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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
  
Location: Sunny California | Does anyone have them? I found a saddle blanket that I really want, the only problem is that that particular pattern is discontinued and the only way I can get it is with the impact gel pads. I would only be using it to show and would like to know how they hold up. Any problems with the gel? Thanks! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 349
| I like mine but haven't noticed anything special. Works great on my full(long and round) backed mare she works great in it, but horrible on my 14 hand short backed horse with hardly any withers. Hope I helped? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 371
| I've never used the official 'impact gel' brand but I couldn't use anything other than a gel pad (english) on my gelding because he was badly cold backed. I'm not sure if the western one is the same way but it was great for his back but I lost a lot of feeling (not a great if you like to be able to feel every little tiny move your horse makes). I've seen some that are quite bulky and change how your saddle can fit. It really just depends on what exact pad you need, what saddle you have, and what your horse needs, a color pattern really isn't worth making a run and having your saddle bother the horse. |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
  
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I hated the Impact Gel pads I had. They made my horses back sore and they slipped. IMO I wouldn't buy one just for the pattern. You can customize a 5 Star. |
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Ms. Dr. Phil
Location: My happy place | I have been a fan for awhile and here is what convinced me. I have a cutting horse and always after a long weekend of cutting when I would use the sweat scraper after a bath he would go to his knees when rubbed across his back. However when I use the Impact gel pad he is fine and no more flinching when I scrape him off. This horse should be sponsered by Impact Gel, I use their pads on his feet too, which is what made me try the pad, he loves them. I bought him at 8 with slight navicular issues and at 18 he is still going strong, sound, happy and still showing. This is why I like Impact Gel.
Edited by Palopony 2014-02-11 7:09 AM
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 Veteran
Posts: 224
Location: Southern OK aka God's Country | I haven't used them but I looked into buying one for awhile. I asked a friend of mine about hers and she said she quit using it because the gel allowed the saddle to move in a way that freaked her horses out, and she would have problems with them bucking (mind you these were 4-6 year olds so they weren't 100% seasoned). However, that was enough to keep me from buying one. From what I've read and seen, a nice wool pad that conforms to the horse's back over time is hard to beat. |
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 Coyote Country Queen
Posts: 5666
| All that we ride in is Impact Gels, and have been for at least 6 years. We still have the original ones we bought way back then. Our horses do not get sore (but we also make sure that our saddles fit properly). And we do everything from starting colts, running barrels, roping, ranch work, picking up broncs, hazing, etc. |
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Regular
Posts: 54
Location: Missouri | We have ridden our Impact Gel long and hard, holding up well and is great for the horse. We also have one for a trail saddle, it is awesome. |
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Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| I've never had issues with the IG pad. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
| Ive had really good luck with mine. Outlasted my CSI, professional choices, classic equine pads. Would still like to try a saddleright and a 5 star. So far impact gels my favorite though.  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 731
Location: WNY | Had better luck with 5 star pads. but every horse and situation is different. most of mine are short and round. it rolled a little too much and made one sore up a little since the gel doesn't let the heat out and she gets real hot to begin with. |
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 Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | Jenbabe - 2014-02-11 8:01 AM All that we ride in is Impact Gels, and have been for at least 6 years. We still have the original ones we bought way back then. Our horses do not get sore (but we also make sure that our saddles fit properly). And we do everything from starting colts, running barrels, roping, ranch work, picking up broncs, hazing, etc.
Ditto, I have several of them and love them. Some of mine are 7 years old! And still in good shape! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1176
Location: Nor Cal | I loved my impact gel pads! I had two, and one of them had the most gorgeous pattern on it. I am currently not riding my gelding is in 'retirement' but I'm kicking myself for selling both of them :( |
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 I"m Jealous!
Posts: 1737
Location: Benton City, WA | rockinas - 2014-02-11 9:45 AM Jenbabe - 2014-02-11 8:01 AM All that we ride in is Impact Gels, and have been for at least 6 years. We still have the original ones we bought way back then. Our horses do not get sore (but we also make sure that our saddles fit properly). And we do everything from starting colts, running barrels, roping, ranch work, picking up broncs, hazing, etc. Ditto, I have several of them and love them. Some of mine are 7 years old! And still in good shape!
Mine have also held up very well. I bought them probably at least 3-4 years ago. I do think when its REALLY hot they get sweatier under an impact gel compared to a wool pad. For this reason, I also have a few best ever wool pads. There is a big difference in the "impact" protection though. If you put your arm under the pad and then hit it from the top, you can barely feel it with an impact gel, and really feel it with even a 1" wool pad. Just something interesting I noticed.
