Half wool numnahs for Wow saddles

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Charlie31

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Can anybody recommend me a half wool numnah for a Wow saddle please? With the panels being that bit wider at the back I find most numnahs are not wide enough. I would prefer not to use a saddlecloth if possible though as they tend to drown my lad a bit, plus he's a sweaty git so the less material the better!

Currently we're using a full wool numnah that I had specially made to be a bit wider but as it gets warmer I thought a half wool might be preferable for him.

I would prefer something not too bulky if possible as the saddle is fitted to go with a lighter weight wool, i.e. something the weight of the Nuumed lightweight wool ones.

Contacting Nuumed to have one made to measure is an option but I thought I'd just see if anybody had any other ideas before I forked out the extra for a custom made.

Thanks.
 
What flaps/size etc? I used to use a Nuumed forward cut in XL size on my Wow XC saddle, that worked well. I've used Mattes when I had a dressage Wow but I expect the nuumed would have been fine too. I like plenty of coverage at the end of the panels so always go for XL numnahs :)

Or how about the lemieux half squares? I use LM CC pads now on my Wow, the half squares are like numnahs just a little less closely cut.
http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/saddle...mp-half-square-black-black?cPath=100_474_476&
 
milliepops said:
What flaps/size etc? I used to use a Nuumed forward cut in XL size on my Wow XC saddle, that worked well. I've used Mattes when I had a dressage Wow but I expect the nuumed would have been fine too. I like plenty of coverage at the end of the panels so always go for XL numnahs :)

Or how about the lemieux half squares? I use LM CC pads now on my Wow, the half squares are like numnahs just a little less closely cut.
http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/saddle...mp-half-square-black-black?cPath=100_474_476&
Click to expand...

Sorry, meant to say it's got the jumping flaps on it set in one of the middle positions, and it's size one panels. I thought about the Nuumed forward cut but they don't seem to have them on their website anymore. They do have a new shape one for jumping saddles and the XL might be just wide enough so that could be worth a punt.

How this is the wool on the Le Mieux and the Mattes ones? I heard the Mattes ones were really thick. And with the Le Mieux half squares does the wool come out wide enough under the panels as I wouldn't be keen on it finishing underneath them.

Sorry for so many questions!
 
I have a size 2 on SDWG panels and I use and nuumed cc saddle cloth half lines with will and the dressage version on my dressage wow, I have not found the wool to be too small.
I also have a DXWG setup on my dressage saddle and use the nuumed DR with wool on that too.
In the winter the thicker wool pad is a Lemieux I think (could be mattes but I think it's Lemieux)
 
I'd stick with Nuumed - IME they fit and wash much better of the test of time.
I had a brief foray into LeMieux but I swear they shrink a bit
 
I have a le mieux lambskin half pad, size 2 SDWG panels too, and it sits nicely around them, and isn't as thick as others I've seen. Not noticed it shrinking, but the colour is temperamental though so is now a greeny hue to the brown!
 
My Mattes is knitted on, not skin, and fits fine and isn't too thick. It's a half pad. I usually use NuuMed saddle cloths though. I find they wash well and are just the right thickness and stay put with no straps on.
 
I use a Nuumed with the lighter wool just under the saddle area, but mines a saddlecloth. Only it and one other (I cant remember the make but its a thicker wool one with the rolled sheepskin bit at the front) seem to fit right and not move under my WOW. I love the Nuumed one. It washes really well in the washing machine on a wool wash too :)
 
Mattes no longer make wool lined pads like the NuuMed, they are all the "platinum" very best sheepskin, very different to LeMieux though which are merino lambskin and mostly thinner with less shock absorption and sweat wicking. Mattes are fabulous pads but will alter the fit of your saddle. NuuMed are wool fleece, shorn from the sheep, and sewn into a knitted backing.
 
sbloom said:
Mattes no longer make wool lined pads like the NuuMed, they are all the "platinum" very best sheepskin, very different to LeMieux though which are merino lambskin and mostly thinner with less shock absorption and sweat wicking. Mattes are fabulous pads but will alter the fit of your saddle. NuuMed are wool fleece, shorn from the sheep, and sewn into a knitted backing.
Click to expand...

Have you got any feeling of whether skin or wool is better? I don't use sheepskin because of the expense and the washability. I tried a cheaper skin once but I could feel some joins in it, and when I took it apart it was made of more than seventy, yes, seven zero, pieces stitched together.
 
I found the same with an old LM girth sleeve YCBM, how disappointing. The fairfax lm sleeve is one piece though, it has no quilt backing so nowhere to hide joins ;)

I know you're not asking me, but I much prefer skin-on such as Mattes, you can tell they are all one piece... but mainly because on taking an old Nuumed apart, I felt - and found - small wads of hair that had matted together on the underside between wool and quilt. This was despite regular washing, religious brushing out etc. I figured if I could feel these small round wads then the horse could to, and for that reason I now view knitted wool pads as consumables. I can never feel the same thing with my Mattes pads.
 
I am with you on the felting up of the wool ones, MP. I ended up with two perfectly decent looking cloths last year that were so felted at the back that they were acting as back risers! I nearly cried throwing them away, it seemed such a waste.

I just can't stomach the cost of high quality sheepskin, though :(
 
if you're that way inclined it is not too much work to unpick the binding at the back and pull off the mats, then re-sew, but I'm very much a make do and mend person (just spent the weekend hand sewing new surcingles onto an old rambo to mimic the fancy breakaway ones that the new rugs have, after sec D permanently detached the old ones!)
 
yeah they do claracanter, the only issue I had with mine was that the attachments are for saddlepads with normal girth straps, whereas Wow d rings are high up and right at the front of the saddle (as opposed to an inch or 2 back under the skirt).
I just moved the attachments ;)
 
ycbm said:
Have you got any feeling of whether skin or wool is better? I don't use sheepskin because of the expense and the washability. I tried a cheaper skin once but I could feel some joins in it, and when I took it apart it was made of more than seventy, yes, seven zero, pieces stitched together.
Click to expand...

Wool has lost its integrity, it's not a bad product per se, but it is a lesser product in terms of absorbing sweat and concussion. It is thinner so makes less difference to saddle fit. I much prefer sheepskin but the saddle fit must be tweaked to accommodate it, and Mattes is the ultimate sheepskin. Cheap sheepskin pads can have seams, and even lambskin isn't the same thing, though again will wick some sweat and absorb some concussion.

I think the expense is worth it, the pads last 10 years at least, the shim versions are every pad you'll ever need, and if you use the right wash (Mattes supply one, it must be a leather wash) then it's not too much hassle and can be machine washed.
 
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