Saddle cloths, numnahs and your horses saddle fit?

[moneypit1]

I used to love my Stephens half numnah. It looks so soft and comfortable for my horse. My saddler has said it is a no no as she has fitted my saddles to fit my horses with the thinnnest of cloths underneath. Just wondered, if you use a thick numnah do you allow for it when your saddle is fitted? x

 

[katie_southwest]

I use the same type of numnah all the time which I got from my saddler so we tried it with it on when the saddle was fitted

 

[Silverspring]

The last time I got a traditional saddle fitted (I now use a Free'n'easy saddle so I get no numnah choice!) my saddler told me the same. At the time I was loving poly pads but he said they were awful things that just put you further away from the feel of the horse

he didn't even like the Griffin wool numnah when I suggested that. I ended up with a few white clothes (never out the wash!) and that was all.

I have to say it made a huge difference to my dressage horse, he really did feel 100 times better with the perfectly fitted saddle and no pading between horse and rider.

 

[SAL66]

I had a new sadle fitted only a few months ago, I mentioned about having a "thicker" type saddle cloth underneath.
The saddle fitter said that because I am very slight she didn't feel the need to have a padded cloth and she would recommend a saddle that fits the horse with only the thinnest of cloths underneath.
If I was a heavier rider than she was adjust the fit of the saddle as its adjustable to allow a more padded cloth underneath.

Its a shame really because I do love the look of the half sheepskin ones, but still need to find a nice thin dressage square.

 

[lucym]

my saddler always says that if the saddle is fitted correctly only a thin cotton numnah would be needed, i always have them fitted to allow for a prolite pad/polypad (whatever suits the saddle/horse) as i belive that even if the saddle fits there must be a lot of pressure on the horses back, so surely we must do all we can to alieviate this pressure, i am a great prolite pad lover

 

[stencilface]

The physio said that judging from slight effects on my horses back (although there really wasn't much wrong) that my saddle a was a touch too narrow down the middle, even though it fits perfectly at the front.

I have tried wider saddles, but guess what - these are two wide at the front! So I have gone back to a thin cloth after using a poly pad for years to see if it makes a difference. I think the ned is happier, but then who knows?!

 

[KatB]

I have my jump saddles fitted for a sheepskin pad/prolite underneath

More scope for adjustment!! But my horse does change shape alot as he gets fitter, so I prefer to have a wider saddle with a prolite pad under that I can take off is he gets fat!!

My dr saddle has been flocked just for a thin saddle cloth under it

 

[Cluny]

I always use Griffin thin quilted numnahs, my saddler explained it to me as: You buy yourself a new pair of shoes and you have a pair of thin socks on and the shoes fit perfectly. You go home and put the same shoes on again, but with a thick pair of socks on, how tight now do the shoes feel?

 

[dressager]

Funny, I have been pondering the same thing recently also. I followed my saddlers advice of using a thin saddlecloth also as his saddle currently is a good fit.

However, recently someone pointed out to me that lots of horses at the top levels have thick sheepskin underneath the saddle as they want these horses to be as comfortable as possible and perform well. For instance, Carl Hester always uses one. Does this mean they purposely fit the saddle to accomodate this, and what are the benefits? Does it really cushion the pressure and make it more comfortable? Surely a 70kg rider plus saddle is going to feel similar whether there's a bit of padding there or not? Anyone any ideas

 

[KatB]

Prob is alot of the "top" riders have a few saddles and alot of horses.... so the padding etc helps them fit a bit better.

 

[marlyclay]

Also alot of top event ,sj jump horses are very fit and prob don,t carry much extra fat ,they are equine athletes after all .
Interesting to note that show horses only ever hav very thin numnahs so as not to detract from there confirmation and they are often overweight anyway.

 

[Hollycat]

[ QUOTE ]
However, recently someone pointed out to me that lots of horses at the top levels have thick sheepskin underneath the saddle as they want these horses to be as comfortable as possible and perform well. For instance, Carl Hester always uses one. Does this mean they purposely fit the saddle to accomodate this, and what are the benefits?

[/ QUOTE ]

My saddle fitter (Amerigo) told me my 7 year old mare is the same size as Carl Hesters Dolendo - very narrow!!!! She said she would advise always using a sheepskin pad under horses with this type of shape. My 3 year old has an Amerigo saddle with a sheepskin half pad and a very thin high wither saddlecloth on underneath. As she is changing shape the saddle is a liitle too wide for her so it has been fitted with the half pad in place. I really like the hlaf pad though, so I may get it widened so I can keep the half pad when she does widen out. My other mare, the 7 year old, is in a spalding saddle fitted for just a thin saddle cloth underneath.

Thick pads or numnahs can make a big difference to saddle fit and should be fitted by the saddler. It no good keeping a fleecy thick numnah just for shows if you usually use a thin saddle cloth as the saddle will then be a diffferent fit!

 

[jenmac_85]

I use a thin Roma saddlecloth underneath as that was all I was advised to use, simply to absorb the sweat from Tyler. Anything thicker means the saddle doesnt fit.