Western Riding

Horse Trekking

Lungeing & Horse Groundwork

Therapy and Regeneration

Icelandic Riding Icelandic Riding Wear Headcollars, Bridles, Bits & Accessories Icelandic Saddles & Accessories Weight Boots & Pastern Wraps Sweet Itch & Rugs

Pony & Foal

Reflective Items

Eventing

Competition Accessories

Vaulting

Gifts

Icelandic Saddles & Accessories

Q: Which half pad is suitable for Icelandic horses?

A half pad is used to distribute the pressure of the saddle more evenly or, if the cushioning provided by overly hard saddle padding is insufficient, to increase comfort for the horse. There are various types of half pads available: An anti-slip pad, as the name suggests, prevents the saddle from slipping and is placed between the saddle and the horse. Gel pads are soft, flexible, and easy to maintain, aiming to improve pressure distribution. Sheepskin pads are luxuriously soft and can thus enhance the level of comfort for the horse. However, bear in mind that these can often be quite thick, which can compromise the fit of the saddle. Icelandic saddles, in particular, are flat and position the rider very close to the horse. A thick pad would then defeat its purpose. Half pads come in different sizes. For your Icelandic horse, you should orient yourself by its back length or the saddle length. Since half pads generally compensate for inaccuracies of the saddle, the focus should primarily be on improving the saddle itself. When considering half pads, bear in mind that they often cannot absorb moisture or they do so insufficiently. This leaves the horse's back wet, which can quickly lead to chilling of the back muscles and consequently cause tension. High-quality numnahs are therefore preferable to a pad for continuous use. At Kramer Equestrian, you'll find not only pressure-relieving numnahs for Icelandic horses but also anti-slip pads that prevent the saddle from slipping. This is particularly beneficial, for example, when the horse has a low wither, which can make saddle fitting more difficult. If you don't want to do without a numnah, we offer numnahs with non-slip foam rubber on the surface, which you can also purchase in our online shop.

Q: What size numnah does an Icelandic horse need?

When choosing the correct numnah size, base your decision on the saddle's dimensions to ensure the numnah is not too large and won't cause creasing. Similarly, the numnah must not be too small, as this will result in pressure on the seam from the saddle, leading to discomfort for the horse. To determine the correct numnah size for your Icelandic horse, you can measure the length of the saddle or the length of the area where it rests. Roughly, you can use the seat of the saddle as a guide, as it logically corresponds with the length of the saddle. However, the seat size is not the only determining factor here, as the shape and size of saddle panels vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. To determine the length of the bearing surface, measure from the front edge of the saddle panel to the rear edge of the saddle panel. Finally, add approximately six centimetres to find the size of your numnah. When choosing an Icelandic numnah, always select the next larger size compared to your measurement result, to ensure that the numnah is not too small.

Q: What distinguishes an Icelandic saddle from a dressage saddle?

At first glance, an Icelandic saddle does not differ from a dressage saddle. However, the differences lie in the details. Since Icelandic horses have both a different physique and a different gait than a full horse, the saddle on a gaited horse must accommodate these special conditions. The seat is kept flat, so that the rider sits very close to the horse and can shift their centre of gravity backwards. This gives the horse freedom in the shoulder, allowing the shoulder joints to rotate sufficiently in the expansive gaits. In order for the rider not to fall into a "chair seat", the stirrup attachments are positioned relatively far back. This allows the rider to continue sitting plumb and maintain a balanced seat. The saddle flap is elongated, similar to a dressage saddle, which enables the rider to sit deeply and in balance. Furthermore, an Icelandic saddle must take into account the build of the horse. Icelandics are often not only round-bodied but also have a relatively short back. To prevent the rider from sitting on the lumbar vertebrae, gaited horse saddles are cut short. In the Kramer Equestrian online shop, you'll find not only Icelandic saddles but also all the necessary saddle accessories tailored to the physical requirements of an Icelandic horse. These include anatomically cut short girths that keep the saddle in the right place during tölt and flying pace. Curved stirrups provide the rider with a secure hold at the feet. The range of saddles for Icelandic horses is rounded off with special short stirrup leathers and numnahs tailored to the shape of the saddle.

Q: Which numnah is suitable for Icelandic horses?

A numnah is often used with an Icelandic saddle, which is cut to the shape of the saddle. This not only gives the Icelandic horse an athletic figure, but also keeps the flank clear. The stifle can hit the edge of the often overly large saddle pad during the expansive strides in tölt and pace. Therefore, numnahs are almost exclusively used on an Icelandic horse. The size of the numnah should be adjusted to the length of the saddle or be a few centimetres larger, so that the saddle does not press on the seam. The numnah should therefore be adjusted to fit the saddle size. In this case, a numnah in Cob size might be suitable, but for very short saddles one may need to opt for a numnah in Pony size. In our online shop, you'll find numnah models for Icelandic horses made of functional material blends or of felt. The back length of the models varies between 54cm and 57cm. Even more choice of saddle pads and numnahs, also in pony sizes, can be found in the corresponding numnah category.

Filter

Which saddle is suitable for Icelandic horses with a short back?

