gel pads/wool halfpads/correction numnahs??

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So I want something to add a little more "cushion" under my saddle but there are so many options I'n not really sure what I'm looking at. I have a high withered TB with little top line/muscle due to being off work, however she's filled out nicely since going out 24/7 so her back is well covered but her withers are more prominent than if she were in work regularly. She also has white hairs on one side along her back which must have come from a poor fitting saddle at some point in her life before me. Given that she's a bucker I might guess she has a sensitive/slight cold back due to this past issue but no back issues (vet checked).

I just want a nice extra bit of padding between her and the saddle to make sure she's comfy particularly as we start going back into work - so whats a good option? Le mieux (?) have GP numnahs with extra padding which are sold as correction pads "or just if you want some extra padding", a wool half pad plus numnah is what I use atm but seems bulky & I like the look of these gel pads that exist now but DO they actually do anything?

Does anyone have any suggestions? What do you use if you want your horse to be EXTRA comfy but doesn't have any particular issues to correct?

Thanks :)
 
The problem is if the saddle fits without extra padding under it then it will not be extra comfy with one added, the saddle will be tighter and the horse less comfy, there are a lot of options but sometimes less is best, I have a selection that get used as and when required but generally aim to have just a thin layer under the saddle for most as a well flocked correctly fitting saddle suits most horses, some may prefer a thick pad but the saddle must be fitted with it.
 
I've used sheepskin half pads (either a proper half pad or a numnah with sheepskin under the top half) for years. I know folk like the gel pads but I worry about overheating. Just be aware that your saddle has to be fitted to accomodate the pad. If you just stick anything thicker than a standard numnah under the saddle you will alter its fit and could cause more trouble than good.

Atm I've an oldie cob whose back is starting to dip. He uses a skeepskin under on the rare occasions he is ridden - on saddler's advice and with his saddle fitted to accomodate it. When DD was competeing BS we used 1/2 pads to cushion shock on foam backed saddles - but again the saddle was fitted expressly to allow that.

If you want your horse to be extra comfy get a saddler to check, fit and regularly flock the saddle!
 
Her current saddle came to me fitted - even so she had a half wool pad underneath from her old home which I continue to use - I'm just musing more in terms of pro and cons of these different options that all appear to do the same thing!

(obviously we are currently working within the constraint of not being able to pick up the phone and call the saddle fitter out.. lockdown!)
 
Having a saddle fitted before you bought her is only a guide that it fits now, if she has put on weight then it may be a bit too narrow and the pad could restrict her from building up topline, there are pros and cons to most things, usually each will have some who think they are great, others think they are rubbish but whatever is used the success, or failure, tends to be down to individual preference and how well the saddle fits in the first place, obviously we cannot get a fitter at the moment which is why it is also probably not the time to be making changes just for the sake of it.

It is worth having a really good look at how the saddle sits on the horse, there are videos on saddle fitting which are useful guides, I would also want a horse that is a bucker to have a proper examination by a vet, possibly xrays to rule out KS, if the vet finds nothing and the bucking is consistent assessing by a physio would be high on my list as they often find things a vet has missed .
 
You shouldn't need extra cushioning if the saddle fits the horse well and the panels flocked correctly with good quality flocking. Half pads in various designs can be used as a temporary measure if saddle is not fitting well due perhaps to weight loss/gain etc. I see so many people using various concoctions under their saddles - do half the country have Ill fitting saddles? I suspect not, but purely to keep up with trends, people put a thick sheepskin pad under a perfectly well fitting saddle. Me personally, I use standard le mieux saddlecloths and have saddle checked and tweaked at least once a year or as soon as I suspect a problem.
If you really really 'have' to use one, you have to have your saddle fitted to allow for this.
 
Damnation said:
I'd be asking a qualified fitter for their opinion first. Getting a saddle adjustment would probably be more beneficial for the horse long term.
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This. Adding a thick fluffy pad under a well fitted saddle would be like wearing hiking socks with your well fitted work shoes - very uncomfortable.

The best thing you can do for the horse's comfort is a well fitted saddle and a light saddle pad that wicks away moisture.
 
Does anyone have experience of using the gel pads/incorporated numnahs rather than a wool half pad - that's my question. I've clearly provided too much context so I'll try again:

Has anyone switched from using a wool pad to a gel pad or vice versa & why? I've only every used wool and am interested in the pros and cons of alternatives because I find wool bulky. Overheating gel pads is concerning - surely newer versions should have overcome this issue?

Long term: I'll be buying a new saddle regardless & keeping current as a spare - short term we're in a virus situation and I'm LOOKING at either buying another wool pad or trying gel.
 
I appreciate now is not the right time given we’re in lockdown, but I wouldn’t assume that just because she was sold with a saddle it’ll fit well. I once had a horse come to me with all the tack only to find the saddle had a broken tree. So I’d always get a fitter out to check tack just in case.

