Sticky pads

[Caffrey6590]

Dear forum,
I currently use a Gel Ease sticky pad under my saddle to stop my saddle slipping on my rather round cob. I use it with no numnah so the pad sticks to the saddle and his back, works best along with the girths straps on the first and fourth straps.
However my saddle is getting very filthy underneath. Does anyone have any recommendations on numnahs which include a sticky pad? I have seen the Shires Airflow anti slip ones, does any one use these? Are they any good?
I know acavallo do one but at £80 think it's a bit pricey.

Thanks for reading

 

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

As long as your saddle fits, premier equine do one

 

[Caffrey6590]

Yeah my saddle fits, have it checked every year by a master saddler. Who has said unfortunately my horse has just no withers lol!
Just need the extra grip lol

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

I like limpet. the 10mm is good if the saddle already fits well. I like that you can easily cut them to fit the exact shape of your saddle too.

 

[Caffrey6590]

Thank you Sugar and a spice, I shall have a google of limpet now x

 

[Imogen Rose]

I have a barrel shaped pony, amd the saddle fits very well. I use a damp chamois leather between horse and saddle. Stops any slippage, whilst being breathable more than neoprene, and keeps saddle clean.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Look for the racing neoprene non-slip pads on Old Mills online - saddlery.biz

Racing stuff works, is lightweight though not breathable but you can be darned sure you ain't moving even a hairs breadth! It is also a considerable amount cheaper than these named branded stuff that doesn't work as well as it should nor do the job. The racing ones can be cut to size and are thin enough not to affect the fit of your saddle. Just don't spread the word too much or the racing ones will go from£15 to £90!

 

[Merlod]

My favourite non slip pad that I use every day on my round welsh is the nuumed mesh on mesh. It's sticky enough but it's much thinner and doesn't trap as much heat as a neoprene or limpet type. I also have the acavallo double sided gel one which is very nice but a little thicker.

 

[sbloom]

I'm really sorry but if you need to use a sticky pad more often than not then it doesn't fit, keeping the fit stable is JUST as important as the saddle looking right on the horse's back, it's everything. A sticky pad should only be used at tricky times of year, or as a temporary fix when waiting for the fitter to visit. Natives, cobs and other wider flat backed horses are not easy to fit and I have seen plenty where an SMS qualified fitter has not been able to get a stable fit. A wider horse should not mean slippage and anyone who says so, well, perhaps they've not come across the brands that work on these shapes, or know the little tricks to keep them fitting.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Just to throw something else into the mix, are you sure you and your horse are level? I have a very round highland, no withers and I had an awful job to find a saddle to fit at all. 6 months ago, after being fine for 3 years, my saddle started to slip to the left, not a lot but enough to drive me mad, I was constantly trying to wriggle it back! Had saddler out, slight adjustment to flocking but otherwise a perfect fit. On my farriers recommendation had a Mctimoney lady out who adjusted ponies poll and pelvis. I have also been going to a chiro myself, completely unrelated to riding but mentioned the issue to him and without telling him exactly what was happening and him not knowing anything about riding, except being a big racing fan, he realigned me and concluded that my issues would have been causing slipping to the left...correct! My guy also gave me some stretching exercises to do before I get on, like a runner loosening up, and also suggested that when I first get on board rather than putting my feet in the stirrups straight away I have a little fidget about and get comfy, then feet in and away we go. It seems to have worked, saddle hasnt moved at all the last few times Ive ridden and I have everything crossed we are fixed. I use an ordinary dressage pad with a prolite on top to lift the front a little, pony is downhill, with a shaped girth, elastic at both ends on 1st and 3rd straps. They can be so difficult to fit though, good luck finding something that works.

 

[ponies4ever]

i have an acavallo gel pad and its fantastically sticky and any dirt washes off by running under water

 

[Caffrey6590]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments, much appreciated. The saddle moves a bit to the right but i have calcification of new bone in my right thigh muscle and thus my right thigh is thicker than my left. I have not very good circulation in my right side either so think I may be putting too much weight on that side. It's not the saddle but need so,etching to just stop it slipping a bit when schooling.