Back protection in the show ring?

Roxy93 · 03-25-2008, 02:42 PM

i use a thick wither-relief half back pad on my horse for schooling, but when i show in my regular fleece one, his back gets sore. are there any 'classic looking' pads out there (for the hunters) that look good in the show ring but offer thick protection as well?

MissMagic · 03-25-2008, 02:44 PM

You just use the half pad itself with nothing underneath..everyone does it in VA

JBandRio · 03-25-2008, 03:23 PM

My first question is - what about the saddle is making his back sore when you don't use the wither relief pad?

Lots of people show nowadays in a half pad, so you wouldn't look out of place at all.

If you love the more traditional look, as I do, you can get a regular pad with a half pad that are made to fit together. The regular pad has no fleece where the half pad would go, so you don't end up doubling up on padding.

Preppy_Ponies · 03-25-2008, 05:30 PM

I'm also wondering what it is about your saddle that is making him sore? That's what I would try to figure out first.

As for something that looks more show appropriate, you could try a Beval half pad or one of the dover knock-offs. They are pretty thick with plenty of padding and look great for the show ring. Dover has one with sheepskin and one with fleece and I'm pretty sure the beval one is sheepskin. Here's the sheepskin dover one: http://www.doversaddlery.com/merino-...19249/cn/1405/. Here's the dover fleece one: http://www.doversaddlery.com/wool-fe...19177/cn/1405/. And here's the beval one: http://www.beval.com/Products/Beval-...d/2069005.aspx.

AtomicPenny · 03-26-2008, 11:01 AM

Second getting the saddle fit checked.

For a show look though, around here we don't generally see just strictly half-pads in the hunters. I think a fitted pad looks more classic for the show ring. Jumpers though, can pretty much do whatever you want, including just a half-pad like your doing to school. My personal preference would be a fitted, thin baby-pad with the half pad above it to give his back some relief and make it feel similar to your schooling, the baby pad being used just to complete a more polished classic look. You can also get the half pads that have a thinner pad sold with them to make up the same appearance, as well as the Mattes type pads that have a half-pad built in.

Karen

horseyfrk145 · 03-26-2008, 11:03 AM

I've seen half pads and show pads of the same color (white for both, presumably) underneath in shows. I am, strictly speaking, an eventer, but i dabble into hunters with my young horse, and did hunters for about 3 years. However, I've not been to an A show, so I can't say whether it would be acceptable there.

luvs2ride79 · 03-26-2008, 01:24 PM

I would recommend using a White Ultra ThinLine pad underneath your show pad, either a Contour or Half pad. Or, if you don't mind spending more, go with the real sheepskin white Ultra ThinLine Hunter pad.

My daughter uses the white thinline half pad. It doesn't show from under her fleece pad.

Roxy93 · 03-27-2008, 12:25 PM

luvstoride- on the website it says it's pretty thin (as does the name). does it really provide good back support/protection?

luvs2ride79 · 03-27-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roxy93

luvstoride- on the website it says it's pretty thin (as does the name). does it really provide good back support/protection?

I was skeptical too, but it really seems to work! They do have a 30-day money back guarantee, so you can get a refund if you don't like it.

.:Showie:. · 03-29-2008, 02:06 AM

I use a sheepskin Half pad.
I think they are just great!
They are nice and thick,breathable, and dont look tacky (if you have the right colour!!)

03-25-2008, 02:42 PM	#1
Roxy93 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 229 Images: 1	Back protection in the show ring? i use a thick wither-relief half back pad on my horse for schooling, but when i show in my regular fleece one, his back gets sore. are there any 'classic looking' pads out there (for the hunters) that look good in the show ring but offer thick protection as well?

03-25-2008, 03:23 PM	#3
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,722 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	My first question is - what about the saddle is making his back sore when you don't use the wither relief pad? Lots of people show nowadays in a half pad, so you wouldn't look out of place at all. If you love the more traditional look, as I do, you can get a regular pad with a half pad that are made to fit together. The regular pad has no fleece where the half pad would go, so you don't end up doubling up on padding. __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

03-26-2008, 01:24 PM	#7
luvs2ride79 Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 4,292 Images: 38	I would recommend using a White Ultra ThinLine pad underneath your show pad, either a Contour or Half pad. Or, if you don't mind spending more, go with the real sheepskin white Ultra ThinLine Hunter pad. My daughter uses the white thinline half pad. It doesn't show from under her fleece pad. __________________ "To be an equestrian in the classical sense is not just to be a rider. It is a position in life." --Charles de Kunffy EquineFriends.com2HotToTrot.com Anti-Slaughter and PROUD! StopHorseSlaughter.com I've Been Snowballed!**

03-29-2008, 02:06 AM	#10
.:Showie:. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 351 Images: 68	I use a sheepskin Half pad. I think they are just great! They are nice and thick,breathable, and dont look tacky (if you have the right colour!!) __________________ Azrah Hill Little Cowgirl *<3 One in a Million* <3**

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03-25-2008, 02:44 PM	#2
MissMagic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 452 Images: 45	You just use the half pad itself with nothing underneath..everyone does it in VA

03-25-2008, 05:30 PM	#4
Preppy_Ponies Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: So. Cal Posts: 1,467 Images: 230	I'm also wondering what it is about your saddle that is making him sore? That's what I would try to figure out first. As for something that looks more show appropriate, you could try a Beval half pad or one of the dover knock-offs. They are pretty thick with plenty of padding and look great for the show ring. Dover has one with sheepskin and one with fleece and I'm pretty sure the beval one is sheepskin. Here's the sheepskin dover one: http://www.doversaddlery.com/merino-...19249/cn/1405/. Here's the dover fleece one: http://www.doversaddlery.com/wool-fe...19177/cn/1405/. And here's the beval one: http://www.beval.com/Products/Beval-...d/2069005.aspx.

03-26-2008, 11:01 AM	#5
AtomicPenny Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Loudon, NH Posts: 603 Images: 69	Second getting the saddle fit checked. For a show look though, around here we don't generally see just strictly half-pads in the hunters. I think a fitted pad looks more classic for the show ring. Jumpers though, can pretty much do whatever you want, including just a half-pad like your doing to school. My personal preference would be a fitted, thin baby-pad with the half pad above it to give his back some relief and make it feel similar to your schooling, the baby pad being used just to complete a more polished classic look. You can also get the half pads that have a thinner pad sold with them to make up the same appearance, as well as the Mattes type pads that have a half-pad built in. Karen

03-27-2008, 12:25 PM	#8
Roxy93 Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 229 Images: 1	luvstoride- on the website it says it's pretty thin (as does the name). does it really provide good back support/protection?