Half Pads & Gel Pads

What alternatives are there to a genuine sheepskin pad?

Sheepskin pads have the advantage that they absorb a lot of moisture, are breathable and temperature regulating. These properties create a zone that reduces pressure - sheepskin has excellent shock-absorbing properties. Therefore, sheepskin is a unique material for saddle pads that distribute the pressure on the horse's back in the best possible way.
If you want to do without real sheepskin, you can fall back on saddle pads with teddy fleece or artificial sheepskin, which are less intensive to care for. They still have a cushioning effect and distribute the pressure over a larger area.
In addition to sheepskin and teddy fleece, there are also saddle pads made of gel, rubber, memory foam and spacer fabric. Each rider must decide individually which pad is best suited to the horse's conditions. This is because the pad significantly determines the position of the saddle and how the rider feels in the saddle. Thus, every rider has a wide choice of alternatives to genuine sheepskin pads, which we also carry in our online shop.

What types of half pads are there?

In contrast to saddle pads or numnahs, the focus of a half pads is more on functionality. Therefore, there are also a variety of types of half pads, which in most cases provide for a large-area pressure distribution or balance out minor imbalances of the saddle. Some half pads only serve to hold the saddle in place.
Types of half pads include the following:

• Teddy fleece half pads
• Sheepskin half pads
• Gel pads
• Correction pads with inserts
• Half pads with memory foam
• Anti-Slip Pads

What is the pressure distribution of a half pad?

How the pressure is distributed on a half pad depends very much on the material and the shape of the pad. In general, the larger the pad and its contact surface, the better the pressure distribution. Padding or any thickening, as is the case with wedge-shaped panels, also has an influence on the distribution of pressure.
The material also plays a role in the distribution of pressure. If the material of the half pad can adapt to the shape of the horse's back or if it becomes softer due to body heat, the pressure can be better distributed over a large area.

What are the advantages of a gel pad/half pad?

Half pads can also be used to temporarily correct saddle fit problems. If the saddle is out of balance and tilts too far back or forward under the rider's weight, a gel pad or half pad can correct this imbalance. It is a quick solution, but not a permanent one. In general, a saddle should fit without a correction pad. However, a half pad can be useful if the horse changes physically within a short period of time and a final saddle adjustment is not yet an option. Then you can use the advantages of the gel pad or half pad and correct small inaccuracies of fit. This makes sense for young horses in the growth phase, for example.

What size should a half pad be?

A half pad must fit the contact surface of the saddle. It must not be too big, otherwise it could not be effective or the pressure distribution is no longer optimal. At the same time, it must not be too small, so that the saddle panels press on the seams or even the rim of the pad, causing unpleasant pressure peaks.
To determine the size of the half pad, measure the contact surface of the saddle. To do this, place the measuring tape from the bottom padding of the saddle gullet to the bottom padding of the rear pommel. Add another 6 cm to the final result to get the minimum back length of the half pad.

What is the best way to clean a gel pad?

Although gel pads often attract and hold dirt very quickly due to their almost sticky surface, they are still easy to clean. Treating them with a gentle lye soap and then rinsing them with clear water is perfectly sufficient. The cold wash programme or the gentle wash cycle at a maximum of 30 degrees will also do a good job of making the gel pad attractive and functional again.

Is the gel pad placed directly on the horse's back?

There are different types of gel pads and half pads. However, they all have one thing in common: they distribute the pressure evenly on the horse's back. Unlike many half pads, gel pads also have an anti-slip effect thanks to nubs and silicone. There are gel pads that differ in their design and thus also in the way they are used. Pure gel pads are usually placed directly on the horse's back to prevent the saddle from slipping and/or to correct imbalances. They can also be placed between the saddle and the saddle pad. Here it is important to try out which way the gel pad does its job best.
Gel pads with teddy fleece or sheepskin edges are placed between the saddle and the saddle pad in the same way as a half pad. Here it is particularly important that the half pad is not chosen too small, so that the saddle panels rest on the pad edge. The compressed sheepskin can lead to pressure peaks that are damaging to the back.
However, before you reach for a half pad, a saddle fitter or saddler should have looked over it and given it the green light. Just like the saddle itself, the half pad must fit the horse and the saddle.