Why use a half pad?

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1Lucie

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*stupid moment* but can anyone tell me what a halfpad is for? Have noticed alot of people using them on top of their saddlecloths (sheepskin ones). Is it a fashion thing or a real purpose to them?
 
I use one after my saddler told me to... He said my saddle fitted, but it was pretty solid and the sheepskin pad would just give it a bit of extra padding for my horse's back.

Personally I love the look of them, so I can understand why people want them for aesthetic appeal! If it fits the horse/saddle, I don't see a problem with them being there for fashion (I know many people hate it though).
 
I use one but mine only has the rolled sheepskin at the front and its a full square not a half pad. That way it still looks lovely but doesn't interfere with the fitting of the saddle :)
 
Cushioning between saddle and back.

Fine as long as they are fitted with the saddle; no point in having a saddle professionally fitted with a thin saddlecloth and later adding a 1/2 pad as it changes the fitting of the saddle.
 
Saddle fitter said I should use it for both my saddles on my tb, and it definitely does seem to sit better with it on. Not a fashion statement here as its invariably bigger than the saddlecloths :P
 
big stigma attached as most people assume they are for fashion ive found them useful for a saddle that sits a bit low and wide but also have one in storage for my boy who tends to loose condition in the winter so helps the saddle fit better when hes a bit poor. great pice of kit but personally prefer prolites
 
My mare has a prolite as it alters the saddle to fit her as every saddle we wasn't right apart from a thorowgood with a prolite. It also adds cushioning as is a funny shape.:)
 
rhino said:
Cushioning between saddle and back.

Fine as long as they are fitted with the saddle; no point in having a saddle professionally fitted with a thin saddlecloth and later adding a 1/2 pad as it changes the fitting of the saddle.
Click to expand...

This. I use one on my mare for cushioning as she has a sensitive back, it was fitted with my saddle by a master saddler. My half pad is brown to match my numnah, not keen on huge white dead sheep!

Agree very much with the second point too, a lot of people use them for fashion and then wonder why their saddles don't fit/horse isn't behaving the same was as usual/horse is in pain :rolleyes:
 
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