Half pad or some type of underlay

[CanteringCarrot]

I have a saddle that fits my horse well, but would like a thin half pad mostly for my comfort (degeneration in my SI joint and some spine issues). Sometimes a little bit extra helps. Looking to replace my Prolite

I am tied between:

A plain ultra thinline

VIP - but horse has a high withers so I am nor sure if this would work.

Invictus

Or a sheepskin underlay. Eskadron makes one of these but what is stopping me from just buying a square piece of sheepskin? Although horse isn't hugely impressed with my Mattes pad, but could just be too thick.

No really into the Acavallo pads. It's been awhile since I've shopped for one and I dug around some older threads, but am still feeling indecisive.

 

[McFluff]

I use the VIP (have done for a while now) - it is thin, but surprisingly heavy. My (ultra fussy) saddle fitter is happy with it (and fits saddle with it in place). My horse seems to like it as he is definitely softer through the back and his muscles are doing well. I use over a nuumed hiwither lightweight wool pad, and it sits well. It doesn't pull the pad down or anything like that.

I have had the Acavallo gel - heavy, thick and didn't work for the horse/saddle combo - I sold it to a friend who loved it. I have also tried the seat saver (if it is you that needs the cushioning) - I found that quite bulky, so OK on my TB, but unusable on my cob. Also quite sticky, so think of breech choice carefully...

I've not tried the others, but am interested in the Eskadron underlay (to use instead of my lightweight wool pad). But I can't tell how thick it is, and it seems a bit challenging to use with a monoflap and dressage pad (I don't do sewing). So I've not taken that leap yet...

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, the seat saver isn't really an option for me because I hate sticky (despise silicone grip too) and can't deal with much more bulk. So under the saddle is best.

I don't see why the underlay wouldn't work with a monoflap? I put my Mattes (sheepskin underside, no front or back roll) under a LeMieux dressage pad then my monoflap saddle on top. The Mattes isn't connected to anything, but stays in place. You can flip the extra underlay material over the front of the saddle pad.

Horse just never seems quite comfortable with the Mattes. Even if the saddle is wide enough to accommodate, I don't know why since he seems to be ok with his Mattes girth. So I thought maybe it is more bulk than he prefers. Not sure. VIP seemed interesting if it'll fit.

 

[milliepops]

I had the underlay. it worked well but you need to use the straps of your saddle pad to keep it in place. I now ride in a monoflap and cut all my top straps off so I wouldn't be able to use it any more.

I had a VIP and was impressed with it, current horse needs more space filling than the VIP would do so we are back in a half pad now.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I had the underlay. it worked well but you need to use the straps of your saddle pad to keep it in place. I now ride in a monoflap and cut all my top straps off so I wouldn't be able to use it any more.

I had a VIP and was impressed with it, current horse needs more space filling than the VIP would do so we are back in a half pad now.

Ah, I see. I also have some straps that have been cut too. Not using my monoflap at the moment, but still using those pads. He doesn't need much space filling do the VIP sounds decent if it works for his topline shape.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I did find an Akton pad cheaper than the VIP that could be worth a try ?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Ok, I am assuming others saw this thread and thought "ugh, another half pad thread" ?

I think I'll order the VIP if I can find a place that ships here and accepts returns. Yes, I'll be paying out the arse in customs fees ?‍ which makes Thinline slightly more attractive but idk if it's thin enough.

 

[sbloom]

Horse just never seems quite comfortable with the Mattes. Even if the saddle is wide enough to accommodate, I don't know why since he seems to be ok with his Mattes girth. So I thought maybe it is more bulk than he prefers. Not sure. VIP seemed interesting if it'll fit.

Jen Hegeman of the Truth Tack Review is keen on having a longer front edge to the sheepskin, though for the vast majority of horses the location of the end of the sheepskin below the points is fine. For some that bifurcation of the muscle group there can be an issue. They do make the sickle shaped lining which I really like, but even more expensive!

Ok, I am assuming others saw this thread and thought "ugh, another half pad thread" ?

I think I'll order the VIP if I can find a place that ships here and accepts returns. Yes, I'll be paying out the arse in customs fees ?‍ which makes Thinline slightly more attractive but idk if it's thin enough.

The Thinline layer would be within a mm of the VIP in thickness.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Jen Hegeman of the Truth Tack Review is keen on having a longer front edge to the sheepskin, though for the vast majority of horses the location of the end of the sheepskin below the points is fine. For some that bifurcation of the muscle group there can be an issue. They do make the sickle shaped lining which I really like, but even more expensive!



