Half Pads/Gel Pads/Sheepskin HELP!

[chickeninabun]

I currently have a sheepskin numnah under my saddle, with a normal saddle cloth between it and the horse, to keep it clean really, and it works well but is a little small so need a larger one.

Looking around there are half pads, with sheepskin, with gel... there are various numnahs/saddle clothes with gel and/or sheepskin. It's a minefield!

What would be the advantage of having a half pad? Do you still use a normal sized numnah too?

Any preference on gel rather than sheepskin?

Also any recommendations on ones that aren't too pricey, as some are just astronomical!

 

[AFB]

Your saddle fitter should be telling you what you need - if you're using one off your own back you need to get make sure it's not affecting the fit of your saddle - a sheepskin half pad will (I've no experience with gel pads but pretty certain a lot of them would too).

 

[paddi22]

Any saddle fitters we've had out to the yard have all been very anti those fluffy pads unless the fitter recommends them, so I don't use them anymore at all really.

 

[Red-1]

I have always just used a sheepskin numnah next to the horse. I brush them daily after use, and they rarely need an actual wash (once a month?).

To wash I use a mild machine cycle, with specialist liquid, drip and then air dry. If the skin gets a bit stiff you can buy cream to soften it.

Can't really see the point in using a saddle cloth with a sheepskin numnah. The sheepskin feels nice on their skin, that is the reason for them. It absorbs sweat and is breathable. It should not need anything with it.

 

[chickeninabun]

Saddle fit is fine. Sheepskin/extra padding is veterinary advised.

Soooo.... anyone have any more opinions on the difference between the use of gel or sheepskin on a numnah/saddle cloth and advantages of using a half pad?

 

[Tiddlypom]

Saddle fit is fine. Sheepskin/extra padding is veterinary advised.

Can you enlarge on this? Why did the vet advise that you need extra padding underneath the saddle?

ETA what numnah or pad (if any) is best for your horse depends very much on what purpose it is for. Fitting one will alter the fit of the saddle. Was a pad of any sort fitted to the saddle originally, or have you added it subsequently?

 

[criso]

Not used gel pads but wanted to comment on the sheepskin and why it's worth spending extra. The cheaper ones while they may use sheepskin, are often made of smaller offcuts stitched together. This creates many seams which on sensitive horse they may feel and react to. I had one which was described as a deluxe option but a cheaper brand and when you felt carefully, you could feel all the bits and the joins. The ones that are made of whole pieces tend to be very expensive.

I like the Christ/Horsedreams ones, fantastic quality medical grade sheepskin and really soft but they don't come cheap. I have a half lined saddlecloth so don't use anything else. With saddle fitter's knowledge

 

[chickeninabun]

Not used gel pads but wanted to comment on the sheepskin and why it's worth spending extra. The cheaper ones while they may use sheepskin, are often made of smaller offcuts stitched together. This creates many seams which on sensitive horse they may feel and react to. I had one which was described as a deluxe option but a cheaper brand and when you felt carefully, you could feel all the bits and the joins. The ones that are made of whole pieces tend to be very expensive.

I like the Christ/Horsedreams ones, fantastic quality medical grade sheepskin and really soft but they don't come cheap. I have a half lined saddlecloth so don't use anything else. With saddle fitter's knowledge

Thank you, this explains the huge difference in costs! I was beginning to think it was just a brand war, but this makes more sense.

 

[WelshD]

I use Acavallo gel half pads on both my ponies

There was a lot of publicity a while back about how gel pads pull at the skin and hairs and can cause discomfort but both my ponies go well in theirs and so I have not rocked the boat but if you have a super sensitive horse this may be worth bearing in mind.

The gel pads with sheepskin trim are just for looks, one of mine wears one for showing purely for the look, the sheepskin sits outside the saddle so doesn't affect fit

You can however get a gel pad that is fully wool lined, I have one but for the life of me cant remember who made it I'm afraid, this is much thinner than a sheepskin half pad, the wool goes next to the horse and the saddle sits on the gel, this is quite a good compromise if you'd like something between the gel and horse

I've personally found sheepskin half pads to be rather too shaped and so rather rigid under the saddle but perhaps they soften and mould with time

The only drawback that I have personally found with the half pads is that sometimes if I girth up too quick the cold panels of the saddle sides can make my mare jump but I do have a tendency to be an impatient girther-upper so think the fault is squarely mine - I get round this by either using the thinnest saddle cloth as well (Nuumed are the thinnest I've found) or restraining myself a bit and saddling up before bridling just to allow the saddle to warm up a bit

 

[chickeninabun]

Can you enlarge on this? Why did the vet advise that you need extra padding underneath the saddle?

ETA what numnah or pad (if any) is best for your horse depends very much on what purpose it is for. Fitting one will alter the fit of the saddle. Was a pad of any sort fitted to the saddle originally, or have you added it subsequently?

She has growths on her back.
The saddle was fitted with the pad. I understand if I change the pad it may change the fit.

 

[chickeninabun]

I use Acavallo gel half pads on both my ponies

There was a lot of publicity a while back about how gel pads pull at the skin and hairs and can cause discomfort but both my ponies go well in theirs and so I have not rocked the boat but if you have a super sensitive horse this may be worth bearing in mind.

The gel pads with sheepskin trim are just for looks, one of mine wears one for showing purely for the look, the sheepskin sits outside the saddle so doesn't affect fit

You can however get a gel pad that is fully wool lined, I have one but for the life of me cant remember who made it I'm afraid, this is much thinner than a sheepskin half pad, the wool goes next to the horse and the saddle sits on the gel, this is quite a good compromise if you'd like something between the gel and horse

I've personally found sheepskin half pads to be rather too shaped and so rather rigid under the saddle but perhaps they soften and mould with time

The only drawback that I have personally found with the half pads is that sometimes if I girth up too quick the cold panels of the saddle sides can make my mare jump but I do have a tendency to be an impatient girther-upper so think the fault is squarely mine - I get round this by either using the thinnest saddle cloth as well (Nuumed are the thinnest I've found) or restraining myself a bit and saddling up before bridling just to allow the saddle to warm up a bit

Thank you very useful.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'd think that sheepskin directly onto the skin would be your best bet. Anything firmer, such as a gel pad, might rub the growths.

Assuming that the growths are just in the weightbearing area, the griffin nuumed half lined numnah may be a good choice. They're well made and not too bulky. I've got several .

https://nuumed.com/8-hiwither-half-wool-numnah-nm08a-gp-5oz

 

[chickeninabun]

I'd think that sheepskin directly onto the skin would be your best bet. Anything firmer, such as a gel pad, might rub the growths.

Assuming that the growths are just in the weightbearing area, the griffin nuumed half lined numnah may be a good choice. They're well made and not too bulky. I've got several .

https://nuumed.com/8-hiwither-half-wool-numnah-nm08a-gp-5oz

Thank you these look really nice and not too bank-breaking either.

 

[sbloom]

NuuMed is wool not sheepskin, the wool has been shorn and loses its integrity, I'm not sure it will do quite what you need. I love Mattes sheepskin, nothing else matches it. The gels are sold almost solely on shock absorption but they're really not that great, I have tested them with a bowling ball. Sheeskin doesn't provide a huge amount of shock absoprtion but it does allow for soft tissue expansion and for things like granulomas. And yes, cheap sheepskin is cheap for a reason. Mattes cut their pads either side of the spine so the panels are symmetrical, they cut a 45 degree angle across the inner edge of the panels with a wide channel in between, and it's medical grade 30mm sheepskin, always expensive.