Sheepskin or wool?...half lined or full?

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dollyanna

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Looking for some advice please. My fiancee is buying me a sheepskin numnah for my birthday but I'm not quite sure what to go for. I thought I wanted a full sheepskin, but reading more into it now I'm not sure whether to get a half lined numnah - and which is better from wool v. actual sheepskin.

It is to go under a Total Contact saddle, and is a long term gift, I would hope it would last many years. The ponies live out so are not going to be the cleanest and quite possibly it will go on wet ponies at times. Is sheepskin washable/cleanable to the point that I could keep it in good condition in these situations?

I wanted full because I am wary of pressure changes going from thick sheepskin to nothing, but that will happen with either length - I just felt that it would be less of a problem lower down, but can't really justify it properly to myself. On the other hand a half pad would allow much closer leg contact which is partly the idea behind the TC, so no point covering that up!

I have never bought anything other than thin cotton saddlecloths so a bit lost on this and it is a big present so want to get it right. Please help!!
 
We have some le mieux fluffy numnahs from horse health that are 6-7 years old and still in great condition even though used daily.

I like half lined personally, but its really up to you..

Fiona
 
Thanks Fiona, I have in fact ridden my TC with a le mieux on a friend's pony (same breed as mine, similar build) which is what set me on the path to invest in one. Why do you prefer half lined?

ETA I am tempted by one of these - thinking the leather side would give a nice surface for me to sit on and I can always put a cotton over the top to change colour! http://www.lemieuxproducts.com/lemi...ng/lambskin-working-hunter-numnah-black-black
 
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I suppose cost, and also needing padding under weight bearing areas rather than all over...

However in saying that, the one you posted looks lovely, and as it doesn't have the cotton upper layer, will be less bulky under your legs anyway..

Go for it :)

Fiona
 
My horse gets too hot in full so I use half-lined. I love sheepskin but find the cut and generous size of the high wither Nuumed saddlecloths really good under my dressage saddles so that's what I use. I can't really tell the difference between the wool and sheepskin when using it so not too bothered about that.
 
Well, I've bitten the bullet and decided on the working hunter showing numnah linked above - ordered and waiting with baited breath for it to arrive!! I have never had such a luxurious item of tack before, my first pony was all scrimping and saving and mostly tack came from the rummage room at Catlips, and the babies haven't been around long enough to get anything except the TC saddle so far - feel very spoiled and loved right now :D
 
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