Half Pads - I'm confused!

[TheSylv007]

Can anyone explain the principals behind half pads as opposed to numnahs? Many people seem to use them in addition to a numnah but surely they interfere with the fit of a saddle as they add extra bulk? In fact, don't all these pads add extra bulk under the saddle and should only be used in cases where the is muscle wastage or the saddle is somewhat larger? I'm just confused by all the dead sheep stuff under the saddle - what are they for or am I really missing something?

 

[Kenzo]

They come in handy as quick fix if your horse has changed shape, say for example if your saddle is little wide, waiting a re-flock or is sitting a little low, or if you are using the saddle on a few different horses (competition/dealer yards) a particular saddle may fit a few horses of the same breed, shape etc with the use of a pad for some and not for others, a lot of the pads are used under close contact saddles so it could be that it’s offering a little more comfort in that way too but yes ideally if you are going to use one all the time with your saddle it’s best to have a saddle fitted or checked with one underneath, which perhaps many people do.

 

[TheSylv007]

so am I right in thinking they should not be used with a well fitting saddle?

 

[Silmarillion]

Fashion.

 

[Kenzo]

so am I right in thinking they should not be used with a well fitting saddle?

Not really no, but then I suppose it depends on how thick the pad is, some are thicker than others and some are just trimmed with dead sheep as it it's just round the edges, so it maybe that there not really effecting the fit of the saddle some of them are not much thicker than a thickish saddlepaddle despite the fluffy thick apperance and people can't always be changing there saddle when there horse changes shape slightly.

 

[Blitzen]

I use mine on my DR gelding under his dressage saddle with no nummnah. it adds a bit of cushioning without interfering with my lower leg for a 'closer contact' feeling. I was under the impression that this is what they're designed for? Mine works a treat! X

 

[soulfull]

so am I right in thinking they should not be used with a well fitting saddle?

Correct

I think they were first used by SJ'ers to cushion the saddle more, as someone said especially the close contact ones

I know several saddlers will now ask if you are going to use one all the time. I like them under my jump saddle so have therefore adjusted it with that in mind

 

[brown tack]

I used one with my last horse, he had a bad back from a history of I'll fitting saddles. I had mine saddle fitted with the pad, he went much better in it than without, I would use one again, I think they have a place but most is fashion. Ie every single horse on my old yard used a half pad and properly only 2 horses needed them

 

[CharlieGal]

I think its mainly a fashion thing. Although some people do use them for an unfitting saddle and by show jumpers to cushion the saddle. I've been told if they don't fit with the saddle then it can have a horrible effect? I don't know if thats true but thats what I've been told :S

 

[mr fields]

they are for saddles that lift on the horses back as the half pad levels it out

 

[Horseback Rider]

I use a pro lite relief pad on my ex racer with a really thin saddle cloth as was recommended by my saddler as my horse has quite a sensitive back and it helps him to loosen up a bit under the saddle.

I do see a lot of people that use these or the sheep skin pads for SJ and I think it is to cushion the weight of the rider when they land back in the saddle

 

[OneInAMillion]

My boy has a patch of muscle damage in his back so whilst it is building back up rather than buy a new saddle he has a numnah with shims in it

 

[sbloom]

A thick sheepskin pad only alters the fit in one way - it cannot change or significantly reduce pressure points. What it can do, especially with narrow horses, is put the saddle out of balance, lifting the front more than the back.

A saddle that is lifting is usually either too wide or too curvy or both. A sheeskin pad will help a fraction in limiting the damage caused by the rear panels bouncing but is not fixing the fit.

The valid use for showjumping is indeed for reducing concussion but actually it helps lift that forward flap away from a large prominent shoulder, freeing up the scapula. For many horses that pad will lift the front of the saddle so the balance must be checked when fitting a thick pad.

