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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| so I'm lazy and I just saddled my 3yo for the first time in like 3 months yesterday. I didn't ride since he had so much time off, but I lunged him in the round pen. When I unsaddled him he had dry spots. I literally bought this saddle in like Feb because he turned into a holstein cow over the winter. I would like to try pads, and recheck fit (maybe I had it placed wrong) before jumping to look for another. My pads are OLD and probably don't have any give left in them (whoops).... so what pad do you recommend that doesn't cost over $200?
The colt is super wide, with a ~flat back and decent withers (TB momma). The saddle is an older martin with an 8" gullet and FQHB. Its the older style so the people at martin told me its still made to sit on top of the shoulders but I think I was stil setting it behind his shoulder when I was riding early spring. The pad I use (and have worn almost completely out..) is a classic equine ESP (the ones that have black top & white on bottom).
On the one hand I do feel like pad shouldn't/ couldn't make a saddle fit, but I have rode it like 10x. I would really like to try something before I ditch it. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| I found a used bio fit pad on ebay for under $200, and I really like it! |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| emricmacy - 2018-05-11 7:05 AM
I found a used bio fit pad on ebay for under $200, and I really like it!
I always thought those were for horses with lack of muscle behind their shoulder. Does it apply more pressure where the pad is built up? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| RoaniePonie11 - 2018-05-11 7:36 AM
emricmacy - 2018-05-11 7:05 AM
I found a used bio fit pad on ebay for under $200, and I really like it!
I always thought those were for horses with lack of muscle behind their shoulder. Does it apply more pressure where the pad is built up?
My appendix has high withers and his saddle was too wide, I bought the bio fit and it fits near perfect now. The front of the saddle was dumping down on his withers, and now I have a few inches of clearance. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| emricmacy - 2018-05-11 7:42 AM
RoaniePonie11 - 2018-05-11 7:36 AM
emricmacy - 2018-05-11 7:05 AM
I found a used bio fit pad on ebay for under $200, and I really like it!
I always thought those were for horses with lack of muscle behind their shoulder. Does it apply more pressure where the pad is built up?
My appendix has high withers and his saddle was too wide, I bought the bio fit and it fits near perfect now. The front of the saddle was dumping down on his withers, and now I have a few inches of clearance.
Gotcha. Just watched the video on it on the equibrand website. I'll have to put my saddle on my colt bare today and see if I need any adjustments like that. I just watched the zone pad video on equibrand and it looks nice, but the felt on the top of the pad looks questionable. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | I love my 5 Star pads! I use either a 1/2" or 3/4" on everything. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I found this to be a really interesting article about dry spots - https://www.synergistsaddles.com/sweat-patterns-saddle-fit/
I also really like 5 Star pads |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
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Thank you!! Great article!
I felt under the pad today after I saddled him and to me, it still feels even from front to back. He seemed short strides to me but his feet are in need of some front shoes so I think he’s a little tender-toed. After shoes we’ll really see, but his dry spot was big.... so maybe there’s not anything major going on. I sure hope not. I love this saddle. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| RoaniePonie11 - 2018-05-11 10:49 AM
Thank you!! Great article!
I felt under the pad today after I saddled him and to me, it still feels even from front to back. He seemed short strides to me but his feet are in need of some front shoes so I think he’s a little tender-toed. After shoes we’ll really see, but his dry spot was big.... so maybe there’s not anything major going on. I sure hope not. I love this saddle.
It makes sense!
Especially the part about pad material - my husband has been trying to tell me my barrel saddle doesn’t fit because of the sweat mark. I asked him what shirt he preferred to work in on a hot day, a cotton T-shirt or his polyester hi-vis shirts for when they are doing road work. Hands down cotton he said, sweats like a pig in the hi-vis. So then consider pads with a core material like pro ortho or impact gel that takes away from the amount of material that can wick sweat - pony sweats like a pig too. Not saying they aren’t good pads, they just perform differently - not all sweat marks are created equal.
Now if we go gather cattle and we’re on them working and moving for several hours and they’re drenched from head to toe, yeah I want to see something pretty even.
We ride in 5 stars with bot liners, so even more moisture wicking. |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | I have 2 horses and they are built different. I cant afford 2 saddles right now. I always go to a saddleright pad if saddle doesn't seem quite right, and don't have back soreness at all. the one the saddle fits I use a 5 star. I love both pads. |
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