Roma sheepskin pads - beware!

Wagtail

Wagtail

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These pads are often bought for horses with sensitive backs. However, they can end up causing far more problems as they did with my boy. When I closely examined my merino saddle cloth by digging around with the tips of my fingers, I was horrified to see that it was made of around 20 small pieces of sheepskin, and where they had been joined (sometimes as many as 5 pieces), the joins were sharp! I took mine back to where I had bought it, and even though I had had it ten months, they gave me a full refund. :) But I am still very angry that these are being sold and unsuspecting people think they are being kind to their horses, when actually they are causing pain. :mad:
 
I bought a roma pad at badminton and it didn't fit (Large was far too small for a 17.5" saddle) and must admit the quality wasn't great.

I've now got a griffin nuumed (in XL) and it is brilliant. Would highly recommend them.
 
Yes, I bought the nuumed too as I knew there would be no joins as it's not skin. My horse is much happier.
 
Ladybird said:
This has been done before, you're not the only person so I suspect it's not a fault!
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Just checked one of my liveries pads and although it is a lot better than mine, there are a couple of sharp seams right under where the front of the saddle tree would rest. Hers is much older than mine and I suspect the problem is mainly with the new ones.
 
Out of hundreds sold to people that more than likely won't think to investigate what's under there.

100's of cheap indian saddles are sold, doesn't mean what's in them is a 'fault'.
 
ITs not a fault. I sold mine on when I discovered mine had lots of seams from a previous thread about this post!! Could not risk it with a sensitive horse, who likes to buck, would not buy one again!!
 
I have one of the Roma Sheepskin pads and tbh I've been really pleased with it as i only paid £28 brand new!- yours must have been from a faulty batch or something?!- I will double check mine tonight though having read your post!, if i use it i normally sandwich it between saddle and a cloth so my horse wouldn't know if there was anything wrong with it anyway so i must double check it- thanks!
 
I found out they were made by weatherbeeta. No, it's not a fault, they are intentionally made like that to be cheap. Weatherbeeta say on their website to take back to the retailer. I luckily found the receipt as I keep all for my business and got a no quibble refund as 'not fit for purpose'.
 
All I would say is check carefully any surprisingly good value sheepskin numnahs. I was in a tack shop at the weekend and there was another 'budget' well known make (not Roma) and I just couldnt resist having a careful feel (call it professional interest ;) ) and must have found 7 or 8 joins without having to work too hard.

They are cheap for a reason, but that said pretty much all of them, even the most expensive makes, will have join(s) somewhere otherwise the manufacturer would end up with too much waste and the customer wouldnt buy them because they are too expensive.
 
Funny you should say this, I have just given one to a friend to pad out her dog's basket... Same thing as yours, really knobbly joins in the fleece, no wonder my poor chap didn't like it... Using a polypad instead now, less hassle all round.
 
I have one and it's lovely. Washes really well and has stayed soft. Have had no problems with it.

If there is a fault with one then take it back otherwise the quality will continue to deteriorate
 
I have one that's not too bad - just a couple of joins but a friend's horse really objected to hers and she sold it on to someone with a less sensitive horse.

If they are keeping the price down by using offcuts instead of whole pieces then they could vary depending on the size and shape of the pieces available so some people could be luckier than others.

BTW mine is the Roma merino deluxe version.
 
0ldmare said:
All I would say is check carefully any surprisingly good value sheepskin numnahs. I was in a tack shop at the weekend and there was another 'budget' well known make (not Roma) and I just couldnt resist having a careful feel (call it professional interest ;) ) and must have found 7 or 8 joins without having to work too hard.

They are cheap for a reason, but that said pretty much all of them, even the most expensive makes, will have join(s) somewhere otherwise the manufacturer would end up with too much waste and the customer wouldnt buy them because they are too expensive.
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lol, yes Oldmare, if anyone could give a good analysis on these, you can! Oz :)
 
I might pass them some bits that need doing if they are up for accidental sewing ;)

I was thinking the same as you J and C. I suppose could be classified as a 'fault' if they asked the manufacturers not to do this or only use 2 pieces or something and they still are.

I'll stick to my lemieux bargain from badders ;)
 
JessandCharlie said:
Not sure how it can be a fault? You can't accidently sew shreds of fleece together :confused:

J&C
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You are right, it is an attempt at saving money by using scraps basically.
You do often have to different shaped parts together to shape the final product like a taylor would with a suit but to have loads of pieces like is mentioned seems like cost cutting, nothing more.

Imagine how you would feel if I stitched scraps of my seat hide together to make a patchwork like hide, then covered a saddle seat with it and sold you it as a new top quality saddle!

Oz :)
 
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