In terms of gel pads etc. My horses have 3 monthly saddle checks, but I personally always like to have a thin gel pad and a prolite correctional half pad (the ones with shins and pockets) to hand to adjust fit just in case there’s a change in shape between visits, or for times when I’m using a thinner pad. I would caveat this by saying I have a rather sensitive horse so I’ve spent an awful lot of time with our saddler to help me get my eye in on when I need to tweak things.
 
According to Russell at Centaur Biomechanics, a wool half pad has the most pressure dispersing qualities of all the available alternatives. Plus, because it's a natural product, it absorbs heat and sweat.
 
FestiveFuzz said:
I appreciate now is not the right time given we’re in lockdown, but I wouldn’t assume that just because she was sold with a saddle it’ll fit well. I once had a horse come to me with all the tack only to find the saddle had a broken tree. So I’d always get a fitter out to check tack just in case.

In terms of gel pads etc. My horses have 3 monthly saddle checks, but I personally always like to have a thin gel pad and a prolite correctional half pad (the ones with shins and pockets) to hand to adjust fit just in case there’s a change in shape between visits, or for times when I’m using a thinner pad. I would caveat this by saying I have a rather sensitive horse so I’ve spent an awful lot of time with our saddler to help me get my eye in on when I need to tweak things.
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I like prolite pads as well I have used them a lot on a few horses along with a shim numnah to adjust the saddle fit, really good bit of kit especially if a horse is lacking top line coming back into work, one of my horses will react if the saddle is not quite right and I think you learn to feel and know when to make an adjustment.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I like prolite pads as well I have used them a lot on a few horses along with a shim numnah to adjust the saddle fit, really good bit of kit especially if a horse is lacking top line coming back into work, one of my horses will react if the saddle is not quite right and I think you learn to feel and know when to make an adjustment.
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Yeah I’ve found them really useful for youngsters and like you say, those coming back into work as it enables you to make tweaks in between saddle checks.
 
Hey all - thanks for your replies, its helpful to have personal experience before making a purchase I think ... or you'd end up with a tack room full of mod cons that do nothing ;). Based on the above I'll have a further look into prolite pads & I might get one just to compare with my wool pad. Thanks!
 
I've used a variety, I liked the acavallo gel ones with a wool trim as they didn't change the fit as much as the sheepskin one's I'd used before (though the dead sheep ones were fab for my youngster who preferred a technically too wide saddle for a bit).

I bought a second hand VIP and think it's great. I use it under a close contact saddle when I know I'll be doing a lot of sitting trot, my saddle fitter think's they are pretty good too.

Really there are pro's and cons to all and it really depends on why you want to use one (just extra cushioning, get one that doesn't affect fit, pad out a saddle, prolite are good for shims or a good quality sheepskin one). Then there are horses who are just fussy and won't like the feel of a certain type, which you'll only find out after spending £££'s on something lovely lol.
 
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yhanni said:
According to Russell at Centaur Biomechanics, a wool half pad has the most pressure dispersing qualities of all the available alternatives. Plus, because it's a natural product, it absorbs heat and sweat.
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I don't disagree with this but it'd be interesting to see a well conducted test of say...a Mattes pad vs a Prolite pad.

The thing is, most people put a saddle cloth/numnah, then the wool half pad, then the saddle. So you lose some of the benefits there. When I use a wool pad, I put the wool pad, thin square saddle cloth on top, then the saddle. Otherwise you don't get the full heat and sweat absorption benefits, IMO. I give the pad a good brush afterward with a proper brush and wash it every now and again, but it holds up to this just fine.

As for gel pads, I did use a very thin Acavallo pad on my PRE when he was younger as he had no withers/shape and saddles moved a bit on him even if they fit well. He eventually became a mature horse and not a sausage. So I don't use it anymore. I mostly used it for its grip properties.
 
CanteringCarrot said:
I don't disagree with this but it'd be interesting to see a well conducted test of say...a Mattes pad vs a Prolite pad.

The thing is, most people put a saddle cloth/numnah, then the wool half pad, then the saddle. So you lose some of the benefits there. When I use a wool pad, I put the wool pad, thin square saddle cloth on top, then the saddle. Otherwise you don't get the full heat and sweat absorption benefits, IMO. I give the pad a good brush afterward with a proper brush and wash it every now and again, but it holds up to this just fine.

As for gel pads, I did use a very thin Acavallo pad on my PRE when he was younger as he had no withers/shape and saddles moved a bit on him even if they fit well. He eventually became a mature horse and not a sausage. So I don't use it anymore. I mostly used it for its grip properties.
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This is interesting - I've been wondering recently about the heating effect of any pad if it is placed between the numnah and saddle vs direct on the horse - but eventually came to the conclusion that keeping the numnah at the bottom would prevent a "joint" occurring where the 1/2 pad starts. I guess if the numnah is thin enough though there shouldn't be too much difference .. interesting to hear someone using it the other way round, don't think I've seen it irl (that I can remember/have noticed) it does makes sense RE sweat absorption!
 
