[buck1173]

Just wanted to give every one an early report on the Suber pad I purchased not too long ago, though more testing will be conducted over the next week I'll get pictures too.

Here is a link to the manuf: http://www.davidahnequine.co.uk/

Its a very interesting pad, I have the english version, which is padded in weight bearing areas, with a plain flap extending to protect a dressage or long flap saddle. I purchased mine used on ebay a few weeks ago on a whim.

Its not actually filled with beans, its crumbled cork bits, from the Suber cork tree. Its very thick, but not heavy, very well constructed, completely washable, and completely unassuming looking (looks just like the photos, a bag).

However, results are really marvelous.

The first time I rode it was also the first time I rode my horse alone indoors during the day (we're still working on separation anxiety). The saddle I rode him is a hair too wide for him (finally). It was hard to evaluate the first ride, as it only lasted about 5 min and mostly consisted of us flinging ourselves sideways across the arena and hollering, but boy did he extend I helped him find his confidence and then rewarded him by ending the lesson.

What was remarkable during that ride was that, first the only time he'd moved that well was when I was bareback, and also, my girth was rather loose but that saddle stayed put, it was as if it were glued to his back.

I rode the next week bareback, and lent the pad to a co-boarder with a cranky sharkfin TB who's she's been spending several thousand dollars getting custom saddles for during the last few years. Well, after her first ride, she reported that her horse was in rapture, she finally felt how crooked she was, and her horse moved more freely and with perked forward ears than she's seen in years.... she is now shopping for a used one too and will be using mine when I'm not around.

I rode mine in earnest last night. Same crosby dressage saddle. Really it was amazing.

I haven't done this much trotting on my horse, I think since I've owned him. He was more than happy to move out (shocking!) picked up a trot on his own, and we really motored too, and he maintained speed all on his own. His ears were forward almost the entire night, and that is a first in the year I've had him.

We both broke a good sweat, and though he was a pain in the rump, its was in a good way, silly pony testing rider stuff, not mincing I don't want to move stuff. We got a lot done and even started playing with shoulder in. We worked for well over an hour not including warm up & cool down.

After riding, I was able to examine the pad... it really does take shape and fill in gaps. The cork bits actually settle down with riding and become more of a mattress feeling than bag of crumbles feeling, hard to describe, doesn't compress, just melds together. The minute you take it off their back, it goes back to a bean bag. Its not just a loose bag of crumbles mind you, its baffled (many little pockets).

The pad is just big enough for an 18" dressage saddle, I have about an inch over hang front & back.

It does make me feel perched up at first, for the first 10 min or so, but then you start forgetting its there... it does take time and a good bit of a warm up to settle in to shape.

You do have to tighten your girth quite a number of times... I hand walk about 5 min before mounting (groundwork) but even after riding about 10 min, the girth became noticeably loose. I did have to get a larger girth too as my girths just fit before, and this is adding like 3-4".

The only thing I don't like is that its not contoured, and there is no spine clearance or gullet, or cutback for withers, though my horse didn't complain. It doesn't appear to spread and pull down with riding at all however, it stayed exactly where I put it initially, just settles straight down. It never shifted or moved during riding either.

I'll be riding it again tonite w/ a diff saddle... testing it on a friend's horse tomorrow who bucks out at a canter.... and another friend's horse who is a hard to fit, sway backed and a star gazer/bolter.

I'll have more reports soon... but so far, its an excellent excellent invention and the horses seem to approve.

[JBandRio]

Excellent, thank you for the great report!!