelding, but when I started using this half pad, the pain was greatly diminished. And my gelding, a delicate flower, is doing well in it, too.
Thinline…I must sound like a broken record but I personally use them and have for over 20 years (I trialed one of the first one’s before it even had the name ThinLine).
Another thinline fan here. My horses really go better with these pads
I really love my Prolite pad. I bought one on a whim from the UK and Im so glad that I did. I love it! Helps my back when Im riding and my sensitive mare actually goes better in it.
Has anyone tried the Prolite girth? Thoughts? Likes/dislikes?
I used to use a thinline until I discovered the no slip acavallo gel pads. My horse is very wide and round and this pad provides stability like nothing else. It goes directly on the horses back under the saddle pad.
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I haven’t tried the Prolite but love the Thinline also. Mattes is great for shimming as well, but I do think Thinline is great for the concussive absorption aspect.
I am also a Thinline fan but have recently started adding a non-slip gel pad on my horses back too, as it helps keep the saddle still. It slides back slightly otherwise (as does every saddle on him) and so far this really seems to help
I had a Thinline for a long time that I really liked, then I switched to a Toklat Matrix pad that I really liked. It has inserts that are half memory foam and half Poron material. I don’t really need anything with my new dressage saddle, so I am thinking about going with an Ultra Thinline again. The Prolite pads look interesting, but I don’t see them for sale here in the US. Are they for sale somewhere?
Sheepskin fan here; specifically the Christ pads.
[QUOTE=LookmaNohands;8746251]
Have you ever done a “hammer” test on the Thinline or any other pads? I have. Put your hand on a counter top and the saddle pad over your hand and drop a hammer on it. I did this with about 6 different pads. Some pads, the hammer bounced. The Cashel and another foam pad were the worst at bouncing but my hand was protected. The equalizer memory foam and the Ogilvy were fair. Hammer didn’t bounce much and my hand was fine but I could feel the hammer a little.
The worst one, by far, was the Thinline. It really hurt my hand! The energy has to go somewhere. If it doesn’t rebound, either the pad “absorbs” it or it is transmitted to what is below it. Seems the Thinline must send it into what is below it.
Try it and see what you think. Or try a piece of candy. I used peppermints. The candy did not survive under the Thinline.[/QUOTE]
The Invictus folk actually have this test in their advertising video - done with M&Ms! I had to take them out of the running, however, since they don’t yet have a version that’s middle shimmable - only the front or back pockets.
[QUOTE=CCRider12;8749835]
Has anyone tried the Prolite girth? Thoughts? Likes/dislikes?[/QUOTE]
I have the Fairfax girth, if that’s what you mean. (Or is there one that’s all prolite, no leather cover)? The prolite is under the leather so doesn’t feel a lot different, except the edges are softer. It can still cause a nasty rub if not placed carefully. I’m really not clear how the shock absorption material is helpful in a girth. I got it for it’s shape.
[QUOTE=CenteredRiding;8750886]
The Invictus folk actually have this test in their advertising video - done with M&Ms! I had to take them out of the running, however, since they don’t yet have a version that’s middle shimmable - only the front or back pockets.[/QUOTE]
Because the pad transfers energy laterally. Take it put it flat on the floor, drop a golf ball on it. It will stick. Not because it is sticky but because it absorbs the energy laterally and disperses it. Hitting it with a hammer is not exactly what it is developed for and the pounds per square inch of a hitting hammer would be higher than the impact of a rider on a horse…unless someone was mounting from the roof. 
I forget the name of the lady running the site who does independent (non manufacturer funded) reviews of saddle pads, and she gave the ThinLine a very favorable review. Science aside a horse who improves and becomes softer through the back and an improved ride is enough evidence for me.
