Question Re: Saddle Fit and thick numnah's

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

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Can I ask a daft question?

I look at piccies of people competing and see that not only are they wearing a numnah but also with the addition of a sheepskin thick half saddle pad inbetween

My saddle fitter said that if you have a saddle fitted then start adding lots of under layers, then you just alter the fit all over again. Surely if you get your saddle fitted then there is no need to put masses of stuffing underneath it? And if you do put layers on then what is the point of bringing out close contact saddles?

Is this a fashion thing or am I missing something?
 
Agree with you in principle, but some horses like the extra padding. One of mine is simply more comfortable with a sheepskin pad for jumping, so I always have the pad on & of course the saddle is fitted WITH the pad on so I couldn't just remove it willy nilly. All my other horses go without pads or even numnahs (for showing), no problems, but this one gelding, he just *likes* it better!
 
MissTyc said:
Proably about 85% fasion and 15% necessity ;)!
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^^^that!
my saddler said if i want to use pads then he'll fit saddle to them - but they are not necessary and certainly don't use them if saddle is fitted with none

interestingly other saddler fitted saddle to bare back then preceeded to tell me to buy a 'nice thick nuumed sheepskin numnah' to go under it :rolleyes: even i could tell the difference in fit once i put it on but followed advice as you do... now i'm a bit more knowledgeable to dont use that saddler anymore ;)
 
Depends on the horse, they are often using in SJing as I think a bit of extra padding when you are jumping does not go amiss to soften the impact on the back

I fit my wow with a chunky saddle pad and sheepskin half pad - the reason why is because otherwise the saddle brings up the odd lump and bump from sitting on his back like a limpet. This just eliminates that, however the saddle is adjusted with this kit on.
 
Our horse was under developed when we got her and I was using the sheepskin pad on her saddle when fitter arrived to fit new saddle, I said I wanted to continue using it until she was more mature so he fitted the saddle to her with the pad.:)
 
I agree with most of it being fashion! Much like the need to wear a five point breast plate at all times.....!?!

My saddle was fitted without anything under and then with the numnah that the saddle is to be used with - I have one with a light wool layer on top for jumping and one with no extra padding for tooting about hacking etc but both are the same make and cut. I only now use numnah fits recommended by my saddler for my horse and stay away from "fashions". I agree that if you need half a sheep under your saddle on top of another saddle cloth that your saddle doesnt fit and if your saddle fits then a light wool layer under a numnah can be of benefit when jumping and/or if the horse has had a previous saddle of poorer fit as this provides encouragment for muscle redevelopment.
 
I use a sheepskin lined numnah/saddlecloth under my jumping saddle. J's saddle was fitted with the numnah as the sheepskin wicks away sweat better and he has stupid sensitive skin! i certainly wouldnt use one if it wasnt fitted with the saddle though, they do make a big difference to the fit imho.
 
Depends on the horse. I find that mine need a wider fitting saddle in the summer due to the little extra weight they tend to carry. I fit the saddle for the summer and have only a very thin numnah. Then in winter if they loose a bit of condition I pad out a little to make the saddle fit better, they also seem to like that bit of warmth in winter from the thicker numnah (or so I feel).

Some will say that this is wrong and the saddle should be adjusted twice a year or I should have two - well who can afford this? My saddle fitter thinks polypads in winter are OK and my horses have never suffered with back pain :) (although currently this is irrelevant as I have 2 youngsters and one not actually back into work yet ;) )
 
I have a close contact saddle but I use a back riser foam pad and a saddle cloth so it's not that close anymore! I use the riser because the back of the saddle sits too low without it and Soap's withers are too high to find a saddle that sits level on its own (eg with just a plain saddle cloth)

I use the half sheepskin on Dustry because he has to go in the same saddle and the saddler said this was the best way to fit it, broad, well padded to avoid sore spots or pressure.

When I first bought the saddle it was fitted to my old horse's bare back, but it has had to adapt since then to what I own. :) I always used to use a polypad on him, and in general make sure most of mine are padded up, they have regular physio and she never finds any sore spots on their backs so 'if it ain't broke.....' :)
 
Thanks for your info, it is just interesting to find out why people choose the padding or not. I was surprised to see lots of dressage riders locally and also lots of show jumpers at a recent show, with thick sheepskin that must have been a good 3 inches of padding under the saddle.

When I grew up we had lots of ponies that we competed. between myself and my sister we owned two saddles that had to fit everything - we used to use the dead sheep and also foam wedges to get the saddles to fit - and never a saddle fitter in sight. We also competed to a high level so I guess the ponies didn't get really bad backs from their saddles but 15+ years later, people are still using the same padding and yet we are so hot on making sure the saddle fits. I was just wondering if it was a selling ploy by manufacturers!
 
Mine wear sheep or pads, jumping big fences can be jarring and anything to save their backs is good in my book. Plus we have so many horses in and out the yard forever changing its just not feasable to get all of them a perfectly fitting saddle all the time, especially at shows when saddles are swapped or all in use at the same time etc.
like chloe said though, regular physio points out problems and they;re all fine.
 
my saddle is fitted to accomodate the sheepskin pad. Horse much prefers a decent thickness pad under saddle so why try and force him to go without. chiro, sports massage and saddler work together and he is never sore so as chloe says, if it aint broke.......
 
carolinefox1 said:
Thanks for your info, it is just interesting to find out why people choose the padding or not. I was surprised to see lots of dressage riders locally and also lots of show jumpers at a recent show, with thick sheepskin that must have been a good 3 inches of padding under the saddle.

When I grew up we had lots of ponies that we competed. between myself and my sister we owned two saddles that had to fit everything - we used to use the dead sheep and also foam wedges to get the saddles to fit - and never a saddle fitter in sight. We also competed to a high level so I guess the ponies didn't get really bad backs from their saddles but 15+ years later, people are still using the same padding and yet we are so hot on making sure the saddle fits. I was just wondering if it was a selling ploy by manufacturers!
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I was interested to see how many saddles at the WEGs either have a fair bit of padding or - horrors - from cursory inspection of how they sit/move "don't seem to fit".

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating ignoring saddle fit and have no desire to go back to the good old days of horses with white marks and horrible atrophied muscles, but I do think the whole issue has become unbelievably fraught.
 
I can't understand why people buy a lovely sheepskin half pad then sandwich it between a cotton saddlecloth and the saddle?! I understand the padding but why not have the sheepskin directly against the horse's back?
I love the half wool numnahs but find the saddle slips on my barrel-shaped ISH so have to use a non-slip pad instead!
 
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