Saddle pads - 7/7/09 update

7-7-09 update - after preriding The 30+ miles from Robinson Flat to Foresthill on the Tevis trail I have revised my haf pad review.

Saddle blankets and pads can either be the biggest headache of your riding OR absolutely out of mind trouble free. When I started in endurance, it appeared that there were several "name brand" pads that people used. While this post is certainly not inclusive, I hope that it will help someone make some informed choices if they are looking for a new pad. If you have tried any of the pads and have an opinion, or love another pad that isn't listed, please post a comment.

If you don't want to read my commentary and want the "dry-bones" of my opinion, scroll to the bottom of the page.

I will update with photos this weekend......

Military issue Wool Blanket
This will be our starting point in evaluating the other blankets/pads. The blanket I use is a reproduction of the same type used with the 1859 McClellan saddles - navy blue with an orange stripe. There is a particular way of folding it, so that you end up with 6 layers of wool between the horse and saddle, and a neat fold in the front (fold lengthwise, then in thirds). I've used this type of blanket for many years in both a civil war reenactment capacity, endurance, and recreational riding.

1. What I love: When you untack you have a cooler for the horse. In an emergency (or not) you have a way to keep warm. The blanket does not distort the fit of the saddle (but doesn't give super duper protection either). During rest stops you can refold the blanket and put a fresh side against the horse. This is possible NINE times. With a surcingle this blanket makes a great bareback pad - not too slippery, protection for both you and the horse. Wool can be a good choice for horses with sensitive skin.

2. What's annoying: The blanket isn't contoured, so if you have a horse with a very "contoured" back, it can be difficult to get the blanket to lie so that there aren't any wrinkles. In any case, no matter what the horse's back looks like, it does take extra effort to get blanket to lay flat on ALL layers. The blanket can look sloppy if the time isn't taken to fold it precisely. Washing the blanket is annoying. Your best bet is to put in a tub and soak it, changing the water periodically. I know some people use commercial washers. Once clean, it takes very little time to dry because unfolded, it's actually comparatively thin.

3. What I HATE: Especially under extremely slick saddles (like rawhide covered McClellan's) this blanket will move back NO MATTER what you do. To be acceptable (ie only getting off every hour or so instead of every 20 minutes) your girth MUST be tight. This drives me batty. It does better under less slick saddles such as the leather underside of a Duett, and best under a rough surface like the synthethic Thorowgoods. It stays in place well enough that I use it as a schooling blanket during the week.

Toklat Woolback
Wool pile blanket, usually shaped to fit the saddle. I bought my used for a reasonable price and have used it as a conditioning pad and during actual endurance rides under a number of different saddles. Toklat makes a similar synthetic pad called a "coolback", but I have not used it. These pads have several options including foam inserts and a wither relief shape. I refer to only the regular profile pad with no inserts.

1. What I Love: Pad seems very durable. I got it used and have used it for over a year with hard riding and the condition has not changed. I like the thought of using 100% wool next to the horse. I have a standard dressage shape (probably oversize) and it's fit most saddles I've put on it. Because of the thickness I felt that it gave moderate protection to the horses back.

2. What's Annoying: The pad is fairly thick and I feel it can distort the saddle fit. That being said, I did not actually experience an issue. The pad is fairly bulky and can get very heavy with sweat. If you have a wide horse, with a wide twist saddle, the extra bulk under the leg is not ideal for close contact. My legs are short and my heels BARELY come down under the edge of the pad. I had to really work to get my leg on the horse. I did have trouble with this pad sliding back with some saddles - namely the synthetic Thorowgood. It would slide ALL the way against the keepers, which would put the saddle right on the edge of the pad. This couldn't be fixed by making the keepers tighter.

