Adverse reaction to prolite pad

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DoesDressage

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Has anyone horse had a reaction to a prolite pad or similar. It was fitted by an professional saddle fitter and I agreed with her reasoning behind it etc.
To cut a long story short horse has been backed 6 months so first winter under saddle. Has become quite inconsistent in the contact (unusual) and the canter transition has become messy and then the canter very lively. After thinking about teeth, back etc (all done recently) feed changes, temp changes etc I thought it seems to of come about around the same time the prolite pad went under my saddle.

Would love to know if anyone has had similar issues or it's all just a coincidence and riding young horses should be a summer only sport.

Thanks
 
I'm not a fan of them - I think they are too bulky/thick and can cause pinched withers/spine, particularly on narrower or higher withered horses, which they seem to be used on the most!? My saddle fitter also suggested I use one on my older horse, it made the saddle feel very tight around his shoulders, left a mark where the pad ended and rubbed the hair behind his withers. I now use a much thinner 1/4" prolite saddlecloth, the prolite covers the whole saddle area instead of just under the panels of the saddle and horse is much happier.
Why did the saddle fitter suggest using the pad?
 
Have you tried without the pad? Is the saddle dropping onto or pinching any part of the spine? Are the pints digging in? What was the reasoning behind using one?

The only time my saddler, who knew my horse well, suggested one was when the saddle needed reflocking and it was a couple of days 'till she could get out to me.
 
I use prolite pads .
But I have one horse who dislikes them it's the 'feel ' he dislikes .
He also dislikes sheepskin but loves memory foam .
He's very senestive things like tack and knows exactly what he likes .
 
It's her first saddle and is a little tipped forward without the pad as she is yet to build too line. I could see this ever so slightly before saddler came but horse was going extremely well under saddle, soft in the mouth and over the back stretching etc. prolite is one of the ones with 3 sets of pockets. I have a thin shim in the front and middle and nothing in the back (on saddlers advice). She doesn't seem the sensitive type but only been under saddle 6 months so hard to tell. I will ride her a few more times without it and see how she feels. Thanks for the advice :)
 
I would change it for perhaps a fleecy pad or poly pad and see if there is any difference or take the shims out.

I have used the multi pad for years on different horses and never had a bother but I do know people for whom the horses have told them emphatically no and they have used the above better :)
 
Or try just a wither pad to raise the front? The prolites are very thick when you've got the full pad plus shims. Gel eze do a nice thin one which shouldn't pinch or be too restrictive but should level the saddle up a bit?
 
Another vote for thin Gel risers, I use an Acavallo one on a very sensitive horse, and they are so squashy and wobbly that they lift the saddle a bit but without creating pressure points.

My prolite has VERY narrow gullet, and that along with the firm cushion seems to cause a pinch.
 
With you completely red-1, if the prolite had a wider gullet, I'm talking 3" or so, it would be a much more useful tool!
 
If it is just for a front lift I use the Prolite roller pad. It has a much wider gullet. I have used it to raise an Ansur Treeless in conjunction with their specialist pads. But, for a treed saddle I prefer the softer Gel, although the Prolite Surcingle pad has a lot more uplift!
 
I'm not a huge fan of Prolite pads as they are quite thick and I find them stiff, relative to some of the options. There are SO many options because different things will work for different horses and situations so just because a Prolite doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean another type of pad won't.
 
Again, I am with Red-1 and Jo1987 I tried a Pro-Lite and it was too thick, pinched and raised my saddle too much, swapped for an Acavallo Gel pad and I love it, used it since March everytime I have ridden it is still in excellent condition.
 
Thank you, I will have a look around for a gel pad or something similar. SandS horse has been in work for 6 months but pad only fitted by saddler for 4 weeks. Previously was having no problems. Have now ridden twice without it and she feels much freeier through the back and is stretching better. Will give the saddler a call and see if she can swap me for anything else.
 
TarrSteps said:
I'm not a huge fan of Prolite pads as they are quite thick and I find them stiff, relative to some of the options. There are SO many options because different things will work for different horses and situations so just because a Prolite doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean another type of pad won't.
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I would have agreed with you until I found the thin one with 3 pockets each side! Much better as it's much thinner and much more adjustable. I almost bought a thinline pad but they are very expensive (made me wince)
 
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