Half pad (with sheep skin) recommendation please...

[_jetset_]

I have been recommended by my saddle fitter to get a half pad for Hannah... Grace has one which I can use for the rest of the week, but she will need it herself from monday and I am on minutes as it is without having to swap pads around

I love Grace's because it has a gap in the sheep skin over the spine, but I bought it at a gorgeous shop at Olympia upstairs from a German guy (his company had come over from Germany... so not around here), and have no idea what make it is!

So, does anyone have any recommendations for a good one?

 

[KatB]

Morpheus desigsn are beautiful and not too thick. They arent expensive and really are sooo soft

A well known saddler in Dorset recommends them highly apparently, and it was a friend of mine who put me onto them !!

 

[flyingfeet]

Yep : http://www.morpheus-designs.com

They are very good and make everything themselves sourced from local sheep.

 

[SpottedCat]

I have to use one on B (sweat rash) and have tried several makes:

Roma look good but after a few washes go a bit thin, but my Christ Horsedream one comes up like new every time and is brilliant. My latest one is a Griffen Nuumed one with memory foam in - seems to relieve pressure points and is lovely and thick as it reshapes itself, however it hasn't been put to the wash test yet!

 

[ajn1610]

I think Numed make one with a gap like you're describing.

 

[Elise]

I love the one I have by Bartl. I also find Bartl products wash really well. I have tried other makes and the sheepkin doesn't wash well at all so Bartl is defintely my favourite!

 

[Pidge]

What about mattes?
http://www.dressageonabudget.co.uk/saddle-pads-numnahs.php
I use the saddle cloths and they are really good, gap over the spine and cut for high withers too

 

[_jetset_]

Han has quite a high wither too!

 

[CheziBrown]

I've got the Nu Med - Hi wither close contact with half sheepskin. Is fab - costs £50.00. Just washed it yesterday and seems okay.

 

[Pidge]

Pidge does and I don't use anything else with his dressage saddle as I never found anything else that would stay up ov er his withers, it also stays up in the gullet at the back of the saddle too. Friend borrowed mine for a dressage comp and is now saving up for one as she loved it too

 

[SpottedCat]

The griffen ones with memory foam and shaped in a high wither style - I *think* it may take the place of the christ one as my fave, but until it has passed the washer/drier test, who can say.... (it will not be long before I dozily drop it in the mud I am sure!!)

 

[Folara]

I used to use the Stephens ones till I got a Suberpad. They wash very well and still looked good 6 months on.

I *may* have a new one still that I bought and didnt use.

I will look tomorrow and will be very happy to post it to you if you want and I can find it!

 

[AnnaandStella]

Bartl have a vented one... Their sheepskin pads are fab.

 

[Ludi-doodi]

I have a cottage craft and the sheepskin is really fluffy and soft. I think it's got the gap across the spine and although I got mine very cheap because they'd mispriced it, the full price is only about £35.

 

[Sammason]

yeah i hav a cottage craft one and hav no complaints so far. only been using for a month but noticed a difference in mare's way of going. she alot freer throu her back.
xx

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Bartl or Stephens, both have genuine sheepskin & are very good & very similar to each other & available in whatever colour you want.

 

[_jetset_]

But do they have a gullet where the spine is that is free from sheep skin?

 

[bugsysmum]

I bought one last weeked from a local saddlery - it's a full saddlecloth with the sheepskin on the top half, and it has the gullet free of sheepskin. It's a Shires one and cost me £23!
I've also got a full sheepskin saddlecloth from Shires which I've had for a few years, and it washes up really well and has stayed soft.
Would def recommend them..

 

[BBs]

Horse Health Wessex do lovely ones.
I have one and highly recommend it.

 

[miller]

Mattes one has a gap I think - only one I can find that stays up in the wither and it has a clip thing that holds it up into the saddle - had Stphens and Bartl before and would now only buy Mattes personally - wash brilliantly too

 

[_jetset_]

Thanks everyone... I really appreciate these comments and suggestions!

I love Grace's, but like I say, I bought it from a German company who were at Olympia (even their credit card machine was German)!

 

[lucym]

i have a mattes one, it is gorgeous quality and has a gullet along the spine free from sheepskin. wouldnt hesitate to buy another one- if i had the money that is

 

[sachak]

stephensons or cottage craft

 

[not_with_it]

Mine is cottage craft and it doesnt have sheepskin along the spine. It fits really well and is half the price of all the others, so you can have 2

 

[NAALA]

Mattes fan here. These are made in Germany and are fantastic, they dont slip, rub, move they are spine free and come in about thirty different colours. They are real sheepskin. They also do the saddle clothes, numnahs, pads you name it and they do everything. I have come across a fantastic tack shop in Devon called Wychanger Barton. They will order anything you want from Mattes and they are so efficient. I live in the Midlands and from now on will always use this shop for all my tack needs because they will always source it for you.

Numnahs.com are the agents for Mattes but you have to order from a stockist. Have a look at website.

 

[_jetset_]

I have just bought a Mattes one from Wychanger... I have bought an Xtra Full as I wanted a trim on it and the lady recommended this for an 18" saddle

Thanks everyone... she will have to use Grace's this week but hopefully by next weekend she will have one all of her own

 

[seche]

I know Fusion Saddles (google them) make a pad with non sheep spine/wither. Their saddles are gorgeous!!!