Mattes Pad for christmas which style

[Annasmom]

:) Hey guys for Christmas I asked for a mattes pad , a new IRH helmet , and a bridle for when I buy my new saddle. (haven't found it yet.) anyhow.. I need to tell me mom which kind of mattes pad I'd like and I'm not sure.

I'm thinking this is the one I'd like

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productclass.aspx?productClassid=5634

Would this be a good choice or maybe a half pad? I'm afraid a half pad will change the fit of my saddle and I don't want that.

also for color , white will get too dirty so I'm thinking pink.
will that be acceptable at shows?

[cloedoll]

A half pad won't effect the saddle fit unless it has huge rolled edges all the way around. The pommel, cantle and partial edge roll is fine, just as long as there's no roll where the saddle's flap comes down. (:

[Annasmom]

o ok.. thanks that actually helped a lot!

cloe what do you think from this page

http://epshop.us/index.php/cat/c36_SQUARE-PADS.html/XTCsid/3ae1903962299920b7c49fad40e187f6

Do you like the eurofit , or just the regular square?

[HeartofSteel]

Actually a half pad or even the one you have the link to can slightly change your saddle fit. I was going to get a Mattes Euro fit pad but with the fleece at the top it makes the fit 1/2-1 inch smaller on the back and top of the wither/shoulders. My friend got one but her saddle was to tight on the withers after that.

[cloedoll]

Are you talking about how the saddle fits the horse? Cause that's what I'm talking about, lol...I mean, the pad would have to have thick material to cause a change in fit and every Mattes pad I have seen is thin..haha

[Annasmom]

Hm thats interesting.. Now I might want to wait it off? Maybe just get some $$ for christmas haha. I don't want it to alter fit since I don't have my new saddle yet. With lots of thinking and seraching I'm waiting to find a used county for $1200 or less. But I'm not having much luck quite yet

[HeartofSteel]

You could go for a quilt only Mattes pad. Thats what I am getting, maybe even in the custom colors from smartpak.

[Annasmom]

yeah thats true I just thought Anna might like the extra fleece she loves when I ride in my trainers saddle which is a stubben and she rides with the mattes dressage pad. So I thought Anna might like having that pad. We'll see.

[cloedoll]

I would purchase your saddle first and then ride in your trainers pad and see from there. =D

[AUEquine]

think you've gotten some good advice to wait and see on the pad. I'm not sold on those pads, I think they're more fashion/trend than function!

But I do want to say that Pink would not be acceptable in a show arena. No you won't get disqualified at a schooling show, but dressage is still a judged sport. And it is one of the most classical/traditional sports in the entire equine world. Many judges still frown upon odd colors, glitzy brow bands, sparkly spurs, etc. Out of respect for the sport I would stick with the classic white pad.

[cloedoll]

I'm not sold on those pads, I think they're more fashion/trend than function!

Ditto. Yes, they're nice, but you can find far cheaper, just as nice quality, sheepskin half pads (or full pads) for much cheaper. You aren't paying for better quality, just that brand name Mattes. I can't pay $150 for a simple sheepskin pad, there are other pads out there with neato features that I'd rather spend $150 on, lol, but to each their own. xD

[Annasmom]

haha I gotcha :)

what others would you suggest?

[luvs2ride1979]

ANY pad with sheepskin WILL effect the fit. If the saddles fits 100% perfect without any pad, then adding a sheepskin lined pad may make it too tight. If you normally like to ride with a thick pad or more than one pad, then adding skeepskin should be fine.

If you want something to use for schooling, pink would be fine. But no, colors are not acctable for shows. White or Black only for Dressage, White only for H/J (well, anything really for jumpers, but white only for hunters). To be on the safe side, I would get a white half pad. You can use that alone for jumping or over a square pad for Dressage.

[luvs2ride1979]

For other brands that have quality sheepskin look at Engel, Fleeceworks, ThinLine, or JMS (just merino sheepskin). Roma isn't that great of quality. I have Engel and ThinLine and they are both nice. My friend has a Fleeceworks that is very nice too. My husband uses a JMS full saddle cover and it has held up very well to lots of use.

[cloedoll]

ANY pad with sheepskin WILL effect the fit. If the saddles fits 100% perfect without any pad, then adding a sheepskin lined pad may make it too tight. If you normally like to ride with a thick pad or more than one pad, then adding skeepskin should be fine.

I guess my point was it shouldn't effect the saddle's fit anymore than any other saddle pad (of course there are exceptions like a correctional saddle pads, therapeutic, etc.). I've had a sheepskin pad myself and I normally used a square pad, the sheepskin pad was a bit thicker, but it didn't effect the saddle fit and the saddle was as close to perfect as you can get. I could be wrong, though, lol.

[cloedoll]

For other brands that have quality sheepskin look at Engel, Fleeceworks, ThinLine, or JMS (just merino sheepskin). Roma isn't that great of quality. I have Engel and ThinLine and they are both nice. My friend has a Fleeceworks that is very nice too. My husband uses a JMS full saddle cover and it has held up very well to lots of use.

In addition to these, Equine Comfort saddle pads are nice, too. I definitely agree, no Roma half pads, they're scary!

[luvs2ride1979]

I guess my point was it shouldn't effect the saddle's fit anymore than any other saddle pad (of course there are exceptions like a correctional saddle pads, therapeutic, etc.). I've had a sheepskin pad myself and I normally used a square pad, the sheepskin pad was a bit thicker, but it didn't effect the saddle fit and the saddle was as close to perfect as you can get. I could be wrong, though, lol.

I guess it just depends on the quality and thickness of the sheepskin. A more dense merino sheepskin pad with a thick pile will add some bulk under the saddle.

A closer cropped less dense pad like a Roma half pad will smoosh down and not effect the saddle fit as much. However, a pad like that won't provide any real therapeutic benefit or cushion, it's just adding a "look" to the set up.

[cloedoll]

Agreed. xD

Another brand to stay away from is Ovation half pads, bleh, in my opinion.

I had a ThinLine sheepskin half pad, loved it. =D

[Annasmom]

Thanks for the brand suggestions! I'll definintly check into it.
I'm thinking I might want some breeches and tall boots instead haha. :)

[BalooEyes]

I have a ECP (Equine Comfort Products) correctional sheepskin half pad for Baloo and it is a very nice pad, probably half the price of the Mattes one. It DOES effect the fit. Now, mine has some thin shims at the wither, but they are a memory foam and don't amount to terribly much once there is weight in the saddle. But there is a huge difference pad vs. no pad, The pad really helps the it for Baloo.

I would love a quilt only Mattes pad... I have the urge to buy anything with a nice high wither cut to it for Baloo... I have way too many saddle pads...

[cloedoll]

I finally figured out how I wanted to word what I originially meant, lol.

It isn't the fact it's a half pad that's going to affect the fit, but the material and thickness. The full pad you originally wanted to purchase has the same thickness (at least under the bars of the saddle tree, that area) as the Mattes half pad, so it won't differ in fit anymore than the full pad.