Sheepskin pads & Elasticated girths discussion

P

Palomino Mare

New Member
Jan 22, 2007
3,182
0
0
Hi,

If sheepskin saddle pads elasticated girths at one end are bad for our horses back then why do reputable companies use them?

What exactly is their purpose?surely they must have some use, i know not everyone knows they're not ideal, but why were they invented in the first place and why are they still in production - surely these companies arent unaware of what saddle fitters think??
 
What's wrong with sheepskin pads? I only bought mine a few weeks ago and it seems very comfy for my girl that lost a bit of muscle after a period of box rest.

I asked the very same question a few days ago about girths though. The only 2 I have are elasticated on one side but that's supposed to make your saddle pull to one side.
 
lol dont worry so was i!! as far as i'm aware - if its elaticated you can to it up overly tight, if the elastic is just at one end then the saddle is unbalanced/slips?not entirely sure.

any well fitting saddle should just need a thin saddle cloth and if the horse lacks muscle then it should have some sort of pad like a prolite but not a polypad - but then why are polypads still in business??

i dont get it:rolleyes:
 
Yup girths that are only elasticated at one end pull the saddle down on that side which makes the pressure uneven. I have just bought a new girth after being told this by 2 separate saddlers :rolleyes:
It is best to use either a girth that is elasticated at both ends, or all the girth is elasticated but with normal ends or no elastic at all ie leather or synthetic girth. My horse is rather HUUUUGE so from my point of view a girth that had no elastic didnt bear thinking about :eek: so I have bought the Wintec fully elastic one which just has normal synthetic girth straps at either end therefore exerting even pressure!! :D

Sheepskin pads add an extra inch (or more with the thicker ones) under your saddle. If its a perfect fit without that then its kind of like your horse has bulked out and is that extra inch or so wider causing your saddle too not be that perfect fit. As Palominomare correctly said a thin saddle cloth is all that should be required if anything more then something similar to a prolite pad which is made of foam or something which will mould to the horses own shape etc.

I also am bewildered as to how the companies make all this stuff as its bad for our horses! :o:rolleyes::confused:
My beloved Bartl halfpad has never been used now! Its so nice to look at but dont think it would do Tilly any favours under her new perfect fitting saddle unfortunately!
 
at a demo the other day the saddle fitter was saying that the sheepskin is fine, but other fake types of 'wool' can actually heat up and cause blisters on horses backs.
 
Jenni said:
at a demo the other day the saddle fitter was saying that the sheepskin is fine, but other fake types of 'wool' can actually heat up and cause blisters on horses backs.
Click to expand...

interesting! there you go GG -- you may not need to give up your pad after all - if not then teddy will apreciate a nice sheepskin bed;):D
 
jenni did they say anything about the thickness under saddles? thats what my worry is and why im not using it anymore - although I would love too! :D

Oh and Amy - Teddy is not getting my Bartl pad as a bed!!! :eek: :p
 
My saddler uses jeffries leather atherstone girths elasticated at one end. As do all the other saddlers here. Never heard them say anything bad about them.

So long as you check the girth is done up correctly and not too tight I can't see it being a problem. Also due to the laws of physics, if the girth isn't done up too tight it won't pull saddle down at one side. :)
 
I have just bought a Bartl saddlecloth, and have to say it's as good as the hype - hacked out in it today, and when I took his saddle off you couldn't even tell he'd been ridden (normally have sweaty horse with little diamond pattern off his numnah!).

I always tell people to use a thin numnah IF the saddle fits correctly, but there's nothing wrong with a sheepskin pad if the saddle is fitted to allow for it. One of my TB's is well-muscled and in very good condition - he just has a cotton Hi-Wither numnah, but the 16 yr old has always been the more 'athletic' type of TB (AKA skinny :rolleyes:) and just has less fat and muscle along his back. After a 13 mile ride with lots of steep ups and downs the other week, I thought he could do with a little extra comfort!

It's like shoes - I wouldn't try walking boots on with thin socks, but with the thick walking socks I would use in them, so they would fit properly. My saddles are adjustable, so I make sure they fit with the sheepskin underneath.

If you do want to use a thick pad, tell the saddle fitter when they fit your saddle.
 
Ace87 said:
My saddler uses jeffries leather atherstone girths elasticated at one end. As do all the other saddlers here. Never heard them say anything bad about them.
Click to expand...

thats really interesting what different saddlers use. Here's a link to the care instructions that come with every saddle co saddle. under the DO NOT heading it says

Use one sided elasticated girths at any time. They can cause the saddle to be tipped away from the elasticated side
Click to expand...

http://www.tmksaddlefitting.co.uk/care.html
 
Interesting post - my horses have their saddles professionally fitted but I still use a large sheepskin pad with a numnah or a thick polypad - my horse is just happier in her back that way, even with the best of saddles.

Never had a problem with an elastic girth as long as you are SENSIBLE and don't use the elastic to facilitate tightening the girth and leaving horsey gasping for air!
 
FACT - single sided elasticated girths cause the saddle to move/tip away from elastic insert. This movement is only small but it does over time cause soreness and muscle wastage.

I had hundreds of templates of horses backs and they all displayed the same characteristic hook shape dependant on which side the elastic was used. Of course, I used to meet the occassional person who would actually swap the side of the elastic every ride but this was very rare.... in fact possibly only 3!

I would suggest that whatever has been said about sheepskin is nonsense. It's been a valuable tool for many people and their horses. Remember, what might suit one horse may not suit another.

And yes, many products are produced which I personally wouldn't use and some really shouldn't ever be made. Sadly this is the same in any walk of life not just the equestrian world though.
 
Sheepskin

When i bourght my saddle i asked my fitter about using my sheepskin half pad and he said i could use it if the horse seemed more comfortable in it - no problem with it changing the fit...
He shows more tendency to buck without it.
:)
 
I used a girth with elastic at one end for a couple of years, not knowing any different. It has caused the saddle to be slightly off centre, as previously said, almost so you cannot see it, but It has caused my po to have less muscle on one side. Now am having to use a little padding under the saddle in that area to make my new saddle (without girth elastic at 1 end) to sit evenly. I think the girths with elastic going through the whole girth are fine and elastic on both ends so long as you dont do them up too tight.

Another thing I do now is check for girth tightness between front legs rather than pulling out from the side as this can often feel looser due to the shape of the horses body. Then once I know how tight it needs to feel before I get on I know how much to do it up once on board:D
 
I use a Stephens sheepskin half pad under Mrs P's saddle, the saddle was sitting down slightly at the front & it just lifts it up enough for it to be level. It definitely affects the fit, if the saddle fitted perfectly it would probably make it too tight, but the idea is to allow a bit of leeway for muscle development. If she picks up condition in the summer I'll swap it for a polypad then a 5oz numnah, depending on how her shape changes. I've tried using a gel pad but she seems to prefer the sheepskin pad.

I've just bought a Kentaur girth which is elasticated on both ends, I was a bit dubious about it because the elastic ended girths I've used before have been so easy to overtighten but the elastic on the Kentaur one is not very stretchy and I suspect it'd be quite difficult to overtighten it. I don't pull it very hard when I tighten it though, just in case.
 
newrider.com
Top Bottom