Memory Foam - a saddler's thoughts.

[Sol]

Sort of random question, but how do you get used to riding with all the padding that some people use? I was advised by a (rubbish) saddle fitter to use a half pad for a time, bought a very nice one as didn't see the point in buying a rubbish one... and hated it! Felt so far from everything Dan's only little too so can't imagine riding a bigger horse with loads of padding & whatnot!

 

[kerilli]

sbloom, that's interesting, thanks.
Sol, i think it depends on the materials used in the padding, and of course on the saddle itself. lots of pads with a non-close-contact saddle would make me feel perched, rather princess-and-the-pea. the Süberpad is like that imho, but might be perfect for some people/horses. with a half-pad and a cc saddle you just get a normal feeling imho.

 

[sbloom]

How does that differ from the Nuumed one? Genuine question as I have the nuumed one which is sheepskin with 4 pockets for foam shims like the Mattes one appears to be.

Nuumed only make wool pads - the wool fleece is shorn from a live sheep and sewn into a knitted backing. A good product but not sheepskin. The shims are foam and are in biiig pockets. Foam isn't the most stable of products and can vary in its ability to absorb shock.

Mattes pads are proper sheepskin and because the fibres are not torn apart they are much springier and provide more concussion absorption. The shims are foam which does not bounce or bottom out - I fit mainly wide and flat horses and anything that bounces isn't helpful! I trim the shims to make them wedge shaped - layering up full sized shims simply means you end up with a ridge under the seat which gives pressure and instability.

I will at some point in the near future be making a Youtube video on how to fit a Mattes correction pad including how to trim the shims

 

[Sol]

sbloom, that's interesting, thanks.
Sol, i think it depends on the materials used in the padding, and of course on the saddle itself. lots of pads with a non-close-contact saddle would make me feel perched, rather princess-and-the-pea. the Süberpad is like that imho, but might be perfect for some people/horses. with a half-pad and a cc saddle you just get a normal feeling imho.

I don't think I've ever ridden in anything that close-contact... the saddle I was advised to use the half-pad with was a Bates Caprilli dressage, but also tried it with my jumping saddle (Bates Caprilli also), and hated it with both. It was a rather thick sheepskin half pad though! Everything just felt very deadened? Very weird feeling! It probably doesn't help that I'm small though and most saddles feel too big, I think I should stick to ponies/pony saddles

Find the memory foam thing interesting though... well, the non-breathable bit (hadn't really thought about that tbh!). Dan's saddle is usually on him for 30mins ish before I mount now, as I groom, then saddle, then bandage & such. In winter when it's freezing I will groom the saddle area, saddle, pop saddle cover & rug over & then groom the rest of him around the saddle & bandage! Then flexions then mount. You can really tell when his saddle has warmed up though as it goes so squidgy, it's very odd if the suns been on it! Previously though he's got little lumps on his back especially through winter which the vet thought may be due to heat/sweat (I always wipe him down after a ride & brush thoroughly when dry!), but since using a slightly thicker pad they went down a bit, and then have gone completely in his new saddle... I'd have thought that that combo must be making him warmer though? hmmm. Not been through a full winter with it yet though so we will see!

 

[St Nicnaclaus]

Thanks Kerilli - that makes sense. Right off to peruse the products mentioned as it's my birthday soon and parents want a list as usual. Just email them the links and hey presto

May have to spoil myself in advance as have jumping lesson with a lovely eventing man on 3rd November - may even post afterwards if I don't make a complete tit of myself!

 

[kerilli]

Thanks Kerilli - that makes sense. Right off to peruse the products mentioned as it's my birthday soon and parents want a list as usual. Just email them the links and hey presto

May have to spoil myself in advance as have jumping lesson with a lovely eventing man on 3rd November - may even post afterwards if I don't make a complete tit of myself!

Ooh, that sounds good, who with, or is it a secret?
The Ecogold secure pads are just brilliant, i'm going to stick just about every other numnah and pad i have on ebay and get more of those, they just don't move a mm. 1 of those and the Triple Protection Half Pad = heaven imho...