Gel pads next to skin

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DonskiWA

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I've been using a gel pad under a saddle pad to stop my saddle slipping as my horse is barrel round.
I've just learned that that this isn't a good practice as it can cause inflammation as the gel moves the skin/fascia.
Is this correct?
Le Mieux have just bought out a new range of saddle pads with gel 'built-in' on the underside and I've just bought one :(
 
I’ve never needed to use a gel pad but I saw a video on Facebook the other day where an equine physio was demonstrating exactly what you describe - she laid the gel pad over the owners arm to demonstrate how it sticks and then tugs at the tissues. The video was enough to make me think twice if I ever thought to use one of these.

Do you have a physio or saddle fitter you use and trust whose advice you can ask? A slipping saddle can cause all sorts of problems too, obviously.
 
Yes, it was that video that has prompted me trying to seek out more info. I had no idea it was potentially a problem before seeing that.
 
If you are using a gel pad just to stop the saddle slipping why don't you try a stubben trevira girth (cord) they are quite wide and very good for slipping saddles
 
I use a thin gel pad between pad and saddle. Helps keep pad secure. I’ve never used direct on horse.
 
I have never used one, but can imagine they feel very uncomfortable. I don't like that material it gives me the willies.
 
I once tried my sisters barnsby grip saddle pad which had the a sticky surface direct to the skin and my boy wasn’t long letting me know that he wouldn’t tolerate it! I feel like they would pull at the hair a bit
 
how would the skin breath for god sake?

i would never use gel,i don`t like the way it moves, too much movement, prolite is the material of choice for me, always on top of something of course
 
I had this problem when I first got my horse as he was obese. His saddle kept slipping so I stopped riding in it for a month while he lost weight - I'd rather not ride than ride in a saddle that doesn't fit.

Are you currently getting weight off him?

And FWIW, no, I'd never use a gel pad directly on the fur.
 
What about a limpet pad. They were all the rage once and I have found an old one someone gave me but never tried. Its the old type not the new style. Would that be okay to use between skin and saddle or would it have the same affect as a gel pad? - sorry to hijack post OP
 
There are some different options I can try re: getting the saddle not to slip, yes, including weight loss! And I will certainly try those.
Unfortunately the gel pad against the skin worked really well, but I'd not realised it might be harmful til I saw the video in FB. Now, of course, I feel awful.
I wonder why Le Mieux woukd release a whole new range based on this?
 
I use an avacallo gel pad directly onto my horses back and she loves it. She is an odd shape so even a well fitted saddle slipped, and that made her uncomfertable and she didn't want to be ridden. I've seen no end of improvement with it and she hasn't gotten any rubs and she wears it for an our 5 or 6 times a week!
 
A video came out showing the reasons why you shouldn't put a gel pad straight on the horses back. You can put a VIP pad next to the skin but I doubt it would stop a saddle slipping
 
hopscotch bandit said:
What about a limpet pad. They were all the rage once and I have found an old one someone gave me but never tried. Its the old type not the new style. Would that be okay to use between skin and saddle or would it have the same affect as a gel pad? - sorry to hijack post OP
Click to expand...
I used to event in one, you had to peel it carefully off if the horse had got wet and hot.

One day, exuberant after a fabulous XC round, I forgot and merely 'took the saddle off' in the normal way, with a tug backwards. Under the skin blistered by that night, so yes, I think they too pull the facia. The skin itself was complete, it was a blister of fluid under the skin. Stayed a few days.
 
You can't put a gel pad next to the skin because it rubs/pulls hair that has been mentioned above many times. The other problem with gel pads is they do not have a spine so will press on the horses back. Gell built into to a saddle pad which is shaped with a spine won't have those problems
 
Fern007 said:
A video came out showing the reasons why you shouldn't put a gel pad straight on the horses back. You can put a VIP pad next to the skin but I doubt it would stop a saddle slipping
Click to expand...

Agreed. VIP pads can go on the skin BUT they aren't designed to stop saddle slippage.

Anything grippy enough to hold a saddle in place with the weight and imbalance of a rider will be grippy on the horses skin.
 
Three year old thread, but here's the video
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1794769973899245
. A grip pad against the skin is generally a Bad Thing, and only to be used as an emergency before the saddle is adjusted/corrected to stop it slipping. Though frankly much better to not ride and do groundwork etc wherever possible. Build up those skills while you do have a saddle that fits :)

Hmm, video is showing as unavailable to me, find facebook dot com slash equinemanipulationandmassage and it's her oldest video.
 
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