Riding without a saddle cloth/numnah - would you?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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Just out of interest - my TB is extreamly sensative, and he is fully clipped - i posted a few weeks back about two "rub" patches at the back of the saddle area - not sore at all, just like the shoulder rubs off your rugs. I changed saddle cloths to a variety and to be honest he got worse, he felt like he was holding his beathe when asking for collection and was just not right in the back.

I have stopped riding him, the saddler came out last night, the back lady is booked for Tuesday and my saddler said - dont use a saddle pad on him at all. The panels of the saddle are perfect and very wide giving it a huge weight bearing area - all in perfect line with the last rib, enough clearance etc.

He checked all of my current saddle cloths - ranging from cheap huge cloth square ones, to sheepskin expensive ones and he rubbished every single one of them - not in a nasty way- just in a matter of - well this one is giving a pressure point here, this one has a seam here....

I have ideal saddles which are fantastic but becuase of the size of the panels I am really struggling to find a well fitting numnah. The saddler is hopefully going to text me a link to a lady that is starting to make numnahs to fit the ideal range - but if anyone knows who it is (i think it began with an S) please let me know.

Or as my saddler suggested to ride without anything under it - must admit the saddle was soooo warm after it had been on the youngsters back i am starting to wonder if it is worth riding with a saddle pad under him.
 
If the saddle fits fantastically then its ok, tho 99% of saddles really dont. proof will be in the pudding/horses back! only thing is try a really thin one before giving up, ironically sometimes with a well fitting saddle they can work much better than padded/sheepskin ones, and a lot less hot. I like Nuumed high wither ones (even tho horse not huge withered), thin, well made and fit well on horse/with saddle.
 
Yes, I would. Especially if the saddler recommended it! Numnahs/saddlecloths etc were primarily used to keep the saddle clean. I know they now do have som other purposes (shock/sweat absorption or to make saddles fit better) but if your saddle fits well anyway then you should be OK without one.

Good luck.
 
Yes I have ridden loads without a saddle cloth/numnah. they are really only supposed to be of use in keepting the saddle clean and as my saddles are all serge lines they are perfectly comfortable without a cloth, but I normally use cloths to keep the serge clean. My initial thoughts on reading this are that if it is only this time of the year then it is possibly because his coat is changing and he is losing his winter coat and his summer coat is not through yet - which is a frequent happening with TB's that are clipped.

THe other thought is that the saddle is sitting a little bit high in the front which is causing pressure at the back of the saddle which is why the rubs are behind which would explain why he was hunching a bit when asked for collection. Put your saddle on in the normal place and let your stirrups drop - do they fall vertical along the girth line - or do the appear to fall at an angle to the saddle?

I would suggest you don't bother with a numnah - get hold of a Griffen Nuumed high wither saddle cloth ( they do them in extra large although I only use the large with my OH's 18inch saddle and it is a big saddle with hugely wide panels) And just get the everyday high wither - no sheepskin, no padding etc. There are no seams to rub and you would have prenty of cobverage to ensure no pressure points.

Unfortunately so many of the saddle cloths and numnahs out there are so badly made they do cause all sorts of problems ( and that is not just teh cheap ones)
 
Hello,
Often a nice leather panel looks so much more comfy than some numnahs!
After you have your saddle reflocked or if you buy a brand new saddle you should not use a numnah so the horsees warmth and sweat will help form the flocking to the horses back. According to a saddler I trained with.
Liz
 
i wouldnt but only as mine has serge and want to keep it clean - i use hkm high wither saddle cloths they are lovely and sit well up into the gullet - no pulling down
 
I use a thin wool numnah (not sheepskin- too thick). You get the benefits of wool (sweat absorption, soft interface between saddle and back, etc) but without affecting the fit of the saddle.
 
You guys with serge linings - I didn't know it was still around! Are they older saddles or are manufacturers still making them? Just curious!

To the OP, I say go for it. They're only supposed to keep the saddle clean, so try it without.
smile.gif
 
I use my saddle without a cloth or numnah for the same reason, my saddle fitter told me to stop and see what happened when my boy had rub patches. That was two years ago and I haven't looked back. It does mean more cleaning but I've got into good routine now, quick wipe underneath after use and then a good clean once a week and I've also noticed that he doesn't hardly get any of those pea sized lumps now under saddle, whereas before he would have lots on each side.
I also like that I can spot the slightest change in the fit due to the way the hairs are when the saddle is taken off.
 
My sisters welsh pony is mostly ridden without a numnah as she seems to prefer it this way. She had some issues with saddles when we bought her and although they're pretty much gone she still gets tense when she has a numnah underneath. Not sure entirely why but I assume there must be some pressure/movement somewhere that she doesn't like. We have one really thin saddle cloth she doesn't mind so use that on longer/more strenuous rides to absorb any sweat. Bit long winded - sorry - but if your saddle fits your horse you shouldn't need anything underneath!
 
I heard from a saddler somewhere that your not actually MEANT to use a numnah/saddlepad if your saddle fits correctly. As you shouldn't need one.
Apparently the numnah is just there if the saddle doesn't fit perfectly, stops it slipping etc. And from what everyone above has said, to keep it clean.

But I don't know if this is true or not. Makes sense though.
grin.gif
 
Gingerwitch, if the saddle fits perfectly then do leave off the cloth. I never used them on any of mine (I am, admittedly, positively anal when it comes to saddle fit though!) - and much preferred it. Just makes for a tiny bit of extra cleaning
smile.gif
 
IF the saddle fits correctly, then you will be absolutely fine with nothing underneath it.
grin.gif
 
Thanks for all your replies - the saddle i have was made to measure for the horse and is as good a fit as you can get - the chap whom measured him does all the police horse fittings and does a lot of work for the RDA.

So thanks for all the advice - just waiting for the physio on Tue now, and hopefully get the all clear to start to ride him again
 
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