Should we use half pads?

[Horseysheepy]

The only time I've used a sheepskin half pad was on an elderly mare who I was still hunting and hacking lightly. Her back was quite dippy and the pad helped fill it out a bit and she seemed very cosy indeed.

I like the Nuumed half wool, whether that's the thin or the quilted versions.

Please can someone tell me why you can get a saddlecloth with added on sheepskin around the cantle and pommel area as if to make it look like there is a half pad underneath?
The only thing I can think is that they help prevent the saddle sliding back or forth?

 

[sbloom]

The only time I've used a sheepskin half pad was on an elderly mare who I was still hunting and hacking lightly. Her back was quite dippy and the pad helped fill it out a bit and she seemed very cosy indeed.

I like the Nuumed half wool, whether that's the thin or the quilted versions.

Please can someone tell me why you can get a saddlecloth with added on sheepskin around the cantle and pommel area as if to make it look like there is a half pad underneath?
The only thing I can think is that they help prevent the saddle sliding back or forth?

Aesthetics, it looks like you've got a half pad, and using half pads can be a necessity, but often is fashion. It means more choice of colour scheme too, Mattes offer something like 35 colours of sheepskin...