Numnahs which prevent rubs on edges

[Jellymoon]

Is there such a thing as a cotton numnah with sheepskin round the edges to prevent fur rubbing where the seam is? I don’t want full or half sheepskin as that would be too bulky under the saddle, just cotton is fine, but one of my horses gets rubs where the edges touch him.
I have seen the Wing numnahs which look a bit odd but might work…anyone used those?

 

[saddlesore]

Good luck with them! I tried to order one a couple of years ago. They took my money and happily ignored all contact thereafter. Luckily I’d paid via PayPal. I opened a dispute and they didn’t respond within 30 days so I was refunded.

 

[ester]

the lemieux sensitive skin ones do
https://www.lemieuxproducts.com/sad...-sensitive-skin-dressage-square-benetton-blue

personally had good results from their bamboo lined options too but they've changed to what I had.

 

[milliepops]

As above, otherwise anything with softer binding should help. Lemieux rub all mine in winter but Eskadron pads are softer.

 

[Mrs G]

I have a couple of the winged saddle pads. I bought one to try and it definately reduced the rubbing and hair loss on my horse so I got another. They wash well too - good job as they they are expensive!

 

[Jellymoon]

Good luck with them! I tried to order one a couple of years ago. They took my money and happily ignored all contact thereafter. Luckily I’d paid via PayPal. I opened a dispute and they didn’t respond within 30 days so I was refunded.

Oh dear, that is rubbish isn’t it. Shame as the company seemed to start off well didn’t it, won some awards and got good reviews, but now there isn’t a website or FB page. Looks like you can still buy them through a couple of stockists though.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Eskadron and LeMieux rub mine in the winter. At some points worse than others, depends on the coat. I use the LeMieux Sensitive pads and am quite satisfied. I brush the wool binding out with a slicker (dog brush) after washing and drying. Still like new.

 

[saddlesore]

Oh dear, that is rubbish isn’t it. Shame as the company seemed to start off well didn’t it, won some awards and got good reviews, but now there isn’t a website or FB page. Looks like you can still buy them through a couple of stockists though.

Yeah I was so disappointed as I had thought they were a reputable company ?

 

[Sprig]

I has terrible trouble with saddle cloth edges rubbing last winter. This year when clipping I have left a saddle patch about an inch bigger than the saddle pad. So far so good. No rubbing.

 

[Cazza525]

Have you tried nuumed?

 

[Sossigpoker]

The binding might soften if you wash the numnah a couple of times.

Also I'm sure this is obvious but just in case : please make sure that you lift the numnah up both at the pommel and cantle so there's a gap between the skin and the numnah.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I has terrible trouble with saddle cloth edges rubbing last winter. This year when clipping I have left a saddle patch about an inch bigger than the saddle pad. So far so good. No rubbing.

the issue with that though is one of the reasons I clip is to stop sweating under the saddle.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Not clipping doesn't solve it for my horse. He still manages to get some rubbing on his unclipped areas. Something about that winter coat. It's worse when it's growing in and when he's losing it, not so much in-between.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Courtlea will bespoke make for you. Absolutely brilliant product, pure lambskin, not bulky and if looked after will outlive the horse and you !

 

[sbloom]

the issue with that though is one of the reasons I clip is to stop sweating under the saddle.

Do you find it really makes a difference? By the time a saddle and cloth is on top, with the lack of breathability (even of sheepskin or any other product that wicks) the coat is compressed completely, so can't see it would make a lot of difference?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Do you find it really makes a difference? By the time a saddle and cloth is on top, with the lack of breathability (even of sheepskin or any other product that wicks) the coat is compressed completely, so can't see it would make a lot of difference?

Can't speak for that poster, but yes, it makes a difference. Mine will sweat either way, but dries wayyyy faster if he's clipped under the saddle, and doesn't get as sweaty/wet because he doesn't have all of that thick winter fur under there.

 

[sbloom]

I can certainly see they look sweatier and dry more quickly but I honestly can't see that they sweat less, not sure how we'd test it definitively though I guess!

 

[teddy_]

I used Mattes sheepskin lined numnahs / saddle cloths on a thin skinned warmblood and they worked a treat, no rubbing .

Christ Lammfelle are equally good and can be purchased via Horze. Steer clear of anything Le Mieux IMO!

 

[nikkimariet]

Mattes and Lemieux do these.

They’re not the prettiest BUT the HKM gently pads are super soft. Silky almost. They are a true soft pad.

 

[sbloom]

Unless they do it by special request Mattes don't offer a trim just around the outer lower edge as such, but if you go for top trim front and back then you do get some sheepskin wrapping around at the centre back. A sheepskin lining would definitely help with rubbing but will change the fit of the saddle so it should only be used once the fit has been checked.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have issues with the Lemieux doing this to my horses I use the Griffin numed ones and buy the XL and that works for me .

 

[Birker2020]

Is there such a thing as a cotton numnah with sheepskin round the edges to prevent fur rubbing where the seam is? I don’t want full or half sheepskin as that would be too bulky under the saddle, just cotton is fine, but one of my horses gets rubs where the edges touch him.
I have seen the Wing numnahs which look a bit odd but might work…anyone used those?

Le Mieux saddlecloths are your best bet, they come up quite long from front to back and they don't have that annoying seam that causes rubs.

 

[Birker2020]

I have issues with the Lemieux doing this to my horses I use the Griffin numed ones and buy the XL and that works for me .

Just seen this - I have always found Le Mieux come up quite long from front to back and have never irritated my horses backs compared with other makes that start to rub at the back.

 

[Goldenstar]

My worst issues have been with Lemieux .
The are too short for my hunters men’s saddles and I hate the bit that reinforced where the girth goes through .

 

[milliepops]

i found the binding on Mattes pads rubbed as bad as LM tbh! i had to fold the binding back on itself and tack it back so it curled away from the horse to stop that happening on the shoulder and ribs.

 

[sbloom]

i found the binding on Mattes pads rubbed as bad as LM tbh! i had to fold the binding back on itself and tack it back so it curled away from the horse to stop that happening on the shoulder and ribs.

I've had two, over the years, rub on the shoulder like that, it is rare thank goodness, whereas LeMieux is notorious for it.

Rubbing at the back can also relate to the length of the pad compared with the shape of the horse's back, and the shape of the topline of the pad. A short, curvy back may be rubbed on the slope up to the croup by a longer pad, a well sprung ribcage may rub more from a longer pad on either side of the spine, a very A framed horse may rub on the spine from a pad that won't stay fully up in the channel at the back.

 

[Jellymoon]

Thank you so much all, I will have a look at all these suggestions.

 

[bouncing_ball]

Do you find it really makes a difference? By the time a saddle and cloth is on top, with the lack of breathability (even of sheepskin or any other product that wicks) the coat is compressed completely, so can't see it would make a lot of difference?

No idea whether a clipped saddle area sweats less, but the area gets less damp and wet when clipped and saddle cloth also stays drier which is much easier to manage.