I just got my Skito pad!! I have a question...

[Annie&Dixie]

I'm very happy that I just received my skito pad!! It's purple and I can't wait to try it out on Dixie with my saddle.

I already have a question however, now I know that the elastic straps that the flaps and girth are supposed to go through them but what about the strings on top on either side of withers? What does that do?

[Buckpoco]

Hi Annie,
Those strings are to tie to your D rings. The pad will slide if you don't tie it.
Good luck. I have two and I love them and so do the horses.

Also, at first they told me I had to take the shims out to wash it. That's a pain. When I ordered my second one they said just hose the whole thing down. I do that and hang it on my round pen in the sun (in warm weather.) I'm curious, what did they tell you about washing the pad?

[Annie&Dixie]

Hey there, I hoped either you or Luvs would come. I remember you suggesting the Skito at first, I wasn't going to get one but we had dry spots with everything else.

Ok, that's what I thought the tie strings were, I just wasn't sure. The only thing about washing was on the tag and it said to take the inserts out and machine wash it.

[Annasmom]

oooo don't know the answer to your question but I love purple!!! hha :) can't wait for pictures

[luvs2ride1979]

http://www.barbarasdomain.com/main/images/photoalbum/12/100_1263.jpg

Yup, strings are to tie onto the d-rings. Above is a shot of my pad and BMSS.

Hosing the whole thing works, but in our humid weather, it takes a good while to dry. I machine wash the cover and only rinse the foams with a vinegar dilution if they get really sweat sodden multiple times. The salt from the sweat can break down the foam over time. I mix a cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water, pour it over the foam panels, then rinse with the hose or in the shower. Use a towel and "smoosh" down from the top to force out most of the water from the foam and lay them flat to dry.

Yes, we need PICTURES!

[Annie&Dixie]

I will be sure to have pictures and I promise it won't take me a week or two to get it this time!!

Luvs, did you see the picture of my "new" BM saddle on Dix?

And thank you for the picture, you're so helpful! After I found out what they're for, I started wondering what the best way would be to do it :rolleyes: Yeah, that's what it said on the tag about the foam too, hopefully it won't need washing anytime soon. How often do you generally wash it?

[Flair]

That's such a nice Skito pad.

I'm considering one at the moment. I found one online that I'd hoped would do because it was only $30, but after 2 e-mails, the lady never e-mailed me back. Which was disappointing because I was really hoping to try the pad.

Now it'll mean I have to buy a new one, and I know I plan to get one from Arete Saddlery, but am not yet sure if I want to wait until I get a treeless saddle (*if* I get a treeless saddle...) Currently riding in my Abetta endurance. And I don't think I really can get two.

But such a nice pad. I covet them. ;)

[Annie&Dixie]

I really like the look of my new one, I can't wait to ride in it! That is disappointing about the skitos you found online.

I ordered mine from Arete Saddlery, they were great about everything. I had talked to them before about the thinline western and the person I talked to was nothing but helpful.

You should definitely get a treeless! After riding in one for the past 2+ years, I don't think I will ever go back (unless I get an english saddle). You're probably going to have a similar problem to what I have. Dixie is super rolly-polly...everything just rolls right off :rolleyes: I got the 100% wool for the bottom, I had tried one before I bought one and there was barely any slipping. I've got a felt girth too with doesn't seem to slip at all; I would think it would be the opposite but oh well, it's working. I had been using a neoprene but ever since it rubbed Dixie on a trail I've stopped using any and all neoprene, I've never been a fan of it anyways.

[luvs2ride1979]

Now it'll mean I have to buy a new one, and I know I plan to get one from Arete Saddlery, but am not yet sure if I want to wait until I get a treeless saddle (*if* I get a treeless saddle...) Currently riding in my Abetta endurance. And I don't think I really can get two.

But such a nice pad. I covet them. ;)

If you plan on getting a treeless that's shaped like your Abetta (a Bob Marshall, Freewest, or other western-y treeless) then you can get one now, and then just get different foam inserts for your treeless once you get it. The only difference between the regular Skito and the treeless Skito is the velcro. The velcro pocket is at the spine for a regular pad and at the front for a treeless. If you don't mind the shape being slightly different than your treeless saddle, then just get one now!

Also, they hold their resale value really well, especially on eBay, so if you get one and need to sell it, you should be able to recoup most of your cost.

[luvs2ride1979]

Luvs, did you see the picture of my "new" BM saddle on Dix?

And thank you for the picture, you're so helpful! After I found out what they're for, I started wondering what the best way would be to do it :rolleyes: Yeah, that's what it said on the tag about the foam too, hopefully it won't need washing anytime soon. How often do you generally wash it?

I just went and looked, very nice! http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/album.php?albumid=77&pictureid=5243
Is it a youth cut, or is Dixie just THAT "big"? lol Very fancy and nice though, I like it!

