Shock Absorbing half pads

We've got one 5yo mare with huge withers - she's got a Winderen (seems to like it) and one with a flatter back - she's got a VIP. We also have an Olgivy and a Prolite. They aren't used atm but could come in useful given how much the girls are changing shape.
 
charlotte0916 said:
Curious to see all these responses. The latest research I’ve seen seems to suggest gel actually makes things worse and closed cell foam or sheepskin are best. Tricky to find ones specifically marketed as closed cell foam though!
Click to expand...

D30 isnt a gel its a foam. As is Poron XRD which are found in Winderen. Poron XRD is open cell though.
 
LEC said:
D30 isnt a gel its a foam. As is Poron XRD which are found in Winderen. Poron XRD is open cell though.
Click to expand...

I didn’t mean curious in a negative way - poor phrasing on my part just that I was literally curious to hear such a variety of responses to all sorts of materials. I’m also currently looking into getting a shock absorbing pad so interesting to read how some horses seem to agree with research and some don’t ?

I’m personally quite interested in the D30 or other foam half pads so great to see positive reviews irl.
 
charlotte0916 said:
Curious to see all these responses. The latest research I’ve seen seems to suggest gel actually makes things worse and closed cell foam or sheepskin are best. Tricky to find ones specifically marketed as closed cell foam though!
Click to expand...

The research that has been done is too simplistic, there are numerous types of foams and they vary massively. Old fashioned "tombstone" gel pads are certainly a horror - press your fingernail into them and feel the other side! Plus they generate a lot of heat. Modern gels tend to have very textured surfaces or holes, for ventilation, but they'd not be my choice.

Here's a quick video, very basic test of XRD versus Prolite -
, I didn't have any d3o at the time.
 
https://www.algeos.com/poron_xrd_black-abraded_on_one_side.html

I bought a sheet of this a while ago, when htis topic had come up. It was a fairly expensive exepriment, and I'm not totally sure of the results. For one, the thickest I could get was only 6mm, and as I htnk SBloom told me a the time, the saddle pads and tests are often thicker than that.

When it arrived, I merrily cut around an existing half pad, but obviously I couldn't replicate the shaping and wither relief in a single piece. I did use it a few times, but due to the shape. it didn't sit brilliantly. The main issue is that it is VERY solid when cold. It is had to describe - it bends as a sheet, but try to squash it in your fingers olr mold it, and it may as well be concrete!

However, this thread inspired me :) I have a thin pocketed prolite pad, which I'm currently using with thin prolite inserts. So I cut some Poron inserts and put them in instead - so there is prolite as the lower layer and Poron as the upper layer. The total thickness is less than 1cm. The Poron is still blooming firm - even after a 75 minute hack, but so far I think my horse approves. At least, he hasn't expressed disapproval yet. I will try it out schooling soon.
 
Cragrat said:
https://www.algeos.com/poron_xrd_black-abraded_on_one_side.html

I bought a sheet of this a while ago, when htis topic had come up. It was a fairly expensive exepriment, and I'm not totally sure of the results. For one, the thickest I could get was only 6mm, and as I htnk SBloom told me a the time, the saddle pads and tests are often thicker than that.

When it arrived, I merrily cut around an existing half pad, but obviously I couldn't replicate the shaping and wither relief in a single piece. I did use it a few times, but due to the shape. it didn't sit brilliantly. The main issue is that it is VERY solid when cold. It is had to describe - it bends as a sheet, but try to squash it in your fingers olr mold it, and it may as well be concrete!

However, this thread inspired me :) I have a thin pocketed prolite pad, which I'm currently using with thin prolite inserts. So I cut some Poron inserts and put them in instead - so there is prolite as the lower layer and Poron as the upper layer. The total thickness is less than 1cm. The Poron is still blooming firm - even after a 75 minute hack, but so far I think my horse approves. At least, he hasn't expressed disapproval yet. I will try it out schooling soon.
Click to expand...


Yes a flat pad made from one of these high tech foams will never work, putting it into a pocket pad is a much better idea. I am sort of working with a company called Microperformance on numnahs with a d3o insert which will be easy to use and wash, it just needs improvement to the design. Don't worry about how hard they feel, although a softer surface on the underside for the horse is ideal - sheepskin or other fleece or, as with the Invictus, spacer foam - but as long as its an even layer many horses will be fine with only a cotton pad under/behind the layer of foam.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TPO
This thread has been good for Invictus sales! I too have ordered one. I didn't quite understand the youtube video - is this suggesting that the foam is good or bad as it appears to be rock solid?
 
VRIN said:
This thread has been good for Invictus sales! I too have ordered one. I didn't quite understand the youtube video - is this suggesting that the foam is good or bad as it appears to be rock solid?
Click to expand...

My youtube video? It shows the shock absorbing qualities, it absorbs all the momentum of the metal component. Soft or hard isn't really a factor. Look up cornflour and water mixes, non-Newtonian fluids. And think about why you'd want anything to bounce up off a pad you have under your saddle....check out The Truth Tack Review on Youtube too.
 
So the Invictus arrived on Saturday, but I think I'll be sending it back. The material is dense, somewhat hard, but not too thick. Feels interesting. The main problem, to me, is that the pad is so small. The actual part where there is padding is narrow. It might work on a saddle with panels that have less width (Prestige comes to mind) and are quite skinny. I have an Amerigo, and the panels aren't super wide, but the pad just barely extends (if at all, in some places) past where the saddle panel ends, and I don't like that. I don't like the panel sitting on the edge of the pad. I'd also have to make sure the pad is lined up 100% just right because there is so little material. If the pad were wider, I would've kept it. It's got a wide spine/spine free type thing going on, which is nice.

