Why...What's the difference?

Question

Okay I know that most dressage riders dont use half-pads and most Hunter/Jumper riders(like myself) do but why dont dressage riders I mean we both have saddles...

Answer 1

MANY dressage riders use half pads.  Nearly everyone in my barn uses them because they have enough jump saddles for the different horses, but not enough dressage saddles (since they're SOO much more expensive)

But, like i always say, half pads have become a status money thing in hunters, even though having a properly fitted saddle would better show your wealth, since they started with the MATTES pad it made sense since those ARE expensive, now they make all the knock offs theres absolutely no point.   Though, half pads do make your ride look smoother since your farther away from your horse, and i suppose thats good in hunters.. though it is taking some serious short cuts to true riding..

And in dressage, you HAVE to be able to feel the horses legs underneath you, and with a big thick half pad you can't, so the upper level riders would never think of using one.

And finally, the upper level jumpers (like grand prix) use them to lessen the impact on the horses back after coming down a 5 foot fence.  I think they are the only ones with good reason..

Answer 2

I'm not sure, i work in a jumping stable and we use saddle pads just to make the horses more comfortable because we use the same saddle on all different horse types (warmbloods, thoroughbreds etc.) Maybe because the jumping saddles sit more forward than other saddles so the saddle pads give the horses more back support.  

Answer 3

I have seen dressage riders wear half pads...just not as often.

I would think the reason would be because the rider can accidently fall back hard in the saddle after jumps...and the half pad gives some cussion.

I always use a half pad on my horse except when I use a saddle shapped pad at the shows, he is actually more comfortable with it.

Truely, I don't really know why dressage riders use half pads lease...but (like I said) it probley has to do with jumping being harder on a horses back, not just from the rider but in genral.

Hope that helped :)

Answer 4

Having competed in dressage, showjumping and cross country (inc. ODE) I can safely say I have never used a half pad. My saddles have always fitted my horses perfectly and I wouldn't even consider using the same saddle on different horses!!!! None of my horses have ever had back problems that were saddle-related. A good quality, well fitted saddle shouldn't even really need a saddlecloth or numnah though I use these (thin ones) to protect the saddle, let alone a big clumpy half pad.