What is a half pad for horses?
Half Pads are smaller shaped pads that are about “half” the size of a full-sized square pad… hence the name! And they open up a whole new can of worms when it comes to saddle pads. These are a great option for horses that need more support or to temporarily improve the fit of a saddle.
Does my saddle need a half pad?
It’s always important to have a saddle that fits your horse correctly—for safety, comfort and performance. If you have a saddle that fits extremely poorly (either way too big or way too small), there’s not much a half pad can do; but if a saddle is only slightly too wide for your horse, then a half pad can remedy that.
Can you use a half pad on a Western saddle?
The WESTERN SMARTPAD® HALFPAD works great under any WESTERN saddle.
How do you measure a saddle pad?
To measure a saddle pad, measure along the spine to get the length, then measure from one side, across the withers, and down to the other side to get the drop.
Why do people use a half pad?
Half pads are used for shock absorption Some people use it to absorb shocks during riding. It also minimizes the impact of the saddle and the pressure of the rider.
Are half pads good for horses?
The benefits of a half pad are not only for the horse but also for the rider. It absorbs shocks from jumping to doing piaffe, this makes half pads suitable for every discipline and every rider. The shock-absorbing function will also relieve the spine of the rider and has many other ergonomic benefits.
Are sheepskin half pads good?
#5 Thinline Ultra Sheepskin Comfort Half Pad While Thinline pads are very trendy, they are also really good! Thinline is unique in that as their names says their pads are extra thin. They provide shock absorption with a special open-cell foam that doesn’t add bulk under your saddle.
How do you measure a half pad?
Using a flexible measuring tape, measure from an imaginary line at the front edge of the saddle padding along the gullet. Follow the contour of the saddle until you reach an imagina- ry line at the back edge of the saddle padding.
How big is a full saddle pad?
Western Saddle Pad Measurements An unfolded standard western saddle pad measures 32 x 32 or 30 x 30 inches. It has a drop of 15 to 16 inches and a spine measurement of 30-32 inches.
How to choose the right half pad for your horse?
Pads that offer sheepskin, fleece, air ride, shims, foam inserts, wither relief, gel, shock absorption and even a combination of these materials, allows you to find the right half pad to ensure your horse’s comfort. Half pads can also allow you to customize a saddle fit to multiple horses.
Do I need a saddle pad for the 9 points?
As such, we think more effort should be put into ensuring that the saddle actually fits properly at all of the 9 Points of Saddle Fit, rather than using a temporary solution such as a half pad. A saddle pad should be used as a temporary aid until your saddle fitter can help with the adjustment.
What is a shimmable half pad?
Some half pads on the market are considered “shimmable,” which means they have pockets for extra inserts underneath certain areas of the saddle. Depending on the half pad, the inserts may be the same material used for the rest of the pad or they may be different, such as a sheepskin pad with foam inserts.
Why do some saddles have so many pads?
The cantle is then quite a bit lower than the pommel, which of course justifies the use of so many pads to even out the position of the saddle, with the result that essentially, the rider is inches away from the horse’s back.