3. What I HATE: Unsaddling at out checks was a BEAR. Since the pad is fuzzy all around - top and bottom - it was difficult/impossible to keep dirt and debris off of it, unless there was a fence handy, or I remembered to throw a tarp in my crew bag. Anything that did get on it couldn't be brushed off. It was a PAIN in the A$$ to wash. I think most people use slicker brushes to maintain the pads between washings and only wash occasionally. I didn't find that the slicker brushes did a whole lot, and I didn't wash it very often because there was no good way. I tried hosing it off and putting it in a tub. The bottom line was that it never got really clean and it took 3-4 days to dry. At colder multi day rides that don't have very very dry air, don't expect your pad dry out over night. The not washing pads very often might be OK for people with cleaner horses, but most of the time, mine get a cursory grooming only which makes for dirty saddle blankets.

Skito Equalizer Pad
These pads seem to come in unlimited options and combinations. Synthetic blend or 100% wool bottom choice, custom made for every saddle shape and size, very cool fabrics and patterns for the top, choices of inserts and shims, and a "cool back" option which is some sort of fancy fabric over the top of the pad that is suppose to keep the horse's back cooler during hot weather. I have a very simple pad - 100% wool bottom with a black cordova top, regular set of inserts (1/2" - I think - foam). I purchased this pad new, specifically for my Duett saddle, although it works well (shape wise) with my Solstice.

1. What I Love: Pad is very durable, even with multiple washings. I have washed this pad more often than any other pad I own, because it's so easy to wash and dries so quickly. The pad doesn't create ANY bulk under my leg and is wonderful. It stays put and has good wither clearance. Again, I like the thought of using 100% wool next to the horse. The pad is light and when saddling/unsaddling at away vet checks I don't even think about it. It doesn't gather dirt and debris like the woolback.

2. What's Annoying: Getting the hair off inserts is not easy. My horse's hair is sticking in them like a weird mutant chia doll and without actually individually plucking the hairs out, they stay there. The keepers on the pad are entirely made of velcro (except not the fuzzy kind - it's actually very nice). While this is wonderful when using the pad (no more lining up velcro panels), taking it out of the washer is always interesting since there's no way for me to "isolate" the velcro from itself or the rest of my laundry (hey - I have to pay per load - one little lone saddle pad is NOT getting washed by itself). The foam inserts are very hard when cold. Either sleep with them at warm rides, or put the pad on the horses pad first thing in the morning to warm up. The pad inserts are suppose to absorb something like 90% of the shock to the horse's back. I'm not so sure - the pads seem very thin and they compress. After one 50, the pad stayed compressed for a while with the imprint of my saddle so I got to see just how much it compressed. How does it absorb shock when it stays compressed?

3. What I HATE: Nothing that I really HATE about this pad. Overall I'm very happy with it. I finally bought this one new after not wanting to deal with the woolback and the military blanket at rides anymore. I will say that the pad (especially after you take the inserts out) looks like something I could whip out on the sewing machine for a lot less money, but hey - my time is worth something too.

Haf Pad
This is a recent addition. I was (and still am) very happy with my skito, but after seeing this pad for a great price used, I couldn't resist. I was a little skeptical of the synthetic bottom - I really like using 100% wool, but Karen Chaton (see her blog on the right) seems happy with the pad and has done lots and lots of miles so obviously, it does work with at least some horses. I'm doing most of my tevis preriding in this pad to see if I want to choose it for at least a portion of the Tevis....because as you will see, it has some advantages over the others.

1. What I Love: I can spray this pad off (even with the inserts still in, since my version doesn't have velcro to remove them) and within an hour it's dry. Yep - clean dry pad. The pad is a BRILLIANT color of red. Absolutely gorgeous. The pad is a little bulkier under the leg than the skito, but once in the saddle, I don't notice the difference. This pad has AWESOME wither clearance. When I pull it up into the gullet, it STAYS there. Absolutely NO pressure on Farley's withers. The pad is medium weight and doesn't pick up debris. Farley's back seems cool after riding in this pad. Yes, her back is sweaty, but it seems like a "cooler" sweat than when using one of my wool pads. Hard to explain. The pad absolutely stays put, even with only the girth keepers and no billet keepers. No billet keepers mean that when I'm attaching my cantle bags to the billets, it's one less strap to worry about. Saddle gives the impression of being well made and of quality. Definitely not something I could whip up on my own.