If they are rolling, then your pad is probably thicker than what your horse needs. |
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Expert
Posts: 3147
| I bought an IG pad about nine years ago. The mare I bought it for rode fine in it. I sold her and started riding my gelding using it. He would kick out behind with it-take it off and he rode fine. I tried riding my next barrel horse with it and she rode terrible-head up in air, chargy, wouldn't get on lead I wanted her to and didn't want to stay on it. Put another pad on her and she was fine. I sold my IG pad shortly thereafter. |
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | I love my impact gel! I've had it for about 8 years now and it has held up so well---still in excellent condition and I use it for everyday riding as well as running barrels. Works well with all of my saddles, fits my horse well and keeps her feeling good. Over all a great pad! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | They made My horses sore, I only use 100% wool, Todd slone, 5 star an classic equine |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | rockinas - 2014-02-11 11:45 AM Jenbabe - 2014-02-11 8:01 AM All that we ride in is Impact Gels, and have been for at least 6 years. We still have the original ones we bought way back then. Our horses do not get sore (but we also make sure that our saddles fit properly). And we do everything from starting colts, running barrels, roping, ranch work, picking up broncs, hazing, etc. Ditto, I have several of them and love them. Some of mine are 7 years old! And still in good shape!
I have an Impact Gel that is now 7 years old and still in great shape. Right now I use Impact Gels on 2 of my 3 horses and love them. Never had a bit of trouble with an Impact Gel soring a horse up or making one buck and we've used them on 8 different horses through the years. |
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 Night Watchman
Posts: 5516
Location: Central Montana | I bought a used one to try it and put it on 3 different horses with different body shapes. The pad slipped on all of them with different types of saddles. I got rid of it and will not try another one. |
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Best of the Badlands
Location: You never know where I will show up...... | I only ride in Caldwell saddles, and honestly I have several other kinds of pads too......5 Stars, Oxbows, Best Ever, ThinLine, BioFit....all different thicknesses, depending on the horses I am using them on (we ride several horses every single day) and I've never had any of them slip.
I've never had a pad make a horse sore either, but we keep them clean and make sure the saddle/pad fit is correct for the horse.
I do feel like my Impact Gel pads have held up the best for my money though. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I have both an Impact Gel pad and a 5 Star pad and I love them both, although I am finding I like my 5 Star a little better.
When it's REALLY cold out (below zero) it seems like the Impact Gel pad feels "harder" than it usually is. That would be my only complaint. It's held up extrememly well for me. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| I just got a 5 Star pad for Christmas, but I've used an impact gel for the past 6 years on a variety of horses, and I've never had an issue. I've used it on everything from colts to the brokest of broke, and they all seemed pretty happy with it (I do my best to have a saddle that fits well too though). |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I love them, I use one on all the performance horses (I have 1 for the two I personally ride, 1 to race in, then 1 that I clean after every use because I use it on client horses that I don't know all that well). I'm saving the funds to get a new work one for the pair, since it's almost 7 years old I think, and it is still in great condition, but it is making my mare sore now because I think the gel is getting wore out, but I will probably still use it on the pleasure gelding. I have the Professional Choice brand. I will always go with Prof. Choice for anything, from saddle pads to leg gear. That's my brand, and I love them. |
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 Star Padded Honey
Posts: 8890
Location: NW MT | FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-02-12 6:55 PM I love them, I use one on all the performance horses (I have 1 for the two I personally ride, 1 to race in, then 1 that I clean after every use because I use it on client horses that I don't know all that well). I'm saving the funds to get a new work one for the pair, since it's almost 7 years old I think, and it is still in great condition, but it is making my mare sore now because I think the gel is getting wore out, but I will probably still use it on the pleasure gelding. I have the Professional Choice brand. I will always go with Prof. Choice for anything, from saddle pads to leg gear. That's my brand, and I love them.
If you have Prof Choice gel pads, then they are not Impact Gels ... not sure what they use but IG's are made by the Impact Gel company.
I have been a dealer for IG's for years, and they used to be a major seller, but then my 5 Star sales overtook them completely. My old gelding (who I had to put down a couple yrs ago) loved his IG. The mares I have now seem to prefer the softness & I'm sure the compression/concussion rating of the 5 Stars best. |
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 I Love the Oldies
Posts: 3767
Location: Central Washington | We have Impact Gel and 5 Star and like both. No complaints for either. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | FlyingHigh1454 - 2014-02-12 7:55 PM I love them, I use one on all the performance horses (I have 1 for the two I personally ride, 1 to race in, then 1 that I clean after every use because I use it on client horses that I don't know all that well). I'm saving the funds to get a new work one for the pair, since it's almost 7 years old I think, and it is still in great condition, but it is making my mare sore now because I think the gel is getting wore out, but I will probably still use it on the pleasure gelding. I have the Professional Choice brand. I will always go with Prof. Choice for anything, from saddle pads to leg gear. That's my brand, and I love them.
I don't think Pro Choice makes a gel pad. |
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| Mine is 10 years old and I still use it Daily! Love that pad!! |
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Impact Gel Saddle Pads