shetland show pads opinions

[BringoutheBest]

I have been looking into these quite a bit recently as my small pony is now broken and going well and my little sister is getting keener and keener, and I am need of a smarter saddle for lead rein classes etc.
My only concern was would they not have the potential to damage the horses back due to pressure points from the stirrups and girth because they don't have a tree? Or are they designed to prevent this from happening.
If so, I'll just start hunting around for a diddy wide show saddle, thought I'd look into these show pads though as they always look very smart

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

A year ago, I bought a show pad in black suede for my shetlands. A typical cub saddle didn't fit because to get it to stay put I had to try to do the girth up so tight it was cutting off the blood supply to their heads! Also, it terrified the little rider as it slid forward up the pony's neck as we went down a slope. The pads are fabulous, absolutely bloody marvellous. Kids love them, ponies love them, superb universal fit, brilliant. And one of my shetlands (who shall be nameless, Lady!) waited for me to turn my back a few weeks ago and she chucked her little rider off so she could have a lovely roll in the school, new suede pad saddle and all!!!! Good brushing all over with pony's body brush and the pad is as good as new. And here's the thing: a lovely lady at my yard has a very troubled Arab gelding. He's developed some severe behavioural issues before she had him and she's moving heaven and earth to help him. One of his issues is being saddled. At her wits end after all the usual efforts to get the saddle fitting right, I suggested she tried my suede saddle pad. She's only a petite little soul and I thought my 15" pad would be alright just for her to try. Her horse loved it! She ordered one made to measure for her Arab. Arrived 2 days ago. You should see her and her fabulous horse riding confidently out around the countryside again now! I'd recommend them to anyone who has exhausted all the "usual" methods to find a saddle. The pad itself is thickly padded and so spreads the riders weight well. I'd recommend them to anyone. The Arab has a specially shaped slim fit sheepskin numnah that goes under his pad but I don't need it for the tiny riders that ride my shetlands. The sadlle is exceptionally smart, stirrup bars make it as safe as houses. Go for it!

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

You will be very hard put by to find a "proper" saddle to fit a shetland. There are different types of shetland pad on the market and whilst I love the old style Milner's pads, the new ones slide forwards up their necks. I also have a Zoe Snape saddle and it is fab. I fit it - just lol! It's designed for showing but is does have small knee rolls. If you do go down this route and order one you will be told that you need to get the girth, stirrup leathers and numnah to go with it as nothing else will fit - twoddle. A dressage girth fits, you don't necessarily need a numnah with it. Although I don't have a Thorn pad I have seen them and they again are very smart and again, fit well.

I have used my new ilner's pad on a cold backed darty and he loves it so they are more than worth their weight in gold.

Near the bottom of this site is a link to several shetland tack suppliers.

http://www.shetland-pony.com/