Highly recommend the VIP pads aswell - they are actually something that is work the money! I have a custom fitted saddle for my boy & a girl on the yard had a VIP pad for her horse who detested sitting trot despite another very expensive custom fit saddle and the difference in him was immediate and unreal! So I went and got one - he is just softer and seems more comfortable in himself, his neck is softer and transitions are just on the money! Well worth it!!!
 
mmwwdd said:
This is interesting - I've been wondering recently about the heating effect of any pad if it is placed between the numnah and saddle vs direct on the horse - but eventually came to the conclusion that keeping the numnah at the bottom would prevent a "joint" occurring where the 1/2 pad starts. I guess if the numnah is thin enough though there shouldn't be too much difference .. interesting to hear someone using it the other way round, don't think I've seen it irl (that I can remember/have noticed) it does makes sense RE sweat absorption!
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I'm not sure what you mean by a "joint" where the half pad starts.

My half pad doesn't have rolls on the front or back, it is just quilted on top, and it is black so it is not so noticeable under a pad. I first came to use it this way when my sensitive skinned horse began to get rubs from his usual square pads - happens every coat change. Then he did not experience rubbing at the back of the pad as usual. A friend and another fellow livery also use their wool pads this way. They both use the same saddle fitter, so she may have recommended this.
 
Our saddle fitter advised an acavallo gel pad under my horse's saddle. His saddle was M2M but he is now 17 and has typical TB withers and lack of topline coming out of winter. I have the gel pad and have been using it but I have to be honest and admit to having just switched to a le mieu lambskin one as I feel the wool breathes better and moulds to him more. If he fills out again and hopefully regains his topline she has advised it's not a bad idea to keep using the gel as he is an older boy still doing a lot of work.
I also have a welsh c (in my profile pic) and her back is so well muscled and covered there is absolutely no need for anything other than a slim cotton saddle pad/numnah.
 
Muddywellies said:
You shouldn't need extra cushioning if the saddle fits the horse well and the panels flocked correctly with good quality flocking. Half pads in various designs can be used as a temporary measure if saddle is not fitting well due perhaps to weight loss/gain etc. I see so many people using various concoctions under their saddles - do half the country have Ill fitting saddles? I suspect not, but purely to keep up with trends, people put a thick sheepskin pad under a perfectly well fitting saddle. Me personally, I use standard le mieux saddlecloths and have saddle checked and tweaked at least once a year or as soon as I suspect a problem.
If you really really 'have' to use one, you have to have your saddle fitted to allow for this.
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Disagree. Just go watch the Truth Tack Review videos on Youtube, the saddle absolutely must be fitted to accommodate it but they can provide many benefits including soft tissue expansion space.

OrangeAndLemon said:
This. Adding a thick fluffy pad under a well fitted saddle would be like wearing hiking socks with your well fitted work shoes - very uncomfortable.
.
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Yes and no, it does alter the fit but it's not a good metaphor, despite it being quoted regularly. Shoes are closed around your foot, there is space INSIDE the boot designed to fit your foot into, saddles do not have space inside as such, you are putting the saddle on top of the horse, not trying to stuff the horse into the space inside a saddle. In most cases, not all, and to greater and less extents dependent on other factors, a thicker pad will tip a saddle back, will cause pressure on the back edge and may cause it to bridge, IF the saddle was a correct fit with a cotton pad.

CanteringCarrot said:
I don't disagree with this but it'd be interesting to see a well conducted test of say...a Mattes pad vs a Prolite pad.

The thing is, most people put a saddle cloth/numnah, then the wool half pad, then the saddle. So you lose some of the benefits there. When I use a wool pad, I put the wool pad, thin square saddle cloth on top, then the saddle. Otherwise you don't get the full heat and sweat absorption benefits, IMO. I give the pad a good brush afterward with a proper brush and wash it every now and again, but it holds up to this just fine.

As for gel pads, I did use a very thin Acavallo pad on my PRE when he was younger as he had no withers/shape and saddles moved a bit on him even if they fit well. He eventually became a mature horse and not a sausage. So I don't use it anymore. I mostly used it for its grip properties.
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Prolite has poor shock absorbing qualities IMO, there is a lot better on the market. It's not a known brand of foam, neither is Acavallo gel, Le Mieux or PE foams, so you can't look the performance up. Akton, as in the VIP pad, can be looked up, as can the very best foam, Poron XRD (in Toklat and Jen X Equine pads stateside) so you know what you're getting, and paying top dollar for. I have done drop tests on Prolite and it performs no better than good sheepskin, yet sheepskin is not sold for its concussion absorption properties.

I like and generally only use Mattes sheepskin pads, especially their four pocket correction pads. The sheepskin is second to none, it should ideally be against the skin to provide wicking, it spreads pressure, allows for extra soft tissue expansion compared to the panels and cotton alone, and bounces back somewhat after each ride, and even more when washed. Flocking compresses over time.

Thinline also has performance figures on its site (it's not a "named" foam) and is another one I'd use if I liked the design of the pads, which overall I don't, not enough to stock them.

There is no issue IMO with using these pads but you must understand the whys and hows.
 
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