Prolite Pads?

kirstyhen

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Looking at getting one of these for under my jumping saddle, because girl can never have to many accessories ;) but not sure what width to get.

Looked at the GP and the Wide pads today, but the GP looked too narrow and the Wide looked too wide :rolleyes: Obviously wider is better than narrower, but I wondered if it was maybe my imagination.

So wondered what people who use Prolites with their saddles use. Saddle in question is an Excelle Integra, wouldn't say the panels were out of the ordinary in either direction.
 

kerilli

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the wider the better, definitely.
i really like the one with front and back sleeves, so it is adjustable both ways (front or rear riser), or you can use it with no additional shims. that one's nice and wide. otherwise, the dressage shaped one is very good imho, straighter down the front edge but still nice and wide.
 

kirstyhen

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the wider the better, definitely.
i really like the one with front and back sleeves, so it is adjustable both ways (front or rear riser), or you can use it with no additional shims. that one's nice and wide. otherwise, the dressage shaped one is very good imho, straighter down the front edge but still nice and wide.

That's the one I was after, but I can't find it now so thought I was imagining it! :D
 

oldvic

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I use the wide one as I feel it is better that it is too wide than on the narrow side. I also have a thinner one and a thicker one depending on how narrow the horse I'm riding is. I hate riding without one as it spreads the pressure so must be more comfortable for the horse.
 

kerilli

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must admit i had a devil of a job to find one, i gave a new one away when i sold a horse and then couldn't find one for years, but they definitely make them, in black not sure about white though... i can measure it for you if that'd help you make up your mind.
it has 3 different sizes and widths of shims for front and back pockets (so, 12 spare shims, so loads of adjustment possible, very well designed.)
 

Scarlett

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I have both the standard and the wide and find that the wide can be too wide on some horses. It was bought to be used on a high withered TB with muscle wastage to either side of the withers and it helped fill the gap so to speak, however on my less high withered horse when using her latex panelled cc saddle it's just too bulky and pushes the saddle out and back so I have to use a standard sized one.

Hope that helps, let me know if you want a pic of what I mean or owt.
 

dilbert

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Stupid question but is your saddle too wide? If not the prolite might make it too narrow and pinch?

I have a normal prolite and also the front riser for my cob to help sort out his muscle wastage. The front riser worked really well but it was a bit wee under the saddle, the normal one seems better.
 

kirstyhen

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I have both the standard and the wide and find that the wide can be too wide on some horses. It was bought to be used on a high withered TB with muscle wastage to either side of the withers and it helped fill the gap so to speak, however on my less high withered horse when using her latex panelled cc saddle it's just too bulky and pushes the saddle out and back so I have to use a standard sized one.

Hope that helps, let me know if you want a pic of what I mean or owt.

I get what you mean, Mally has barely got a wither and my saddle is a CC one, so perhaps the wide would be too wide.
 

kirstyhen

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Stupid question but is your saddle too wide? If not the prolite might make it too narrow and pinch?

I have a normal prolite and also the front riser for my cob to help sort out his muscle wastage. The front riser worked really well but it was a bit wee under the saddle, the normal one seems better.

My saddle fits absolutely fine, but as it has foam panels it can't be altered in fit, so will need shims if she does change shape (although saddler didn't think this was likely). Wanted a Prolite for when she wears the saddle for longer periods of time eg hunting, cross country schooling, as I know they are the best for shock absorbing. Thought getting the multi riser would kill two birds with one stone ad I would have it should I ever need to pad her saddle out.
 

meardsall_millie

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What about this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aerborn-A...r_Equipment&hash=item20c208ff8d#ht_500wt_1287

or this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Proli...r_Equipment&hash=item19cce8f140#ht_1784wt_905

Although I have to be honest, I'd be a little concerned about the varying pressure on the horses back with these 'sectional' pads - think I'd prefer the standard 'all in one' type?

ETS - just read your other post. If you want it to relieve pressure when you're on for long periods, try one of these (I have one) http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/horse-...aped-gel-pad?zenid=gjfbc21d6e9lo1uibpevb81sp4 - they are so thin they don't change the fit of the saddle but are incredibly shock absorbing. Much better than Prolites :)
 
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KatB

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Would also go with a gel pad tbh. Polite pads are designed to fit up into the gullet of the saddle, so will make the gullet narrower and make the saddle tighter. Gel pads are much better as they won't adjust the saddles fit.
 

TarrSteps

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The other option, if you want to spend your money, is a memory foam pad. They thinner and more form fitting than the Prolites, but a bit thicker, at least before they compress, than most gel pads.

I'll confess, though, that I don't really like the feel of Prolites, although I'm happy to use them if they're what needed. But I do find on some horses they really change the saddle fit (which might be exactly what you want in some cases!). But, as a qualifier, they aren't particularly popular where I come from so it's likely I'm just more educated in other options.

Out of curiosity, are they a go to pad for under cc saddles? There is almost nothing but in North America and yet, as I said, they don't seem nearly as popular.
 

kirstyhen

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They are what everyone has under their saddles out hunting, so they were my first thought when I wanted something for a bit of shock absorbing-ness. I saw the pads MM suggested but wasn't sure they'd be as good, however MM has both and recommend the gel-pad, so that's what I ordered :D

Moot already has memory foam boots, not sure she deserves a memory foam pad under her saddle too ;) :D
 

oldvic

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I find that the gel pads can encourage the saddle to move around a little by nature of the fact that gel can wobble, more on a flat withered horse than a narrow one. For competition I like a sheepskin but that is not really practical for every day as it is hard to keep enough elasticity in it over a length of time. The thinner prolites don't take up much room under a saddle but disperse the pressure a bit and they last well. I have never used a memory foam pad as I haven't found one that fits my budget and that doesn't start rather thick until you get on.
 

kerilli

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must admit i have a huge collection of gel pads that i never use, used to use them as weights for old LF 3-days, I have one that weighs about a stone! they do shift a bit and they make the back sweat a lot too.
I was told by a top saddler that Prolite scored higher than anything else in the Pliance pressure testing they did. 1 saddler is experimenting with putting prolite into the saddle panels...
I have a Bay Jacobsen pad which is memory foam and lovely, it's about an inch thick but softly squishy and squishes down immediately, but it's just a tiny bit too short for my 17.5" and 18" saddles, so if anyone with a smaller bum than me wants it, it's going spare...!
 

kirstyhen

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I will probably end up with a Prolite at some point too, I like to have a collection of things so that when I need something I have it, hence never getting rid of bits, nosebands, boots etc when I don't have a horse they fit! :D
 

Garfield1537

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I have the standard on my large ID x TB my friend just purchased the wide for her boy and it defo looked too wide. The wide really is for very wide native types I think.
 
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