THORN PADS

[maddiep1007]

Hi all,
Loooking at Thorn pads for my big shouldered, no withered welsh mare. Does anyone have any experiences with them? They look good but i am worries about the weight distribution when being used more regularly. Cannot find anything else to fit her apart from a race exercise saddle... it wont have to be used every day - maybe 3 x a week max.
Any info greatly appreciated!
Many thanks

 

[sbloom]

There are plenty of brands out there designed to fit natives, which ones have you tried? A Thorn pad really isn't recommended for adult weight riders.

 

[dorsetladette]

I struggled with slipping on a similar build of welsh cob. He had no withers and was completely round. So we slipped backwards and side to side. Really didn't feel secure. I'm a balanced rider and pony was forward and non spooky. We tried lots of different numnahs and pads.

I think they would work better with a light weight child on a smaller pony.

On a positive note - they do hold there money so I didn't loose anything when I sold it.

 

[Hallo2012]

they are horrific to ride in and not great for pressure distribution.

i have black country on my welshes.

 

[teddy_]

I struggled with the Thorn pad slipping on a Welsh too, again as (I hope!) a balanced rider. I found it only really worked on the Shetland, even then only if his girth was super tight.

Second Black Country for round ponies, such comfy saddles for the rider as well.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Thorn/Snape/Milner pads are great for Shetlands and little riders. Not good for anything bigger really and certainly not adult riders.

Quite a lot of showing people use Black Country saddles on their flat backed, table topped natives.

 

[dorsetladette]

Replying again to add. I've got mine in a Kings WH saddle. It took a while to find a saddle that fitted him and was a good fit for me and my dodgy hips. As I've always ridden in tiny ridden showing saddles I've found most saddles bulky and 'big' for a better word. This saddle supports me enough but still lets me 'ride' with out feeling held in place.
I really rate it and he's happy in it. I ride other peoples ponies to and often get off in agony as the saddles (albion jump, heather moffet dressage & GP, monarch) just aren't right for me, but I can ride comfortably for a good few hours without discomfort in mine.

 

[maya2008]

I wouldn’t for an adult. They were fine for my children until age 9 or thereabouts and then having a decent saddle made life easier so we got one.