Barefoot Treeless Prob - FAO Goldenmint or anyone else

[Kenzo]

As per my previous post, Goldenmint you asked if I could provide a photo of the area where it was pressing down, I've taken a photo of the pad (if that helps) with my pointing to the area, hopefully the link will work.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x151/Becks_049/IMAG0282.jpg

The foam shim in the pad just squashes down to nothing so is not actually doing anything or creating any kind of gullet in that area, the pad just parts and pulls down either side, but I'm thinking once the pommel block is in, I'll be able to pull the pad up between a bit more, but I still can't see how this will make a difference in that area under the where girth pulls the saddle down unless there is a much thicker harder type of shim used.

Not having much luck am I.

 

[Serephin]

You can get thicker shims.

I recently bought a brand new cheyenne pad and the shim inside was flimsy and pointless IMO - I figured it was because the newer saddles have the padding underneath, therefore a harder shim may be considered not as necessary. I don't know.

However, the shims that came with my much older pads are far more substantial and as I have a older model of cheyenne with no padding underneath, they are more important IMO.

I haven't looked at where the pads touch his back, but he gets sweaty all over apart from a dry section down his spine. My boy had his back checked the other day and the lady said he was as perfect as a back could be.

 

[lexiedhb]

All I have to add is "LOOK at the size of that diamond!!!!!!!!!!"

Know nowt about treeless!!

 

[Kenzo]

You can get thicker shims.

I recently bought a brand new cheyenne pad and the shim inside was flimsy and pointless IMO - I figured it was because the newer saddles have the padding underneath, therefore a harder shim may be considered not as necessary. I don't know.

However, the shims that came with my much older pads are far more substantial and as I have a older model of cheyenne with no padding underneath, they are more important IMO.

I haven't looked at where the pads touch his back, but he gets sweaty all over apart from a dry section down his spine. My boy had his back checked the other day and the lady said he was as perfect as a back could be.

Yes your right, the foam shims (one in each side) that came with the pad are as much use as a chocolate teapot! , you can squash it down to less than a centimeter so no use at all, I guess I'm clutching at straws hoping that with a correctly shimmed pad this form a gullet in this area, the sweat patches everywhere else however was fine, nice dry channel along the spine up to this area, even underneith where I was sat, I could poke my crop right through which was good, have to bare in mind that there was no hard pommel in the saddle at the time though however I can't see that this really would make any difference in this area as this was where the girth/stirrups branched from.

Where is the best place to buy harder thicker shims from?

Also I'll be needing to buy another pad to use so I've a spare one (otherwise I'll be washing one every two minutes).

Any suggestions as to which other treeless pads are good to use with this saddle (doesn't have to be dressage cut) so long as it's a good one I can shim.

 

[Kenzo]

All I have to add is "LOOK at the size of that diamond!!!!!!!!!!"

Know nowt about treeless!!

lol, I don't usually wear it on an everyday basis but I forgot to take it off from Sunday as I was out, shouldn't really be wearing it, specially when down at the yard.

 

[joey1999]

What about looking on saddlesolutions.com and look in their balance pad section? If you click on covered shims they have double thickness shoulder shims - maybe they would work on your saddle? Fingers x'd for you!

 

[Kenzo]

Well I've emailed Barefoot in Germany (hoping they speak/read English) as suggested by a fellow forum member but not heard back from them yet.

I've also emailed Mariaana from Better Saddles who is also being very helpful, hopefully she can throw some ideas at me.

I'll take a look at the balance pad section, thank you for that suggestion.

 

[Kenzo]

Just in case anyone is interested I've had a reply back from Mariaana and I can see what she means.

The split front of the pad is the reason I do not want to stock these pads, as I have found in all similar pads that there is a risk of rubs where the pad splits. If you get a new pair of shims it might be enough to lift it off - or make additional shims (when you insert any additional shims, please make sure you place them to the top of the pad i.e. against the saddle, not against the horse).

Which I can see what she means in a way because it creates a weak spot on the pad so the sides of the pads just split and pull down so doesn’t hold its shape to create a gullet at the top end (or underneith), suppose it was designed for a horses with higher withers to give wither relief but it just effects the rest of the pad.

hmm so I do I just buy a different pad this treeless business is getting rather expensive and I'm not sure if it's getting my anywhere fast