Should I change saddle racks

[Equi]

Several qus!

I have a metal locker with the preinstalled bog standard Stubbs type racks. I only have one saddle now and it was new so not cheap, so I find I’m getting more and more paranoid about rack lines on it. It’s already got two wool half pads on it lol

anywho I saw a telescopic pole https://www.stubbsengland.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=650 and thought that was a great idea but to get it on I’ll have to drill out the other racks as they’re riveted in.

has anyone got the telescopic rack and was it worth it?
Are the holes the same as the original Stubbs racks?
Do I really need to do this or am I just being a little too paranoid?

 

[Zuzan]

If you put the foam pipe insulation on the rack it will save your panels .. and costs pennies..

 

[catembi]

I got some insulation for mine - the grey foam stuff that's for water pipes. It has a slit all the way down it & one length is perfect for a stubbs rack. I am about to go outside & do the horses so will do a photo if I remember.

 

[Equi]

I’ve seen that mentioned a few times but wasn’t sure if it was effective or not

 

[Zuzan]

Absolutely 100% ..

 

[Tihamandturkey]

I use my old Racesafe BP on saddle rack & it works a treat with saddle on top - no slippage ?

 

[Dave's Mam]

Another vote for pipe lagging. It's £1 for enough to do a rack. It's pre split & you just bung it on.

 

[Red-1]

I swapped all mine for the pipe ones. Prefer them as I don't have to worry about the pads. Can't help with where the holes are though!

 

[splashgirl45]

i laid a piece of carpet on mine and then a folded blanket as i had a new saddle and was paranoid about the dents...worked fine

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I would say no to pile lagging. My saddles still marked so I swapped to poles and after being reflocked they haven’t marked again. I have singular poles in the tack room and a Stubbs three pole free standing rack on wheels at home.

 

[ester]

Because ours are in long term storage they were going to go on poles in the loft, but dad put the other saddle racks up instead so in order to avoid any marital arguments we got these for them. https://www.viovet.co.uk/Stubbs-Smo...NkvnMflSouEoHsDSNlfievf5WsNqBhyYaAuqFEALw_wcB

 

[Bernster]

Pipe lagging is brilliant. The perfect length. I had to cut mine to open it up but it was very easy , cheap and works a treat.

 

[Zuzan]

Because ours are in long term storage they were going to go on poles in the loft, but dad put the other saddle racks up instead so in order to avoid any marital arguments we got these for them. https://www.viovet.co.uk/Stubbs-Smo...NkvnMflSouEoHsDSNlfievf5WsNqBhyYaAuqFEALw_wcB

to my mind those look like they could still cause ridges in panels.

 

[w1bbler]

Pipe lagging still causes ridges, I've got pipe lagging then a layer of thick sponge covering the whole thing

 

[Lucky Snowball]

My other half (under supervision!) used an angle grinder to remove the bars which mark the saddle. This just leaves the thin 'pole' and the bridle hook. Bind the raw edge with black tape to avoid scratching. Maybe not quite as good as a proper pole but when you have numerous racks in various tack rooms and in the horsebox it saves lots of money.

 

[ester]

to my mind those look like they could still cause ridges in panels.

A few people I asked who already had them said not.

 

[sbloom]

If you put the foam pipe insulation on the rack it will save your panels .. and costs pennies..

In many saddles you just get a wider, shallower indent. I don't recommend it, though I used to.

i laid a piece of carpet on mine and then a folded blanket as i had a new saddle and was paranoid about the dents...worked fine

This is more like it, I'd bet nearly everyone here has either an old foam/fibre (ie not feather/down) filled pillow or an old travel blanket. The former should be loosely duck taped around the rack, the latter folded several times. You need thick and squishy, thick and solid only pushes the pressure up through the panels anyway.

I would say no to pile lagging. My saddles still marked so I swapped to poles and after being reflocked they haven’t marked again. I have singular poles in the tack room and a Stubbs three pole free standing rack on wheels at home.

Exactly.

Because ours are in long term storage they were going to go on poles in the loft, but dad put the other saddle racks up instead so in order to avoid any marital arguments we got these for them. https://www.viovet.co.uk/Stubbs-Smo...NkvnMflSouEoHsDSNlfievf5WsNqBhyYaAuqFEALw_wcB

I think they're a risk and there are cheaper solutions, not all panels are the same shape so I'm sure at least a few saddles would still be dented.

 

[julesjoy]

I use a folding saddle rack, so it just has one pipe through the middle and no ridges.

 

[ester]

I think they're a risk and there are cheaper solutions, not all panels are the same shape so I'm sure at least a few saddles would still be dented.

But this one avoided a divorce ?. We still have sheepskin numnahs under them too. Just thought it might be easier than the OP trying to change what was in her tack locker and I didn't know they existed previously. hey ho. Not the end of the world if ours need a reflock after X years storage.

 

[Goldenstar]

Pipe lagging works really well you do need to replace it now and again .

 

[sbloom]

Pipe lagging works really well you do need to replace it now and again .

On some saddles, on others it leaves wider, shallower dents. I've honed my recommendations over 13 years based on what I see.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Would pool noodles work? Been meaning to get something to cover my saddle racks. Currently I have the saddles sat on some unused saddle pads, folded and placed over the rack

 

[sbloom]

Would pool noodles work? Been meaning to get something to cover my saddle racks. Currently I have the saddles sat on some unused saddle pads, folded and placed over the rack

No, not as easy to fit as piping lagging (as there's no channel through the middle) and no easier to find, but still dent some saddles. As I said above from everything I see, pillows or travel blankets.

 

[HuskyFluff]

I use an old pillow tied on with baling twine - seems to work

 

[SpotsandBays]

No, not as easy to fit as piping lagging (as there's no channel through the middle) and no easier to find, but still dent some saddles. As I said above from everything I see, pillows or travel blankets.

Ahh I was looking at some on eBay that have a hole through the middle. (Seem to get more length and thickness for the same money(lol))

 

[Reacher]

Is it a livery yard tack locker (so affects what you can do to the locker) or your own? If it’s your own locker I’d drill out the old one and stick up a collapsible saddle pole. Might need to make new holes.

(I initially read your post thinking it was a livery yard tack locker - I was thinking you could get one of those nifty tack trolleys if you could find one with a pole)

 

[GoldenWillow]

i laid a piece of carpet on mine and then a folded blanket as i had a new saddle and was paranoid about the dents...worked fine

I've also used carpet wrapped round and it worked fine, no marks at all.

 

[Equi]

Is it a livery yard tack locker (so affects what you can do to the locker) or your own? If it’s your own locker I’d drill out the old one and stick up a collapsible saddle pole. Might need to make new holes.

(I initially read your post thinking it was a livery yard tack locker - I was thinking you could get one of those nifty tack trolleys if you could find one with a pole)

It’s my own locker so I can do as I please with it

I’m def leaning towards the pole as long as it won’t then cause the tree or pommel to go bad ?

 

[Zuzan]

On some saddles, on others it leaves wider, shallower dents. I've honed my recommendations over 13 years based on what I see.

I think part of the issue is using the less chunky pipe lagging .. I got as wide as I could fit on the rack and this means the surface bearing area is quite a bit larger than a less chunky version of pipe lagging.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I think part of the issue is using the less chunky pipe lagging .. I got as wide as I could fit on the rack and this means the surface bearing area is quite a bit larger than a less chunky version of pipe lagging.

me too.