Many cloths have fastenings from the front of the pad to the
Ds of the saddle – a much better option that having the tabs come from under
the saddle and back to the girth straps. Once again, pressure. Some will say
that with the fastening at the front of the saddle the cloth runs back under
the saddle. Often the cause of this is the material that the cloth is made from,
being very high or totally made from a synthetic material. Cotton, either pure
cotton or a very high cotton content is what is needed but, of course these are
more expensive. The bonus from this is that they will almost certainly have a nicer
shape and sit so much better on the horse.
‘Gel’ pads are all
the rage at the moment, with a bit of fluff around the back. Unless absolutely
necessary to prevent excessive slippage please do not use them, especially on
jumping horses. They grip the skin meaning that it can’t flow under the saddle,
as happens with a more standard pad. Testing has shown a marked reduction of
performance in the horse when using these, so weigh up your priorities.
“Without this pad the saddle slips to an unacceptable extent. With it, it stays
in place”. If that isn’t your reply, then don’t use it! Oh, and
as a shock absorber? Most of the high pressures occur under the front part of
the saddle and are fleeting with a well-fitting saddle. The pressure relief
you believe you achieve may well be counteracted by the holding and pulling of
the skin beneath it. THINK about what you are doing by using these products!
I could write a whole article on pads and numnahs here, but that
might have to wait until another day.
Stirrup leathers. For your preference surely? Perhaps not.
The fashion at the moment is for hide covered web which has the advantage of
not being too thick, but heavy stirrup leather butt or buffalo leathers tend to
be bulky and will put pressure through the recessed stirrup bar area into the
horse’s sides. NOT what we are wanting.
Whilst we're on the subject of tack ...
Bits are now being thought about much more and there are
some excellent bitting experts out there that you can consult. Do check their
qualifications though. We have more than enough self-styled “experts” on many
topics in the horse world, most without qualification or, more importantly,
insurance.
Fashion is a great driver in the equestrian market and bits
go in fads as much as anything that we use, but please take a moment to look
into his mouth before deciding what to use. The width of the jaw, positioning
of the teeth, size and thickness of the tongue and the shape of the roof of his
mouth will all influence what he will find acceptable and what he will not.
Perhaps you will need that qualified bitting expert.
These are just some of the many items that we use on our
horses with little thought. Please consider every item that you use with or on
your horse, study available research into the product and make your choices in
an informed way and not because your pal Brenda or your trainer Richard uses
this. Good, repeatable research using pressure testing, gait analysis and film
can show you so much. Why not benefit from it?
Whilst you are here, do watch the short trailer below for my two-part video series specifically for Riders and Trainers
Kay Hastilow’s Saddle Fitting Know How For Riders and Trainers is a two part video series, giving a fascinating, practical insight into saddles, correct fit and common problems.
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