Is it too much to use a prolite pad and a sheepskin numnah?

[fredthoroughbred]

Hi there,

I am possibly a liitle neurotic about Freds back but I am going to buy a prolite pad after various suggestions but I also love the thin nuumed, hi wither numnahs. Do you think this would be a bit too much padding?

Thanks

 

[Fairynuff]

I may have missed something along the way but, whats wrong with his back? I believe that the more padding involved=big problems with saddle fit or rider being neurotic. I prefer to have saddle and horse going in harmony but I realise that its not always possible

. Hope its you being neurotic as its easier to fix that than a bad backed horse

. Mairi.

 

[RachelB]

Get a saddle that fits, then you shouldn't have a problem. All the pads etc. should only be used if it isn't possible (usually financially) to get a well-fitting saddle, IMO.
The more padding you have, the farther you will sit from the horse... not a nice feeling, being perched on top!
Ultimately it is your horse though... if you really have to have all that extra padding, please get a saddler out to check the fit of your saddle WITH the padding or you could end up with a million more problems.

 

[fredthoroughbred]

I am definitely a litte neurotic when it comes tp Fred!!

I have ordered a new saddle that apparently fits very well and it has adjustable gullet and fish. The problem is he has quite a lot of muscle wastage as he hasn't been ridden for nine months.
I have been lunging and long reining to build him up a bit before I get back on but I just wanted to make sure he had enough padding as he had the kissing spine operation and another vertebrea is pretty close behind the one that was removed.

Any other tips for making Fred as comfortable as possible leading upto and when I get back on?? I'm a bit scared actually haha

 

[MagicMelon]

[ QUOTE ]
All the pads etc. should only be used if it isn't possible (usually financially) to get a well-fitting saddle, IMO.

[/ QUOTE ]

Although I generally agree with that, some horses simply prefer a bit more padding. One of mine used to be cold backed (he has 2 saddles, both pro fitted and back was checked professionally twice) and I couldnt have even got on him without some padding. He seems to have grown out of it now but still can be a little "humpy" without his favourite sheepskin saddlecloth.

 

[RachelB]

MM, that is one of the other exceptions I was thinking of. I used to ride a cold-backed horse who not only had to have padding, he had to have the right amount - too much and he'd be ten times worse to get on! I do think though that extra padding "just because" is unnecessary and can cause more problems, although as I said it's ultimately up to the owner/OP

 

[Persephone]

My girl is cold backed and she wears a Numed half sheepskin saddlecloth with a Prolite pad on top.

This was on the advice of my saddler having fitted her saddle and seeing her work.

So, no, it's not too much for her!

I'd ask your saddler tbh!

Jo x