What is a half-pad for?

Question

I have been looking at new saddle pads for my A/P english saddle and wondered what half-pads are for? Do you use them with another pad or just alone? My saddle makes me feel like my horse is waaaaay under me, like I can't feel her with too much padding, so I was wondering if a half-pad would help us? I just want general info about them! Thanks! ;)

Answer 1

a half pad is used for extra support where most the weight is on the saddle up against the horse. I use a memory foam half pad bec. my horse has a high wither and a regular English wool shape pad so my leg has room to squeeze. Try this method I think it will fix your problem.

hope I helped...please best answer!

Answer 2

It's used when you don't have enough room for a full pad.

Answer 3

Half pads can have many uses.  They are kind of a fad in the hunter ring right now, but fashion statements aside, they can be valuable.  A saddle that doesn't 100% Fit every horse that you ride can be made to feel a bit more comfortable by adding a half pad over your normal schooling pad.  (not a magic wand- if your saddle doesn't fit at all, nothing you do will fix it) You can get half pads that have gel or shock absorbing foam to reduce hot spots and pressure on your horses back.  In your case, you could use the half pad with out an under pad, which would allow you to keep your horses back protected but reduces the amount of material between your legs and your horses side.  That will however make your saddle leather take the sweat from your horses sides, and you will have to launder the sheepskin half pad frequently which is hard on it.  My solution would be to use the half pad over a very thin baby pad that will serve only as a sweat cloth with out adding lots of bulk.

Answer 4

A half pad is used over an all purpose or other thin pad.  It is used to take the weight off of the withers for horses that have sensitive backs.  Other pads rise in the back a little for horses who's backs are slanted downwards to lift the saddle so it lies evenly.

Answer 5

Half-pads can be used alone or with another pad.  I personally always use them with another pad because I don't like my saddle getting soaked with horse sweat.  There are many different types of half-pads.  Right now, the most popular is a sheepskin half-pad.  

If you feel like there is too much padding, though.  I would reccommend the "thinline pad," link: http://www.doversaddlery.com/ultra-thinl...  It is a memory foam pad.  It is very thin but still gives great extra back protection for the horse.

Then, under the thinline, I would use a baby pad/pony pad.  These usually have no padding and are just two pieces of cloth quilted together.  This will help keep your saddle from getting dirt, horse hair, and sweat on it but will keep your leg in very close contact (think cotton bedsheet, almost, thin).  They come alone or in packs of 3 and are very economical. link:http://www.doversaddlery.com/baby-saddle...

If you are on a tighter budget, I reccommend searching for thinline pad and baby pads on ebay.  I ebay most of my horse stuff and save sooooo much money!  If the thinline is still out of reach, I also recommend the cashel cushion.  It is a pretty thin foam half-pad. link: http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp...

Also, all of these things should be available at your local mid-large-sized tack store.

This combination--baby pad w/ thin half-pad--will give you excellent contact with your legs and a closer contact with your seat, without compromises shock absorbption.  

As already stated above, no pad is better than a correctly fitting saddle.  However, a great pad or half-pad can help reduce the shock/impact for you and your horse.

Answer 6

I know this isn't an answer but...thanks for asking this question because I was wondering what they were for!  They have been flying off the shelves at the local tack shop and I just could NOT figure them out.  The are obviously the new "thing" for the hunter/jumpers.

Answer 7

if you feel far away from your horse now, then a half pad will make it SO MUCH worse.! the feel in my horse when using my reg. saddle pads, and a half pad is night and day!

you use them alone, and technically they are to help a saddles fit (for people who use one saddle on multiple horses) but people today have started using them "just because" in hunters its a fashion thing, and everyone else thinks its more comfortable for their horse, but the truth is a well fitted saddle is more comfortable then one stuffed and padded with extra pads.

but, the people who have one saddle and one horse should really look into getting  it fitted once or twice a year, this is the best way to make sure it fits, and the easier way to "feel you horse under you"

so, unless you saddle is WAY to wide (which i doubt since you say you feel far away) a half pad won't help you.