Suber pads or similar?

TarrSteps

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Has anyone used one of these for a competition horse? I have a bit of experience with a similar set up (DIY ;) ) and have used a Korrector (not very successfully) in the past but am curious about other's experiences.

And before everyone says "get the saddle sorted" it's a bit of a special case and the two most recent saddlers and a few before have effectively said they can't solve the problem mechanically. I'm also worried that if we do find someone to do something extreme then we'll end up with a VERY expensive saddle that doesn't fit this horse when it improves and won't fit any other horse, either! (Sorry, horse is not mine so, on principle, can't really post details on the www.)

I swear, I'm going to default to the giant yellow foam pads that were a staple of my youth. (And now none of you know what I'm talking about, right? :cool:)
 
I had no idea what you were talking about so had a look. Still can't really answer your question, but the thought struck me (and no idea if it's relevant) if its filled like a beanbag (as the ad I saw said), and the saddle has a pressure point anywhere, won't the beans shift out the way of the pressure and then the pad ends up with nothing where its needed and possible too much where it's not? I'm not sure I've explained this very well.
 
What about the flair pads that you can pump up to help with fit?
Seen one of those used succesfully, despite horror stories from others.
 
Alibear, I think that's the Korrector, which OP said she'd tried unsuccessfully :(

Ludi, surely if there's a pressure point on the saddle, you'd want the 'beans' to move out of the way, to even it out? If they stayed under the lumpy bit, surely they'd make the problem worse? Or am I being dense?

J&C
 
i have a suberpad you can borrow if you want, was going to stick it on ebay tbh.
it's... the complete opposite of 'close contact'... you feel as if you are floating an extra 5" above the horse's back. i can see how it is v comfy for most horses but it is a weird feeling, and you can't really feel anything underneath you much. helps to have long legs obv, no prob for you... it does make the saddle feel slightly less stable, not a feeling that all horses (or riders) would love... it's like having a surprisingly fat beanbag between saddle and horse. it beds down a little but not much ime.
an alternative that isn't so incredibly thick under the saddle is a Bay Jacobsen pad, i prefer those i think.
 
Interesting Kerili. I was thinking of getting a suber pad a while ago but never went down that route. What's a bay jacobsen pad?
 
They seem to be quite popular with the treeless folk.

I can imagine used with a tree saddle they will give an even more perched feel than used with a treeless, but I guess that also depends on the conformation of the back and why the pad is being used in the first place.

I've often wondered if I should perhaps give one a go as I bought a Barefoot London Dressage saddle and the pad that goes with the saddle, as lovely as it is, is not giving enough clearance at the spine just a the bottom of the wither (basically where the girth pulls the saddle down) but I've already spent £800 on setting up this treeless thing and I'm a bit reluctant to throw more money at it.

However if anyone wants to sell their suber pad providing it's not too expensive then please PM me, I could be interested in buying it to see if it makes any difference, could be the one simple thing that makes all the difference, on the other hand it might not make a blind bit of difference, hence not wanting to buy a new one.
 
Thanks, folks. :)

I'd forgotten about the Bay Jacobsen pads, K! A friend of mine in Canada has one . . . but that doesn't help me much.

I know what you mean about the feel - or make that the "non-feel" - that drives me mad. But it's not really for me. However, it would be for someone with short legs! :)
 
I think I've got a bay Jacobsen in the garage?! Goodness know why I bought it, if you're interested let me know and I'll go and have a rummage ;)
 
I don't want to put you out but if it's near the top of the pile . . . ;)

If you do find it, could you let me know your thinking, price wise, and I can run it by the owner.
 
Step. Away. From. The. Saddle. Pad. . .


:D

Is this where we get all undignified like something off the Jeremy Kyle show?:D:p

Hope it works for you, I'm seriously considering trying the rearing nobber bareback just in case its his saddle he's reacting to. Only thing is I'm not sure I want to be sat bareback on 17.2hh of nobber if he decides to rear.
 
I have emerged from the black hole that is my garage, and have found the pad.....reminds me of a bean bag!!!

Have had a measure and it's 20.5cm ish long and 19.5cm ish wide.

TarrSteps - do you want to PM me if you're interested, if not I'll PM Wellsat :)
 
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