Half numnahs - numpty question

[cobface]

Hi, do you use a sheepskin lined half numnah between the saddle and saddle cloth? never used one before.
My TB has a prolite pad which she has between her cloth and saddle, do the halfs work in the same way?
Thanks
*scuttles off to hide in shame *

 

[BigRed]

I don't think it is a silly question because I have often wondered about this - surely the sheepskin should be against the horses skin, isn't that the purpose of that lovely natural wool ? I have seen professional riders have skin, numnah and then sheepskin half pad.

if you do it the other way, the pressure would not be even, or work the correct way. If you use no numnah, the underside of the saddle gets grubby.

 

[cobface]

Thats a very good point!

 

[cobface]

bump

 

[Shay]

Why bump? Tracey1 is right. You only have to look at any professional show these days - there seems to be quite a fashion for them!

They are designed to go between the numnah and the saddle. They provide cushioning and shock aborbtion for the back without bulking up under teh saddle flaps. Plus your sponsor's logo on the numnah still shows!

No amount of padding is a repalcement for a well fitted saddle - although I'm not for a moment suggesting top class riders don't have well fitted saddles! We use a full sheepskin numnah for day to day and a half pad for competition. His saddle is fitted to allow for that and it cushions his back with the seasonal weight changes which means I only need to get the saddle re-fited every year instead of every 3 months!

 

[Eriskayowner]

I put my wedge between the saddle and my saddlecloth. I use a wedge to spread some of the pressure of my weight across his back a bit more. However the saddlecloth is much easier to clean than the wedge, and the saddlecloth lies better if at the bottom of the pile!

 

[Kokopelli]

If your saddle fits with a prolite I would not buy a sheepskin pad. So many people are using them because it is the fashion atm and I think that the prolites are much better, they evenly distribute pressure across the back etc.

The other problem is if you over pad your saddle, it may not fit correctly and could do more damage then good to the horse. Perhaps in the winter if your horse loses weight then you may need one but I wouldn't risk using one atm.