I don't like a lot of extra pad and like a neat look, but the Thinline is wider and extends a bit beyond the panels, and is just right for my saddle. A Winderen might work too, just can't justify the cost at the moment (don't really need it).
 
CanteringCarrot said:
So the Invictus arrived on Saturday, but I think I'll be sending it back. The material is dense, somewhat hard, but not too thick. Feels interesting. The main problem, to me, is that the pad is so small. The actual part where there is padding is narrow. It might work on a saddle with panels that have less width (Prestige comes to mind) and are quite skinny. I have an Amerigo, and the panels aren't super wide, but the pad just barely extends (if at all, in some places) past where the saddle panel ends, and I don't like that. I don't like the panel sitting on the edge of the pad. I'd also have to make sure the pad is lined up 100% just right because there is so little material. If the pad were wider, I would've kept it. It's got a wide spine/spine free type thing going on, which is nice.

I don't like a lot of extra pad and like a neat look, but the Thinline is wider and extends a bit beyond the panels, and is just right for my saddle. A Winderen might work too, just can't justify the cost at the moment (don't really need it).
Click to expand...

Do send them feedback on this, and yes, both d3o and Poron XRD are very firm.
 
CanteringCarrot said:
So the Invictus arrived on Saturday, but I think I'll be sending it back. The material is dense, somewhat hard, but not too thick. Feels interesting. The main problem, to me, is that the pad is so small. The actual part where there is padding is narrow. It might work on a saddle with panels that have less width (Prestige comes to mind) and are quite skinny. I have an Amerigo, and the panels aren't super wide, but the pad just barely extends (if at all, in some places) past where the saddle panel ends, and I don't like that. I don't like the panel sitting on the edge of the pad. I'd also have to make sure the pad is lined up 100% just right because there is so little material. If the pad were wider, I would've kept it. It's got a wide spine/spine free type thing going on, which is nice.

I don't like a lot of extra pad and like a neat look, but the Thinline is wider and extends a bit beyond the panels, and is just right for my saddle. A Winderen might work too, just can't justify the cost at the moment (don't really need it).
Click to expand...

Mine hasn't arrived yet, but I have Amerigo saddles so sounds like it won't work for me either then. I like a good inch or two clearance around the saddle.
 
I have Amerigo's and have Thinline under both and really rate them. I have the ones with sheepskin collars and pockets for shims. Really handy as i'm using a shim under both saddles at the moment which saves me having to mess with the saddles.
 
It's an interesting one because I'd always say to have any pad larger than the saddle, but I did have a chat with the leader in this field (of the Truth Tack Review) and she said that actually having inserts in a pad isn't always an issue, and that means an edge under the pad. I don't think I'd ever want a saddle actually overhanging a pad, but at least some of my models fit on this, it doesn't move, so as long as you can line it up, it's good.

I do think 3-4 cm longer at the front, 1-2cm at the back and rounder rather than square, would be a good thing though of course will put the price up a little. I'll send them this thread.
 
Hm. I don't know how I feel about the saddle sitting on the edge of the pad. I debated tacking up with it and giving it a try, but resale can be such a faff (people always want something for nothing around here).
 
CanteringCarrot said:
Hm. I don't know how I feel about the saddle sitting on the edge of the pad. I debated tacking up with it and giving it a try, but resale can be such a faff (people always want something for nothing around here).
Click to expand...

I agree. I’d never use a pad (especially a solid one) if it sat at the edge of the saddle panel. Got to be bigger than the panel surface area
 
It is one of my pet hates to have edges or seams under the saddle panels. Some half pads with the fluffy borders annoy me because the panels encrouch over the seams.

I am however quite happy with my Poron XRD inserts into the Prolite half pad. I actually cut the inserts a little bigger than the original Prolite ones, so they go right to the edges of the pockets, and sit really nicely. We have a had a couple of schooling sessions using them, and a longer 'mad hack' - he definitely moves nicely with this set up. We didn't have any back problems before - I suppose I am just always looking to make him as comfy as possible :)
 
Cragrat said:
It is one of my pet hates to have edges or seams under the saddle panels. Some half pads with the fluffy borders annoy me because the panels encrouch over the seams.

I am however quite happy with my Poron XRD inserts into the Prolite half pad. I actually cut the inserts a little bigger than the original Prolite ones, so they go right to the edges of the pockets, and sit really nicely. We have a had a couple of schooling sessions using them, and a longer 'mad hack' - he definitely moves nicely with this set up. We didn't have any back problems before - I suppose I am just always looking to make him as comfy as possible :)
Click to expand...

this is my next option - copy my prolite pad but use Poron XRD. Get a friend to do the machine work needed for the cover and ridge.
 
LEC said:
this is my next option - copy my prolite pad but use Poron XRD. Get a friend to do the machine work needed for the cover and ridge.
Click to expand...

Sounds a great idea! Are you intending to use just Poron, or have a a softer layer next to the horse and the Poron on top?
 
Cragrat said:
Sounds a great idea! Are you intending to use just Poron, or have a a softer layer next to the horse and the Poron on top?
Click to expand...
Haven’t got that far as waiting for my invictus to turn up first!
 
Quick question, i just checked the Horze site and the Kavalkade Invictus D30 dressage is back up to full price now, :-(
or did i check the wrong link ?
 
I really rate my Ogilvy half pad. It is medical grade memory foam apparently, but it works well under close contact saddles with flat panels. I am not sure how well it would work under a flocked panel with more density.

ETA: Equiport are the main stockist in the UK.
 
monte1 said:
Quick question, i just checked the Horze site and the Kavalkade Invictus D30 dressage is back up to full price now, :-(
or did i check the wrong link ?
Click to expand...
Looks like it has been removed from the sale.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top