I personally don't really agree with the fat that it's okay to pad a too wide saddle but not a too narrow one - obviously if a saddle is too narrow it is already putting pressure on at the points, and a thick pad will not cure that, may make it worse, but mainly will lift the front of the saddle even more. A too wide saddle has a pressure point higher up along the top edge of the panel and again a thick pad cannot alleviate that but it can lift the front of the saddle to give enough clearance. Again the overall balance must be assessed. Some companies like Balance International fit too wide deliberately and pad with thick pads but not all horses will cope with this and it can cause instability.

A thin (short pile) sheepskin is okay with most saddles as its no thicker than say a Polypad. A long pile sheepskin must be assessed in how it affects the fit and the saddle balanced. If you think about the physics a wider HEAD to the tree (more upside down U than V) gives more space for a thick pad, widening the points of the tree simply causes a pressure point.

And shim pads are REALLY useful - a Mattes correction numnah in the tack room is always incerdibly useful. I find foam pads can be unstable and bounce, especially with wide horses whereas the shims in the Mattes pads are very dense felt. I only use Mattes pads as therapeutic pads when fitting horses with damaged backs etc but I have head good things about Thiniline pads from people I respect.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have recently started using a memory foam half pad under my dressage saddle. My ridiculously sensitive dressage horse was very tense about the sitting trot his saddle was made to template for him and was being regularly checked by the saddler .I used it with a thin saddle cloth under it, I was really thinking I can't ride, this horse just won't accept me sitting on him I'm an awful rider etc etc then I had a lesson with a different trainer and he said mega sensitive horses like this don't like the feeling of their backs pushing up towards the saddle as they learn to accept the sitting what you need is a memory foam pad for him to push into I thought right whatever but he gave me one to use for the rest of the lesson and the horse took 3 steps took a deep breath raised his back end of problem I was amazed I was always a don't stuff things under the saddle person I now have a very open mind.

 

[catkin]

A thin (short pile) sheepskin is okay with most saddles as its no thicker than say a Polypad. A long pile sheepskin must be assessed in how it affects the fit and the saddle balanced. If you think about the physics a wider HEAD to the tree (more upside down U than V) gives more space for a thick pad, widening the points of the tree simply causes a pressure point.

Sorry if this is hijacking the post, but hope it might clear up some confusion:

is a 'thin' sheepskin one that is made just from the skin without quilted backing? I have one of these and it is soft but doesn't seem to alter saddle fit whereas even those with the thinnest quilt backing seem to (and I was shocked to see that it was patchwork sheepskin when the thing was taken apart).

 

[Hippona]

I have recently started using a memory foam half pad under my dressage saddle. My ridiculously sensitive dressage horse was very tense about the sitting trot his saddle was made to template for him and was being regularly checked by the saddler .I used it with a thin saddle cloth under it, I was really thinking I can't ride, this horse just won't accept me sitting on him I'm an awful rider etc etc then I had a lesson with a different trainer and he said mega sensitive horses like this don't like the feeling of their backs pushing up towards the saddle as they learn to accept the sitting what you need is a memory foam pad for him to push into I thought right whatever but he gave me one to use for the rest of the lesson and the horse took 3 steps took a deep breath raised his back end of problem I was amazed I was always a don't stuff things under the saddle person I now have a very open mind.

Hi ...is this the Nuumed memory foam/sheepskin half pad? I like the look of these myself- I'm going to discuss with my saddle fitter next week.

 

[sbloom]

Sorry if this is hijacking the post, but hope it might clear up some confusion:

is a 'thin' sheepskin one that is made just from the skin without quilted backing? I have one of these and it is soft but doesn't seem to alter saddle fit whereas even those with the thinnest quilt backing seem to (and I was shocked to see that it was patchwork sheepskin when the thing was taken apart).

I was really talking about the length of the pile but yes, using a proper old fashioned sheepskin with no backing will be thinner than using the same length pile with the addition of a cotton backing. I recommend Mattes because of that quality issue - they may be pricey but you can guarantee brilliant quality skins, plus of course their wonderful correction system