Posh pony pads

Y

yobonacob

Member
Joined
25 April 2025
Messages
13
Visit site
Opinions on these? The guy in question has a sore back after a bad fit treed saddle and after seeing all the damage it did I’m hesitant to go treed again. What’s the deal with pressure distribution, spinal clearance and stuff? Is it comfy enough to ride in? Would be for very short backed little man.
 
I would go for something much more structured, these are just Shetland pads really. There are so many options around for treeless with some advanced materials, spinal clearance etc, and that's without considering twist, and then pelvic support for the rider, both of which a pad can't really give.
 
I wouldn’t. They are designed for lightweight children. I have two children, youngest being 10, and both have had to move on from pony pads as not distributing pressure well enough now they are taller and heavier. Neither is heavy - my older child is 5 stone fully kitted out for riding!

My children have moved on to the TCS - they do distribute pressure better in part because you can more easily add appropriate padding to help with that underneath. My little NF prefers the TCS but I would not jump her in it and do have pretty decent treeless padding underneath to make sure the pressure is distributed.

As an adult, I prefer something more structured to take my weight. I’m 9 stone for reference. I have a Torsion which is a make which has been extensively pressure tested, and it works well for a horse/pony with good musculature. It’s not as good if they are lacking muscle though - I had to use the TCS to enable my little cob to build enough muscle for the Torsion to fit. I have been riding in Torsion saddles for two decades now and, in a well muscled horse/pony, have never had a problem. I have also had a Freeform (which I loved) but that needs a horse with a flat back not a curved back that can take the length of saddle (they don’t go small enough for a medium sized pony which is what I have).

With any saddle though, the key is listening to your horse and learning the basics of how that type of saddle fits. They do always try to tell us - from moving away to nudging you as you are doing the girth up. If you see the signs then you will never get as far as a sore back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top