2. What's Annoying: Is this pad machine washable? Even if it is (or isn't) will I even need to wash in a machine/tub? It sprays out so well. The pad inserts are thicker and softer than the skito. They do not retain an impression of my saddle after use. I'm not sure what they do in the cold because I've only used this pad in the summer months. Again I'm skeptical of claims that this foam provides significant impact protection for the horse's back.....but my horse certainly seems happy. The foam inserts are soft enough I don't think they change the fit of the saddle, but the pad does seem "thicker" than the skito. The little "bumps" on the bottom of the pad seem a little flatter where the saddle lies, so perhaps it doesn't shed sweat as well as when it was new - never having a new one, it's hard to say. None of the little "bumps" are missing or damaged so this pad seems to be holding up well.

3. What I HATE: So far nothing has jumped out at me. Give me another couple of hundred miles and I could probably come up with something. Probably the biggest thing with this pad is the price. Wow. I think I'll be shopping used for a while. LOL!
7-7-09 update: After riding the 30+ miles from Robinson Flat to Foresthill last weekend, I found that the trim on the back of the pad rubbed raw spots in Farley's back. Karen has suggested that I sew the trim up with dental floss. I plan on doing that and will retest the pad. With no major conditioning rides between now and the Tevis I think it would be too big of a risk to ride with this pad at the Tevis without giving the pad a good test with the trim sewn. I'm disappointed as I was VERY happy with the heat dissipation and how well put the saddle and pad stayed on the trail.

Conclusion Scoring:

The blankets will be scored in the following categories:
Saddle fit: Preserves the integrity of the saddle fit with no distortion
Washability: Easy to wash and dry. Holds up during multiple washings
Ease of Use: Do you need special folding skills? Does it have to be place JUST so? Or can you slap it on and go?
Longevity: Does it wear like iron?
Stays in place: Does it have a tendency to migrate?
Versatility: Can function as a blanket, cooler etc. , fit's more than one saddle type.
Protection: I don't have any scientific data for this one at all. This is truly just an opinion at how well the blanket will reduce impact to the horses back, protect it from the saddle, etc.


Army blanket:
Preserves integrity of saddle fit: A
Washability: C (but you have 9 clean sides to put against the horse)
Ease of Use: C (have to learn how to fold, be precise, get wrinkles out etc.)
Longevity: A
Stays in place under saddle: D
Versatility: A
Protection: C

Woolback:
Preserves integrity of saddle fit: C
Washability: D
Easy of Use: B (have to plan ahead during multidays for a dry blanket)
Longevity: A
Stays in place under saddle: B
Versatility: B (fit's most english type saddles I've tried on it, including a 1904 McClellan)
Protection: A

Skito:
Preserves integrity of saddle fit: A
Washability: A
Easy of Use: A
Longevity: A
Stays in place under saddle: A
Versatility: B (So far fits the Duett and Solstice. I've heard that if the shape is too far off, there can be a slipping issue, but no personal experience)
Protection: C/B - not sure if I totally buy the manufacturer's claim.

Haf Pad:
Preserves integrity of saddle fit: B
Washability: A++
Easy of Use: A (***updated: need to watch the trim for evidence of rubbing and correct if necessary)
Longevity: A/B (not sure how the shape of the "bumps" affect the pads performance).
Stays in place under saddle: A
Versatility: A- (shape of pad should fit most endurance shaped, western, and McClellan's without skirts. and english saddles - unless there is a very long dressage flap). The "-" is because I've haven't had the pad long enough to really test the pad out on lots of different saddles.)
Protection: F (update: pad seems more resiliant than the skito pad, although for now the pad gets an "F" for protection since it rubbed spots in Farley's back. If I can correct this through sewing the trim back, this pad will get a "B" protection rating.

