Saddle Pads - good or bad?

[Katie :)]

Hi

I recently worked a few weeks at a show jumping yard and noticed every horse was ridden with a wool/fleece saddle pad/half pad. When I asked they said it was mainly because their leather saddles were being shared between horses, so it ensured a better fit. I have a synthetic saddle fitted by a professional saddler, but was wondering if a saddle pad would be useful in reducing any shock to the back (as I do lots of jumping up to 1.20) and just be a comfortable extra - or would a saddle pad compromise the fit of my saddle? (not sure how my saddler would take the fact I was using a saddle pad - he has a thing against numnahs even! So I would rather come on here and get advice from more than just him)

Thank you!
Katie

 

[Nancykitt]

Sheepskin pads do alter the fit of the saddle and obviously they can never compromise for a saddle that just doesn't fit.
However, some horses - my pony included - just like having the sheepskin next to their skin as a comfort thing. He really does go much better with a sheepskin numnah and is clearly happier - whereas OH's cob doesn't seem bothered either way.
My saddler understands that AJ likes his fleecy pads and takes this into account when she makes any adjustment. Works well for us.

 

[xgemmax]

If the saddle was to be fitted with the pad underneath then yes it should add some shock absorption, if its not fitted with it then it could compromise the fit of the saddle

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Hi

I recently worked a few weeks at a show jumping yard and noticed every horse was ridden with a wool/fleece saddle pad/half pad. When I asked they said it was mainly because their leather saddles were being shared between horses, so it ensured a better fit.

Words fail me, they really do!!

And do these horses have "issues" like refusing, or running out regularly?? etc etc?? And are they regularly out of work because of lameness/unsoundness issues?? I'd lay a hefty wager that this is the case!!!

But - unfortunately we all live in the real world and know this sort of thing goes on..........

I'm just a Happy Hacker, with just the two horses, and I wouldn't do it! I have a treeless saddle however, and yes, I DO swap saddles around; but even with a treeless saddle you still need to bear in mind that the one you have which fits one particular horse, might not necessarily fit another. But that is a separate debate.

 

[Katie :)]

Words fail me, they really do!!

And do these horses have "issues" like refusing, or running out regularly?? etc etc?? And are they regularly out of work because of lameness/unsoundness issues?? I'd lay a hefty wager that this is the case!!!


But - unfortunately we all live in the real world and know this sort of thing goes on..........

I left the yard earlier than I was supposed to, I don't want to go into why exactly - but I also don't agree with using saddlepads to try and correct a saddle fit :/ it's a shame !

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

If your saddle fits, adding something thick under it can alter the fit. It would be hard to discuss with your saddler if he is against all numnahs, it's not a bad attitude to have but if you don't share it then the two of you are unlikely to have a useful discussion. There are wool saddlepads which are fairly thin, lambswool I think is thinner than sheeps wool and saddlepads where the wool is onto synthetic fabric will be thinner than where the wool is still attached to the sheep (sheepskin pads). If you were to use a numnah/saddlecloth with wool attached, rather than a separate one used together with a second wool/sheepskin half pad, that would be slimmer too. But how much cushioning effect would a thin saddlepad have? I'm not convinced it would make much difference but would maybe be better than nothing. Are you jumping very high? Do you have any cause for concern about your horses back ie any behaviour problems, physio needed, previous diagnosed problems? If you really want to use a thick cushioning setup with your saddle it might be better getting a saddle fitted with the saddlepads present and a saddler knowing you intend to do this. But since you've (recently?) had a new saddle fitted I presume you don't want to buy another so if there are no problems with your horse I'd be taking a "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it" approach and sticking with your current saddle/numnah setup.

 

[Katie :)]

If your saddle fits, adding something thick under it can alter the fit. It would be hard to discuss with your saddler if he is against all numnahs, it's not a bad attitude to have but if you don't share it then the two of you are unlikely to have a useful discussion. There are wool saddlepads which are fairly thin, lambswool I think is thinner than sheeps wool and saddlepads where the wool is onto synthetic fabric will be thinner than where the wool is still attached to the sheep (sheepskin pads). If you were to use a numnah/saddlecloth with wool attached, rather than a separate one used together with a second wool/sheepskin half pad, that would be slimmer too. But how much cushioning effect would a thin saddlepad have? I'm not convinced it would make much difference but would maybe be better than nothing. Are you jumping very high? Do you have any cause for concern about your horses back ie any behaviour problems, physio needed, previous diagnosed problems? If you really want to use a thick cushioning setup with your saddle it might be better getting a saddle fitted with the saddlepads present and a saddler knowing you intend to do this. But since you've (recently?) had a new saddle fitted I presume you don't want to buy another so if there are no problems with your horse I'd be taking a "if it's not broken, don't try to fix it" approach and sticking with your current saddle/numnah setup.

Thank you I think I will have to just go for it and speak to my saddler about it. My horse gets his saddle fitted every few months as he goes through various shapes at different times of the year. The only reason i'm concerned is because he's not very built up along his back (we're working on muscle building etc) and he can be sore at times - which sometimes then coincides with more frequent refusals. I just don't want to be causing any problems if we get the odd awkward jump and I land heavily etc, particularly as we move up to 1.20 tracks (new territory for me!).

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Thank you I think I will have to just go for it and speak to my saddler about it. My horse gets his saddle fitted every few months as he goes through various shapes at different times of the year. The only reason i'm concerned is because he's not very built up along his back (we're working on muscle building etc) and he can be sore at times - which sometimes then coincides with more frequent refusals. I just don't want to be causing any problems if we get the odd awkward jump and I land heavily etc, particularly as we move up to 1.20 tracks (new territory for me!).

Are you calling the saddler out early enough? I wouldn't be having it fitted in response to refusals from a sore back, I'd be getting it fitted before things get that far. You must have a fair idea of the time of year your horse changes shape if you've had him a while. A thick saddle pad could help you if his changing shape is minor, using the pad to adjust the fit rather than calling the saddler to adjust the saddle, meaning you could change the fit quicker and easier.

If his changing shape is dramatic and there is frequently a sore back, could it be that he needs a different sized saddle altogether? I have one in a medium in deepest winter at his slimmest and extra wide out at grass in summer, using pads for the inbetween stages. No amount of adjusting by a saddler could make one saddle fit this horse all year round, unless it was an adjustable gullet saddle I guess.

Just my opinion but if the horse has no topline and therefore isn't working correctly over his back, I wouldn't be focussed on moving onto jumping higher tracks I'd say the horse isn't ready and to build the muscle first. Depending on how little muscle is there now and how much topline he builds you might find you need a new saddle once he's built up anyway.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I left the yard earlier than I was supposed to, I don't want to go into why exactly - but I also don't agree with using saddlepads to try and correct a saddle fit :/ it's a shame !

Mmm, yep, without going into detail, criticising someone else's management, OR making assumptions based on prejudice....... I can well imagine the sort of set-up that might prevail, and other issues happening in a yard, if saddles that don't fit are just slapped onto horses' backs and they just have to get on with it ..........

You are well out of that OP.

 

[Batgirl]

Saddle pads absolutely change the fit of a saddle. I would only put one in if the saddle had dropped because it was too wide. Physically you are narrowing the gullet (if you look a the difference between sizes on a measureer like a wintec they are not ahuge amount!). If it is for shock absorbtion you need it fitted with the pad.

E.g I have a Le Mieux pad that my saddler has recommended for my saddle if it drops. If I put it in when hit hasn't dropped it lifts the saddle becasue ti is too narrow and ends up perched. This would be worse for shock absorbtion as you may end up pinching. A well fitted saddle should absorb the shock by spreading the load properly.