sheepskin half pads-are the ones with the gel-eze better than normal ones?

I find the gel insert stops my saddle slipping on my flat-backed mare. If I just use a sheepskin/wool pad, my saddle wobbles a bit!
 
I like mine :) Well, rather my neds seem to appreciate it at any rate... :)

I did have to get the matching sheepskin girth cover to go with it as well - neds are very appreciative of that.... :)
 
I've often wondered about this, but someone explained to me (much better and in a more scientific way than I can now , after a few glasses of wine...) how the gel actually causes more friction as it is constantly in contact with the horse, as opposed to sheepskin which allows air circulation as well as cushioning. I appreciate the non-slip effect though, but in the end have decided to just stick with sheepskin. LeMieux all the way for Maggie, half-lined saddlepads for dressage and a cotton cloth under half pad for jumping.
 
that totally makes sense,for a pure gel pad, but would it be the same for the stephens ones which are sheepskin lined, but have gel inserts on the top, ie between saddle and pad but are pure sheepskin against horse??????
 
my saddler told me that you should have either a gel pad or sheepskin. he said that the ones with little gel areas arent that great as all the pressure from the saddle goes through these points. Hope that makes sense. Charlotte x
 
What is the benefit of using a sheepskin pad? Not trying to be contentious, its a geniune question. My saddler has always been adamant that, having had my saddles fitted, putting sheepskin pads is like wearing ski socks in a pair of normal shoes. The exception is when we have had to fit a saddle temporarily - i.e my mare was very overweight when she came home so ended up in a wide saddle with a pad while she gets back to normal or when the YO fits her saddles on horses into sell. So, not having a pop at anyone - just interested to know why you would use pads for normal use.
 
Luci07 said:
What is the benefit of using a sheepskin pad? Not trying to be contentious, its a geniune question. My saddler has always been adamant that, having had my saddles fitted, putting sheepskin pads is like wearing ski socks in a pair of normal shoes. The exception is when we have had to fit a saddle temporarily - i.e my mare was very overweight when she came home so ended up in a wide saddle with a pad while she gets back to normal or when the YO fits her saddles on horses into sell. So, not having a pop at anyone - just interested to know why you would use pads for normal use.
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Personally, I use a a sheepskin pad because my boy has muscle loss in his back from an injury when he was young and if I use a 1/2 pad he saddle sits still and anything else it rolls over into the muscle dip. Saddler has tried everything but the 1/2 pad is the only thing that helps!
 
Well you see that makes sense - so your saddle is fitted WITH the pad to ensure your horses comfort and shape. But for people with "normal" horses (and I use that term lightly!) what is the benefit that you percieve in using this? I only see them being used as temporary aids normally to make a saddle fit..
 
I always thought the same as charlotte says having seen them that the saddle pressure would be unevenly distribute through the gel sections more.
 
Luci07 said:
Well you see that makes sense - so your saddle is fitted WITH the pad to ensure your horses comfort and shape. But for people with "normal" horses (and I use that term lightly!) what is the benefit that you percieve in using this? I only see them being used as temporary aids normally to make a saddle fit..
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Two of mine are ridden in a sheepskin saddle cloth. One because he is cold backed and in a 'normal' saddlecloth dips quite badly when saddle put on and mounted. In his sheepskin he flinches ever so slightly but its a 10th of a reaction that you get normally. Both my saddle fitter and physio have checked him and the saddle out and think its a perfect solution for him. The other one is just a sensitive TB and although he goes well in a normal saddlecloth (poly pad style) he goes better in a sheepskin and always has.

I use the Le Mieux saddle cloths, they really aren't that thick and take up no more room under the saddle than a Poly Pad or similar thick saddlecloth.

I guess there are horses out there who do prefer the feel of the sheepskin against their backs.... and why not!
 
Scarlett said:
Two of mine are ridden in a sheepskin saddle cloth. One because he is cold backed and in a 'normal' saddlecloth dips quite badly when saddle put on and mounted. In his sheepskin he flinches ever so slightly but its a 10th of a reaction that you get normally. Both my saddle fitter and physio have checked him and the saddle out and think its a perfect solution for him. The other one is just a sensitive TB and although he goes well in a normal saddlecloth (poly pad style) he goes better in a sheepskin and always has.

I use the Le Mieux saddle cloths, they really aren't that thick and take up no more room under the saddle than a Poly Pad or similar thick saddlecloth.

I guess there are horses out there who do prefer the feel of the sheepskin against their backs.... and why not!
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Thanks for responding all - it was a geniune question! Makes sense when the pad is used in conjunction with the saddle being fitted and not just because it looks pretty!
 
my saddle is fitted to take sheepskin pad in to account too, as horse prefers it and is looser over back with it one.

other horse doesnt mind either way, so saddle is fitted minus a pad.

explanation ref pressure points does make sense so will stick to normal sheepskin, thanks .
 
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