Duett Saddle - Companion II

Time for another product review. Jonna of Barbs etc. asked how I liked the Duett and as it might be going out the door (yes, it's up for sale through no fault of it's own), this is a good time.

If you are considering a Duett, please visit their website at http://www.duettsaddles.com/ in addition to considering my opinion!

A quick interruption - If this post seems a little disjointed, it's because I'm seriously jet lagged and I've been working 13-15 hour days on 4 hours of sleep a night. I do like Alabama a lot more than I expected and I'm looking forward to coming back once a month for the next couple of months. I'm practicing on being effective and focused even on a serious lack of sleep, high humidity, and high heat. Sounds like perfect Tevis training to me!

The Search
Back to the saddle. I did a lot of research before buying a Duett. They fit small - an 18" is much more similar to a 17 or 17.5" fit. Their saddle trees start at 32cm (regular) and go up in 2cm increments to ridiculously wide. Even though Farley is short (14.2 - maybe), she is fairly wide with a round barrel and a short back. Not an easy fit. I was fairly certain I needed a 34cm (wide). The Companion II model fits the shorter backed horses (versus the Companion I). So I started looking for a Companion II 34/18.

What I Like
They do not come up for sale used often! I finally found one in all black in the sizes I needed, and purchased it. The first time I sat in it, it was amazing. I was very pleased how it fit on Farley the first time I saddled it up. I was impressed with the attention to detail on this saddle for the price. The saddles are $1179 new (check website for current pricing) and I feel that they are a superior saddle for the price. I have seen used ones priced typically $700-850. The stitching is tight, the seat soft, the color is holding up well, and the balance is very good. Here is what I considered the best points of the saddle:
1. The seat - I was skeptical of the stitching on the seat, but I never had any rubbing problems. The seat is moderately padded. The leather is soft, but is durable. It has just enough "stick", even in tights, but doesn't catch or rub.
2. Security - the combination of the pommel, cantle, and seat configuration makes a very secure saddle. I've never even almost fallen out of this saddle. Part of the security came from the wider twist. It seemed to hold me in the seat better.
3. Billet system - there's only 2 billets. The back billet is a "V" billet. The girth falls naturally, even on a well sprung horse and I never had problems with the saddle wanting to walk forward or back.
4. Saddle Bags - I found that the cantle on this saddle was a perfect fit for the stowaway english cantle bags!
5. The quality - This was my first high/better quality saddle and the difference between it, and my thorowgood and no-name saddle was immediately obvious. I can't even give specifics - it was just a different, better "feel". I feel that it was definitely worth the price I paid for it and I would pay it again in a heartbeat (I have not felt this way about all of the name brand saddles I have tried).


What I Don't Like
Nothing in this world is perfect. Most of these things aren't negatives - just things I want to note so that you can consider whether this saddle is a good fit for you!
1. Flap - the flap is kinda wide....Never bothered me until another rider pointed it out....I have really short legs and the length didn't bother me.
2. Weight and Size - this is not a petite saddle. Fully decked out with a woolback pad, cantle bags etc. it came in at 30 pounds. I don't mind a heavier saddle, but it can be a surprise if you are expecting a lighter saddle.
3. Width - I LIKE the wide twist - however if you ride a wide horse AND have short little legs, total width can become an issue. I rode it in a woolback for the first 8 months or so and it was fine. However, I liked the saddle even more after I got a skito, which reduced the bulk underneath my leg. With a woolback it was an effort to get my leg on the horse, however that disappeared with the skito.
4. Billets - I'm not sure whether it was just my billets, or it's a trait of the saddle, but the billets were a little dry. They are very thick and sturdy, just not as soft as I'm used to.
5. Total Billet Length - I had to punch extra holes and use an extremely short girth - 22".
6. Wither Clearance - This is the only reason I'm selling the saddle. Everything else was inconsequential or manageable - this was not. Farley has moderate to high withers. This saddle has a lower than average wither clearance (which they state on their site), which was adequate for almost a year. Unfortunately her back only had to change a little before there the potential for wither pressure was more than I could stand. I think a normal to low withered horse would be fine in this saddle.

