Saddle Pads - What do you think of this?

[Annie&Dixie]

I know, I know, I've got two threads now but I didn't want to combine everything into one thread. I already tend to write a lot, it's easiest for it to be separated. :)

Well, since I'm getting my own saddle soon. I figured that I should go ahead and buy a good saddle pad or two.

I think for a daily riding pad, I want to get a reinsman tacky too round barrel pad. I just now have to decide between if I want a microsuede purple, micro black, or just a regular southwest pad with the tacky too.

I also wanted to get a separate pad or a combination of two pads for the trail because I refuse to use the tacky too after Dixie got girth rubs from her neoprene girth, I want to stay away from using neoprene on the trail. I was thinking that a good wool felt underpad and then a navajo pad (just for some color) would be good? What do you think of this?

[JackieB]

Great idea. And for a top quality wool pad, you can't beat Tod Slone. You can find them many places, but I bought mine from National Roper's Supply, which is http://www.nrsworld.com/ The pad will last forever.

[WashingtonBay]

Very cool With a treeless, you want a very supportive pad to help distribute the weight evenly, and a felt pad is good for that. They also make some pads just for treeless saddles that you might want to look at.

[Annie&Dixie]

Thank you!

WB, I've looked the skito pads and everything. The thing that I don't like about them is the fleece backing. Dixie is super round and we have a lot of problems with slippage, a wool felt pad seemed to work much better. If there's a good treeless pad with a backing other than fleece or neoprene, I'd be happy to look at that...although they do tend to be a bit expensive but if it's for a good pad then it's worth it. This is what I get for a having a very wide, chubby, mutton-withered pony :rolleyes:

And Jackie, thank you the link. I'll be sure to check that out!

[offgridgirl]

I like the air ride pads for my guy. He is very round as well and the wool pad did slip on him. The air ride doesn't slip and it's easy to wash with a hose..... Comes in all colors and rounded or square.....

[Blue]

I use a Diamond Wool pad (on the rare occasion that I do actually ride Western) and the horses really seem to like it. :)

[luvs2ride1979]

REAL wool fleece, 100% wool, won't slip. Synthetic fleece or wool/synthetic blend can slip.

With a Bob Marshall you MUST have some kind of shock absorbing pad that provides spinal clearance. You cannot get that from a Tacky Too pad or most felt pads. The only one that I have seen used successfully with a treeless is the ThinLine felt pad. It comes in a barrel shape now.
http://www.aretesaddlery.com/tack/thinline-pads/western-pads/thinline-western-felt-pad/prod_216.html

THE BEST pads for Bob Marshalls though is the Skito pad, hands down. It provides spinal relief, weight distribution, and side-to-side stability with the wool bottom and laminated foam inserts. I use mine with a roper style 100% mohair girth and have no problems with slipping on my mare, who can get quite "round" if I'm not careful, lol. I use a ThinLine pad over it (one of the thinner plain pads) because I am heavy. They also help with slipping issues if you find you still have some.
http://www.aretesaddlery.com/tack/tack/saddle-pads/skito-pads/treeless-skito-pad/prod_95.html

Another thing to help slipping is an over-the-neck style breastcollar, Aussie or endurance style. I'll post some links tomorrow when I'm more awake, lol.

[BalooEyes]

if you want a Tacky Too pad, I have the contour spine mint green microsuede one you can have for $5 + shipping. I dont ride western anymore and its just sitting in the garage. its barely even been used.

[oursarge]

I think I missed something [Not unusual for me, I miss alot] but what kind of saddle did you get? I have a little 1/4 horse-Haflinger mix and he's round too, no withers, saddles just sort of roll off of him. I've tried so many and they roll no matter how tight the girth is. I have a barrel saddle for him now, square backed but short since he doesn't have a long back. I am thinking of getting a new pad, we got a gel pad for our mare and she seems to like that so I might get one for him too, maybe it won't slip without the fleece, the fleece ones just add to the saddle rolling!

[Annie&Dixie]

Luvs - Thank you for the links and explanation! I really like the thinline western pad that you posted, I might just go ahead and get that for my everything pad and not worry about the other pads. I could easily use this on the trail and just for daily riding. I know this is horrible of me considering that the Skito pad is probably the best pad for BM saddles but I'm just not sold on it, maybe in a few months or something when I'll be working more and will have a bit more money to spend, I'll look into getting a skito and a non-slip pad for under it. So do you think the thinline would be pretty great as well? :)

oursarge - It's ok! I recently just bought a Bob Marshall Treeless, I ride in one now but it's not mine. Yeah, I know what you mean, the fleece just tends to help the saddle roll off more! That's why I'm liking this thinline pad because it has wool on the bottom, I have always had good luck with wool!

ETA - So I just went and looked at the Skito pad again, it just started to grow on me a bit. I could get the wool under for the bottom which is what I want, I didn't know about that. I'm still really sleepy, that's my excuse ;) And with everything that I want, it would cost $160 which is less than the thinline...hmm.

[oursarge]

Oh Thank you, I might look into that kind of saddle, can't buy anything right now but maybe some day. I think some of the issues I was having with him were because of saddle fit. He's like a little ball!

[Remali]

I like the wool and wool felt pads too, and I especially like the contoured pads that curve around the withers.

[Annie&Dixie]

Oh yeah, it's got to contour! I've got a straight fleece saddle pad (it's too short for the saddle) and it was so weird to not have be contour.

[jeezitsjacki]

well I dont ride western so I am not much help here.. but I read that you mentioned slipping issues.. and the "no slip pad" works really great for that.. it helps a lot of horses who have bad slipping issues at my barn. They can be pretty cheap too... I found one once for about $5