Anyone know of such a thing as an inflatable back pad?

[PapaFrita]

Or a combination gel/inflatable pad? Someone here has asked me to source one for them to use on a horse with a rather dipped back. Did I imagine it, or does Rambo do one?
Ideas/suggestions (even if for something else) welcome.

 

[brighteyes]

There's one with polystyrene beads in that you pump up or suck air out of - the link to which is here

Or maybe it doesn't have beads in - but I recall one which did. Bah, it's late...

 

[TayloredEq]

WOW do one with the flair system in it. Can't remember off the top of my head what it is called but I'm sure you would find it on their website.

 

[SilverSkye]

Rambo do an airpad like this ......... http://www.horseware.com/accessories/rambo/ramboairpad.asp
but it is just like a gel pad you cant inflate it or deflate it.

 

[kerilli]

i think the Suberpad would prob be the best thing for a horse with a really dipped back. it has little pieces of cork in it which you shake up between uses, and then they compress in whatever shape is required (like a beanbag). it can make the saddle feel a bit 'floaty' off the horse's back to begin with, but v v comfy for horse.
http://www.davidahnequine.co.uk/
much better than inflatable imho because it compensates for dips etc itself, doesn't go hard, and is sweat-absorbent.
the trouble with inflatable, airpockets etc, is that air under pressure is rock hard - think of a squeezed crisp packet! (fwiw they worked on a similar system to Flair and Cair in Germany yonks ago and binned the idea for exactly that reason...)

 

[ann-jen]

The Flair pad is known as a Korrector pad and is better for assymmetry - ie one shoulder more muscular than the other. Agree a suberpad might be better for a dipped back although my experience of riding on one was that I felt 100 miles away from the horse!

 

[PapaFrita]

Thanks, that's just the sort of thing they're looking for. It's quite pricey though, isn't it?

Oh well, it's not my money

 

[PapaFrita]

Can you use it with a regular, treed saddle? Thanks btw

 

[PapaFrita]

To be honest I don't understand why they've got their heart set on an inflatable pad; I personally would've thought the suber pad MUCH more the sort of thing they'd need, or failing that, something with memory foam (I did try to explain this to them!) I'll mention it again though. The price of the Korrector pad might put them off!

 

[kerilli]

PF, you can use the Suberpad with a treed saddle, yes, if that question was to me. i agree it does make you feel a way off the horse, but it flattens a bit once you've ridden in it for a bit.

 

[PapaFrita]

No, I was asking about the WOW pad

But thanks. The Suber pad sounds like a very handy bit of kit to have in a country where we don't have saddle fitters!!

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
The Flair pad is known as a Korrector pad and is better for assymmetry - ie one shoulder more muscular than the other. Agree a suberpad might be better for a dipped back although my experience of riding on one was that I felt 100 miles away from the horse!

[/ QUOTE ]
I'll mention both of the pads to the bloke in question. Personally I'd be more inclined to go for the Suberpad. Considering how much padding he puts under his saddle anyway, he probably won't feel any further away from the horse

 

[TayloredEq]

Yes, although I have to say I hated it when I rode on one with a normal saddle yet I love my WOW saddle.

 

[chaps89]

There's also the Heather Moffat back saver pad which is a cushion/gel type saddle pad. (Link http://www.bettersaddles.co.uk/acatalog/heather_moffett_products.html 3rd product down.)

 

[HollyP]

Parelli do a Theraflex pad which is really good, i got one for my mare after her KS op...pricey though but hey i spent thousands on her back!