Wearing fluffy half pads for fashion!

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tracyandtokyo

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Argh asked someone who recently purchased a new saddle, why she was using a sheepskin half pad if the saddle fits and this wa her reply "becuse I want to, and everyone else does" argh what is wrong with people just becuse someone does doesn't mean you have to!!!!
 
I use one, my saddle isn't made to measure as ive used it on many horses over the years. I use mine as it looks smart and doesnt seem to make that much difference to the fit of my saddle on my mare. I dont use it on the other horse as I like to feel closer to him as he is younger and a bit sharper
 
It's like wearing a pair of slipper socks under a pair of well-fitting shoes.

Then again, as so many people don't bother getting saddles correctly fitted and just buy and use ones that "look nice" it's possibly a good thing they're using half a sheep to lessen the damage they're doing with the saddle...
 
I was told by v good instructor that putting a half pad on a correctly fitting saddle is like putting an insole in a shoe that already fits!
 
I have a tb gelding who has saddle made to measure and I put half pad on under neath and this actually made him sore! My very good physio said I only need to wear a thin numnah as he does now with no probs :) Im not saying there bad blah blah, what gets me so pissed off is when people do it just because someone else is!
 
I'd always heard to only put a half pad under a saddle if the saddle had been fitted with it, otherwise you're creating bulk under a saddle that already fits, and so making the saddle not fit... If that makes sense?! I like the look of them, but I'd always been told to make sure the saddle is fitted with it, before putting one on xx
 
I think using any tack 'because you like it' and 'everyone else does it' and not because 'the horse needs it' is very 'teenagery'.
 
I'm a teenager myself, but my horse is treated as an individual not the whole omg must have same tack same rugs same boots as yours when mine doesn't need it!
 
My saddles are fitted to take the sheepskin into account - I like sheepskin, it's good for the horse's backs, but has to be real sheepskin (not 'faux' fleecy rubbish!) and needs to be against the horse, not sandwiched between the saddle and a cotton numnah.

Nothing wrong with using them if your saddle fits with the sheepskin under it - I wear big thick walking socks in my walking boots, but wouldn't in my work shoes :p
 
^^this. If its fitted with sheepskin then fine as some horses benifit from the sheepskin, but not just cos it looks good!!
However, each to their own, will b there prob to fix if they create it!! X
 
If you want the look of sheepskin without the bulk nuumed do a dressage square with sheepskin trim to look like a half pad!
 
My SJ horses always wear a half pad for classes over 1.20. And they do so on the advice of the saddler who personally fits thier saddles. The saddles can accomodate the half pad where needed but fit just as well with a normal saddle cloth for day to day.

Yes there is a "fashion" element in BS. As there is in BD and probably in BE as well. But often these fashions start with something practical.
 
Dead sheep is de rigeur these days. I thought that is why we breed sheep???? So we can sit on their wool when they are dead??.

;)
 
It's been happening for a longgg time.

I'm 21, I done it. Admittedly my boy wore it for about 20 mins as it didn't fit and it's not been touched since. Same with his breastplate and grackle which I sold.

Happily I'm out of that phase but I fully admit I went through it. Now the only things I buy are what he needs... Such as good rugs, treats. And paying to keep him on a good, clean yard where he's happy.

It does frustrate me now seeing it BUT I don't own the horse or no if they actually need that equipment or not.

I don't begrudge people spiking their horses, I spend far too much on mine but I don't think a lot of people are fully educated on the impact of a grackle, breastplate etc...
 
would personally put the money was using to buy fluffy half pads towards a saddle that fitted my horse without the need for half pads, poly pads and sheepskin.
 
I have saddle cloths with half sheepskin. Having another one made as I'd like a different colour.

My saddler knows I use one and is fine about it. Dizz goes better with one on, so she obviously needs/likes it.

How are you to know why someone is using one?
 
Munchkin said:
Then again, as so many people don't bother getting saddles correctly fitted and just buy and use ones that "look nice" it's possibly a good thing they're using half a sheep to lessen the damage they're doing with the saddle...
Click to expand...
TBF I've lost count of the number of posts I've read from people who HAVE had their saddles fitted and are still having problems with saddles that move/sore backs/etc etc...
Also, just because you do it yourself, doesn't mean you're rubbish at it ;)
 
I had my saddle altered to use with my sheepskin pad because I think it's more comfortable for my horse. The other day I washed it so rode in my thick prolite pad instead and for those 2 days my horse was much tighter in her back, put the dead sheep pad back on and she was back to normal.
 
I don't use one as my saddle is properly fitted and prefer plain cotton numnahs which don't interfere with the fit!

I saw a horse with one on the other day with the saddle literally squeezed on top -cringe
 
Oh, forgot to say, I know many people who use one as it is supposed to be very good for the horses' backs, but I don't understand the need to put one on top of a numnah? I can understand the half lined as it's against the horse's back, or even just using a half pad, but between a cotton numnah? :confused: xx
 
PapaFrita said:
TBF I've lost count of the number of posts I've read from people who HAVE had their saddles fitted and are still having problems with saddles that move/sore backs/etc etc...
Click to expand...

Yes, this has happened to me, having another fitter out to adjust it again next week.

I also like dead sheep, my latest dead sheep purchase being a Le Mieux full monty, absolutely yummy and perfect for a long days hunting! :D
 
PapaFrita said:
TBF I've lost count of the number of posts I've read from people who HAVE had their saddles fitted and are still having problems with saddles that move/sore backs/etc etc...
Also, just because you do it yourself, doesn't mean you're rubbish at it ;)
Click to expand...

Indeed!

I wear one up top of a numnah to save it from getting scurfy, my saddle is set slightly wider to accommodate this, not much mind.
 
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