According to the breed standards, the physique of an Icelandic horse should be shaped in such a way that it can produce excellent and clear gaits. To this end, the withers are well-defined and sit higher than the croup. The back is muscular, adequately arched, and should be sufficiently long. However, a back that is too long can not only make the horse appear unbalanced, but also cause problems with its carrying capacity and its ability to achieve clear gaits. Thus, Icelandic horses have a relatively short back, which is partly due to their classification as small horses. For this reason, when buying a saddle for your Icelandic horse, you should take its short saddle area into account.
To determine the theoretical saddle area, both the front and rear lines are of importance. For the front boundary of the saddle, lift the foreleg and mark the point on the back up to which the shoulder blade rotates. The saddle should be placed behind this line to prevent it from hindering the rotation of the shoulder by causing the shoulder cartilage to strike the saddle. For the rear boundary, draw a line from the last rib arch upwards to the spine. The outermost limit of the saddle lies along the level of the 18th thoracic vertebra. The saddle must sit within these two lines.
Bear in mind that saddle length is determined by the saddle panels, which lie directly on the horse. As an example, if the saddle area measures 43cm in length, the saddle must not exceed 43cm. When measuring the seat of this model, it may result in 40cm (approx. 17 inches). Consequently, this horse should not be ridden with a saddle that has a seat larger than 17 inches.
When making a purchasing decision about which saddle fits your short backed Icelandic horse, you should pay attention not only to the length of the saddle, but also to its construction - how flexible it is, and how it establishes an optimal connection between horse and rider. There's really no way around trying out several saddle models.

Which half pad is suitable for Icelandic horses?

A half pad is used to distribute the pressure of the saddle more evenly or, if the cushioning provided by overly hard saddle padding is insufficient, to increase comfort for the horse. There are various types of half pads available: An anti-slip pad, as the name suggests, prevents the saddle from slipping and is placed between the saddle and the horse. Gel pads are soft, flexible, and easy to maintain, aiming to improve pressure distribution. Sheepskin pads are luxuriously soft and can thus enhance the level of comfort for the horse. However, bear in mind that these can often be quite thick, which can compromise the fit of the saddle. Icelandic saddles, in particular, are flat and position the rider very close to the horse. A thick pad would then defeat its purpose.
Half pads come in different sizes. For your Icelandic horse, you should orient yourself by its back length or the saddle length. Since half pads generally compensate for inaccuracies of the saddle, the focus should primarily be on improving the saddle itself.
When considering half pads, bear in mind that they often cannot absorb moisture or they do so insufficiently. This leaves the horse's back wet, which can quickly lead to chilling of the back muscles and consequently cause tension. High-quality numnahs are therefore preferable to a pad for continuous use.
At Kramer Equestrian, you'll find not only pressure-relieving numnahs for Icelandic horses but also anti-slip pads that prevent the saddle from slipping. This is particularly beneficial, for example, when the horse has a low wither, which can make saddle fitting more difficult. If you don't want to do without a numnah, we offer numnahs with non-slip foam rubber on the surface, which you can also purchase in our online shop.

What size numnah does an Icelandic horse need?

When choosing the correct numnah size, base your decision on the saddle's dimensions to ensure the numnah is not too large and won't cause creasing. Similarly, the numnah must not be too small, as this will result in pressure on the seam from the saddle, leading to discomfort for the horse.
To determine the correct numnah size for your Icelandic horse, you can measure the length of the saddle or the length of the area where it rests. Roughly, you can use the seat of the saddle as a guide, as it logically corresponds with the length of the saddle. However, the seat size is not the only determining factor here, as the shape and size of saddle panels vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
To determine the length of the bearing surface, measure from the front edge of the saddle panel to the rear edge of the saddle panel. Finally, add approximately six centimetres to find the size of your numnah. When choosing an Icelandic numnah, always select the next larger size compared to your measurement result, to ensure that the numnah is not too small.

What distinguishes an Icelandic saddle from a dressage saddle?

At first glance, an Icelandic saddle does not differ from a dressage saddle. However, the differences lie in the details. Since Icelandic horses have both a different physique and a different gait than a full horse, the saddle on a gaited horse must accommodate these special conditions. The seat is kept flat, so that the rider sits very close to the horse and can shift their centre of gravity backwards. This gives the horse freedom in the shoulder, allowing the shoulder joints to rotate sufficiently in the expansive gaits.
In order for the rider not to fall into a "chair seat", the stirrup attachments are positioned relatively far back. This allows the rider to continue sitting plumb and maintain a balanced seat. The saddle flap is elongated, similar to a dressage saddle, which enables the rider to sit deeply and in balance.
Furthermore, an Icelandic saddle must take into account the build of the horse. Icelandics are often not only round-bodied but also have a relatively short back. To prevent the rider from sitting on the lumbar vertebrae, gaited horse saddles are cut short.
In the Kramer Equestrian online shop, you'll find not only Icelandic saddles but also all the necessary saddle accessories tailored to the physical requirements of an Icelandic horse. These include anatomically cut short girths that keep the saddle in the right place during tölt and flying pace. Curved stirrups provide the rider with a secure hold at the feet. The range of saddles for Icelandic horses is rounded off with special short stirrup leathers and numnahs tailored to the shape of the saddle.

Which numnah is suitable for Icelandic horses?

A numnah is often used with an Icelandic saddle, which is cut to the shape of the saddle. This not only gives the Icelandic horse an athletic figure, but also keeps the flank clear. The stifle can hit the edge of the often overly large saddle pad during the expansive strides in tölt and pace. Therefore, numnahs are almost exclusively used on an Icelandic horse. The size of the numnah should be adjusted to the length of the saddle or be a few centimetres larger, so that the saddle does not press on the seam.
The numnah should therefore be adjusted to fit the saddle size. In this case, a numnah in Cob size might be suitable, but for very short saddles one may need to opt for a numnah in Pony size.
In our online shop, you'll find numnah models for Icelandic horses made of functional material blends or of felt. The back length of the models varies between 54cm and 57cm. Even more choice of saddle pads and numnahs, also in pony sizes, can be found in the corresponding numnah category.