I only wash/rinse my foam once a year, but I use a ThinLine pad under my Skito 80% of the time (the black rubber-y looking pad in my photo). I am a large rider, so I like the added protection of the ThinLine to my horse's back. Plus it keeps things in place even better should most of my weight end up in one stirrup (during a spook or for mounting/dismounting).

You'll want to rinse out the foams about every 10 times that the horse's sweat has soaked through considerably (when the wool underneath is sopping wet). The foam pulls the sweat away from the horse and circulates air, which is great for the horse but not great for the foam, lol. If you keep up with rinsing the foams out as needed, you will have that pad for the next 7-10 years!

I was not diligent about rinsing the foams on my first Skito, bought in 2003. I used it over a blanket (one of their interpads) so I didn't think it mattered much. It was ridden HARD for just over 3 years and got sweat soaked quite a bit. The foam now is an interesting shade of green and is not as firm as my newer pads... I still use that old Skito, but only when my daughter or other lighter weight friends ride.

[Flair]

Oh, I know, it was used, and only $30, so I really wanted to get it. But I never got a reply back. :(

You should definitely get a treeless! After riding in one for the past 2+ years, I don't think I will ever go back (unless I get an english saddle). You're probably going to have a similar problem to what I have. Dixie is super rolly-polly...everything just rolls right off :rolleyes: I got the 100% wool for the bottom, I had tried one before I bought one and there was barely any slipping. I've got a felt girth too with doesn't seem to slip at all; I would think it would be the opposite but oh well, it's working. I had been using a neoprene but ever since it rubbed Dixie on a trail I've stopped using any and all neoprene, I've never been a fan of it anyways.

Hehe, I've been looking at the Barefoot Cheyenne Drytex. I'll probably try and demo it eventually, although if I do buy it, I'll probably get a mohair endurance girth. Expensive as heck, but it's like a roper girth, and that should add more stability. Mitch is pretty round and flat, which is why I've been considering getting a treeless.

If you plan on getting a treeless that's shaped like your Abetta (a Bob Marshall, Freewest, or other western-y treeless) then you can get one now, and then just get different foam inserts for your treeless once you get it. The only difference between the regular Skito and the treeless Skito is the velcro. The velcro pocket is at the spine for a regular pad and at the front for a treeless. If you don't mind the shape being slightly different than your treeless saddle, then just get one now!

Also, they hold their resale value really well, especially on eBay, so if you get one and need to sell it, you should be able to recoup most of your cost.

Thanks Luvs. I'm probably going to end up getting a Barefoot, so I probably can't get the pad right now, but I'll consider it anyway. Can't really do anything until the whole Christmas craze is all sorted out of course.

[luvs2ride1979]

When demoing the barefoot, if you find that it slips even with the wide pommel in, try taking the pommel OUT and stuffing it tight with balled up socks. I have heard from others with uber round horses that removing the hard pommel and replacing it with tightly packed soft material works like a charm to stop saddle roll. If it works, you can use something more appropriate to stuff the pommel, like batting (http://www.spinblessing.com/item.php?art=grp:wsb), wool flock (http://www.spinblessing.com/item.php?art=ffnaturals), or blended flock (http://www.spinblessing.com/item.php?art=NEF).

[Annie&Dixie]

I just went and looked, very nice! http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/album.php?albumid=77&pictureid=5243
Is it a youth cut, or is Dixie just THAT "big"? lol Very fancy and nice though, I like it!

I only wash/rinse my foam once a year, but I use a ThinLine pad under my Skito 80% of the time (the black rubber-y looking pad in my photo). I am a large rider, so I like the added protection of the ThinLine to my horse's back. Plus it keeps things in place even better should most of my weight end up in one stirrup (during a spook or for mounting/dismounting).

You'll want to rinse out the foams about every 10 times that the horse's sweat has soaked through considerably (when the wool underneath is sopping wet). The foam pulls the sweat away from the horse and circulates air, which is great for the horse but not great for the foam, lol. If you keep up with rinsing the foams out as needed, you will have that pad for the next 7-10 years!

I was not diligent about rinsing the foams on my first Skito, bought in 2003. I used it over a blanket (one of their interpads) so I didn't think it mattered much. It was ridden HARD for just over 3 years and got sweat soaked quite a bit. The foam now is an interesting shade of green and is not as firm as my newer pads... I still use that old Skito, but only when my daughter or other lighter weight friends ride.

I think it might be a youth cut, she didn't specifically tell me that it was. I wanted a youth cut originally though because I'm very small adult and I've got super short legs...one of the things I love about the BM saddles is that there's an option to not have fenders, I can finally move my legs around! Dixie is very very round however ;)

I'll be sure to take good care of it! With the chunk of money I spent on it, it will have to last me for a while!! :D