So What Happened?
I monitored wither clearance every time I rode. A couple of weekends ago I decided that it was too close for my comfort. I am not unhappy with any other aspect of the saddle or how it fit Farley. The only place I have advertised it is in the sidebar of this blog. I wouldn't mind holding onto this saddle, but if someone was interested I'm not adverse to selling either.

So You Want More Information?
Start by checking out http://www.duettsaddles.com/. I highly recommend that you test ride one if you can. It's a substantial saddle that may feel a bit different than your typical A/P saddle. Most pictures of Farley on this blog are in the Duett saddle. Trumbull tack shop is an excellent source of information, has a very generous trial period on their saddles, and keeps skito pads for the Duett Companion in stock. If you have specific questions, feel free to e-mail me (gbminx@yahoo.com) and I'll give you my opinion, but keep in mind that's only one person's opinion! If you are trying to guage fit, here's some pointers.
On the horsey side (refers to a 34cm size tree):
1. Slightly wider than a "Wide" Solstice saddle. Different tree shape - Duett has a more upside down "U" shape (hoop tree?), while the Solstice and Thorowgood (NOT broadback) I think have that *other* shaped tree - see the saddle fitter's blog (on the right hand sidebar) for more details on this, I'm kind of fuzzy.
2. Much wider than a "standard/medium" Thorowgood dressage
3. I found the panels are fairly "flat" from front to back, compared to a (unshimmed) specialized.
4. Less wither clearance than the Solstice or afore mentioned Thorowgood.
On the rider side (18" seat):
1. Fit (seat size) is similar to a 17.5" throwgood. Fit is looser than a 17" Solstice
2. Flap is shorter (but wider) than a Thorowgood dressage. Flap is bigger (wider and longer) than the Solstice
3. Pommel rise is shorter/lower than the Thorowgood, about the same as the Solstice
4. Cantle height is similar to the Thorowgood dresage.
5. Saddle fits on all my dressage pads, including a toklat woolback dressage shaped pad.

If you are considering a Duett I hope this was helpful. Overall I really like this saddle and would reccomend at least trying it, if you want an english style saddle for trail riding - either fast or slow - that is comfortable and secure. I know there are some other Duett riders who read my blog - feel free to jump in the discussion in the comments section!

Product Reviews

Product Reviews

I've decided to start doing some product reviews here periodically.  When I'm shopping for an item, I often search through the internet trying to find people that have experience with the product.  I have found the endurance.net ridcamp archives very useful, as well as horsetackreview.com.  Hopefully you'll find my reviews helpful.  If you want a specific product reviewed, (such as one of my endurance items I mention on my blog), let me know.  I'm going to keep my review posts positive and honest.  It is not my intention to publically "bash" any product.  If you have specific questions beyond what I post, leave a comment or e-mail me!  

I'm Stressed/Worried/Apprehensive/Concerned......The after math of Minx's death?

I'm in San Jose for work right now.  It is the first multi-day/multi-night absence I've had away from Farley since Minx's death.  It's affected me more than I expected.  I'm not having full panic attacks, but I'm extremely stressed and apprehensive during the two feeding times at the boarding stable. If I get a call, that is when I would get it.  I don't feel good at all because of the amount of stress.  If I get a call that Farley is not doing well, I don't know what I would do.  The situation is made worse because the weather has been unseasonably hot over the past couple of days (over 100 degrees).  When I saw her Monday, she was covered in salt from Sunday's heat wave and looked slightly dehydrated.  I wish I could check in on her to make sure she's drinking OK and taking care of herself.  She's never had a problem, but ever since Minx, I've become a OCD worry-wort about it......I wonder how long this lasts?  I cannot go through this every time I'm gone for a couple of days.