The Thinline layer would be within a mm of the VIP in thickness.

Hm, food for thought about the sheepskin pad. I know ice seen a different shaped one somewhere...

It's actually proving difficult to find VIP in black. I used a Thinline (trifecta) in the past and sold it, so I imagine I wasn't hugely impressed with it. Can't recall, I think it didn't suit current horse at the time.

I am nervous about the VIP and my horse's topline, it is far from flat..and their pad is very flat.

Invictus would be easier to get here if the one I wanted wasn't out of stock everywhere.

 

[GreyDot]

The VIP is brilliant and would easily mould to your horse's topline. I love mine and use it during coat changing season - doesn't affect the saddle fit and horse moves well with it.

 

[sbloom]

Hm, food for thought about the sheepskin pad. I know ice seen a different shaped one somewhere...

It's actually proving difficult to find VIP in black. I used a Thinline (trifecta) in the past and sold it, so I imagine I wasn't hugely impressed with it. Can't recall, I think it didn't suit current horse at the time.

I am nervous about the VIP and my horse's topline, it is far from flat..and their pad is very flat.

Invictus would be easier to get here if the one I wanted wasn't out of stock everywhere.

The Trifecta is more pad, the Thinline flat layer is thin. Similar issues with shape, but you could potentially trim out a wither hole. I hope they make a very thin pad to suit a higher wither at some point soon, worth proposing it to them.

The VIP is brilliant and would easily mould to your horse's topline. I love mine and use it during coat changing season - doesn't affect the saddle fit and horse moves well with it.

Not the universal experience, we've discussed them a few times, and they can be an issue with not staying up at the front, or pulled up they don't actually reach below the points of the tree in your saddle which defeats their purpose. Many, of course, like you love them.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The Trifecta is more pad, the Thinline flat layer is thin. Similar issues with shape, but you could potentially trim out a wither hole. I hope they make a very thin pad to suit a higher wither at some point soon, worth proposing it to them.



Not the universal experience, we've discussed them a few times, and they can be an issue with not staying up at the front, or pulled up they don't actually reach below the points of the tree in your saddle which defeats their purpose. Many, of course, like you love them.

I found a Thinline ultra, which is what I would need, but the standard basic model in black is very hard to comeby at the moment. However I did spot a contour pad second hand. I wonder if I could just cut away the excess I don't want/need?

Since horse has a large and long withers, the thinline may give me a better option with a slight alternation. I cannot alter the VIP and it doesnt seem like enough pad, in that there is no contour and a short drop.

I also eyed Winderen and I think someone at the stable has one, so I could look at that one.

 

[sbloom]

I found a Thinline ultra, which is what I would need, but the standard basic model in black is very hard to comeby at the moment. However I did spot a contour pad second hand. I wonder if I could just cut away the excess I don't want/need?

Since horse has a large and long withers, the thinline may give me a better option with a slight alternation. I cannot alter the VIP and it doesnt seem like enough pad, in that there is no contour and a short drop.

I also eyed Winderen and I think someone at the stable has one, so I could look at that one.

d3o is certainly well proven tech, as is Poron XRD, but I think Invictus and Winderen may be a little thick for you, though will be thinner than the Mattes.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

d3o is certainly well proven tech, as is Poron XRD, but I think Invictus and Winderen may be a little thick for you, though will be thinner than the Mattes.

That's what I'm thinking. Will also have a poke around the stable/chat with a few liveries and see what they have in their collections. Just on the off chance I can see one of these in person. I am quite sure there is a Winderen.

The saddle is a good fit and I put it on with a Prolite (that's what I'm trying to "move up" from) and it also fits fine with the Prolite and no objections from horse. So it could be that thickness, but no more. The Prolite is older and quite thin.

Worst time to shop for a pad though. So many pads out of stock (I want black) with crazy restock dates (Feb 2022).

 

[sbloom]

Worst time shopping for lots of manufactured things, Mattes are on about 8 weeks, usually 3-4, saddles it depends, our workshop in the UK is managing 8 weeks in almost all cases (tree supply is an issue across all Walsall pretty much, especially from Walsall Riding Company) which isn't much increased from our usual 6, sometimes up to 8. Some saddles I'm getting from Argentina are delayed slightly, but their Covid situation has been terrible in the last couple of months.