Wearing fluffy half pads for fashion!

If you take the time to watch the international show jumping and eventing on TV you will see that 95% of them use fleece half pads with numnahs underneath - pretty sure that if there was anything wrong with doing this ... they would not be doing it.
 
Miss Bean said:
If a saddle fits properly surely there is no need to make them more comfortable?
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My saddle does fit properly (with the pad) my horse is a very fine/thin skinned tb, who gets rubbed easily and can be tense through her back whilst she is working. Vet and chiro said better to keep extra padding of dead sheep pad under the saddle to try and keep her soft and relaxed through her back.

VioletStripe said:
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
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I use a thin numnah under my pad because it's easier to wash a numnah every time I have worked her as she falls apart/rubs. Washing the sheepskin isn't so easy!
 
I use full sheepskin squares/pads etc, real sheepskin that is, they are very good for horses backs/skin, I use nothing else, so the sheepskin is against the horse, the saddles fit properly with these under. I also use very old but very comfy dressage saddles without big knee rolls, in fact very little knee roll at all, one is a very old stubben, and one a fylde.

Not bothered about following fashion it doesn't change the way you ride.
 
I don't use one under my dressage saddle but do under my jumping.

My boys seems to go better in - he has a very bouncy canter and can get even more bouncy when coming into a fence and I saw a video of myself where I was landing from the bounces quite hard on his back which was making him bounce more. So added the dead sheep and he's going a lot nicer so I'm able to sit better-- and I'm continuing with my lessons etc and in time I'll take it away but until we can settle together I see no harm.
 
Everything in the equestrian world is fashion, not just half pads. Bandages, colourful bridles, sparkly this and Shiny that, usually because others have them :-)

Mine wears a brown sheepskin when he shows and a white one with dressage. He doesn't wear a numnah etc, just the sheepskin. He wears them rather than a numnah because they show his confirmation better in showing than a numnah does as he is only small built and saddle cloths appear bulky on him! They do not affect the fit of his saddle either. I don't think I have ever questioned why someone has put something on there horse.... Ever.
 
I believe there are worse crimes! I have them for my TB. He has a well fitting close contact jumping saddle, but is a delicate flower and everything seems to be a bit better and more comfortable with one. Especially as he tends to drop some weight over the summer stressing about flies, despite lengthy measures taken. They look and feel nice, can't see what's wrong with them really if they don't compromise the fit of the saddle?? Don't use them on round mare, but on planky TB they are great.
 
Quote mulledwhine. I agree, they do look lovely and I own one as my boy changed shape alot last year but as he bulked up, we got saddle fitter out who fitted it without half pad so I don't use one.
 
mcnaughty said:
If you take the time to watch the international show jumping and eventing on TV you will see that 95% of them use fleece half pads with numnahs underneath - pretty sure that if there was anything wrong with doing this ... they would not be doing it.
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Because... They are frequently moving saddles between horses so need to pad them out to make it fit!!! My YO has a couple of saddles which go on babies and new horses and, correctly padded, they will fit pretty much anything! Most of us own one or two horses who will have their own set of tack...so we do not need to do this.

I have a pad...bought specifically to pad out one of my saddles for my youngster, on the advice of my saddler. He hopefully will not need it for much longer. After that it will be put away.

If you want sheepskin, then make sure your saddler is aware and has fitted the saddle correctly. If not, then it is exactly like putting thick socks on when wearing party shoes and will make your saddle too tight!
 
Luci07 said:
Because... They are frequently moving saddles between horses so need to pad them out to make it fit!!! My YO has a couple of saddles which go on babies and new horses and, correctly padded, they will fit pretty much anything! Most of us own one or two horses who will have their own set of tack...so we do not need to do this.

I have a pad...bought specifically to pad out one of my saddles for my youngster, on the advice of my saddler. He hopefully will not need it for much longer. After that it will be put away.

If you want sheepskin, then make sure your saddler is aware and has fitted the saddle correctly. If not, then it is exactly like putting thick socks on when wearing party shoes and will make your saddle too tight!
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LOL - you seriously think that horses worth six figures wouldn't have their own tack!
 
Mcnaughty, I used to work as a sj groom with Grade A and International horses and no, they don't always have their own tack, despite being super valuable. A good saddle, with proper 'padding' will be used on several horses, often the rider's preferential saddle.
Also cut down on tack cleaning for us overworked grooms, lol :D
 
debsg said:
Mcnaughty, I used to work as a sj groom with Grade A and International horses and no, they don't always have their own tack, despite being super valuable. A good saddle, with proper 'padding' will be used on several horses, often the rider's preferential saddle.
Also cut down on tack cleaning for us overworked grooms, lol :D
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Sorry, but that is certainly not MY experience in both the SJ and eventing world. Horses have their own tack and yes riders do a preference towards saddles but they just have the same design for most! It is impossible to warm up several horses at the same time unless they have their own tack. LOL I can just see myself and my stable mates warming up bareback because "he who must be obeyed" was using the only saddle we have in the ring.... PMSL ;-) Our sponsors would have been pooping themselves!
 
Oh well, my experience was a few years back, maybe things have changed.
Or maybe your SJ'ers are better sponsored than mine were :D
 
If you turn onto Sky Horse and Country right now they are showing the Rome Nations Cup - please tell me they are not sharing saddles there! Nearly every horse is wearing a fleece half pad.
 
I was told by a professional saddler that showjumpers benefit from half pads due to the fact that close contact saddles are used so they offer support to the horses back and over large fences, help to reduce the impact of the shoulder banging against the saddle on landing. Not many people use close contact saddles, or for long periods of time, but this is where half pads are a valid piece of equipment. Makes sense.
 
I used one on Beau........BUT only because the saddler said to as his saddle did fit, but not perfectly as he kept changing shape.

Before that I never used to use a saddle pad or numnah - as I was told that there is no need and that really saddle pads are only good if you are doing lots of sweaty work and want to save the condition of your saddle - or just cant be arsed cleaning it.
 
christine48 said:
I think they are beneficial to go under some of the saddles with thin latex panels like the Devecoux's.
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Yep, I've heard that latex saddle are supposed to be used with thick pads and the reason half pads are used is so there is no bulk under the leg.

With my pone, he doesn't need a pad in the summer when he's fat, but does in the winter when he's leaner.
 
marmalade76 said:
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
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Ditto, one of my horses wears a Le Mieux half pad, when she was first backed she was asymetrical and my saddler suggested one with shims, the saddle was fitted to the half pad, job done, she now wears it minus the shims as I think it is nicer for the horses back, it most certainly is NOT for fashion, although I admit it does look smart. Both my competition horses also wear sheepskin girth sleeves for comfort.

If people want to spend their money on dead sheep, what business is of of anyone else?
 
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