Data debunks popular saddle pad sales pitch
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- Опубліковано 7 сер 2024
- #saddlepad #saddlefit #comfortpad #stirrupleathers #stirrups #jumpsaddle #shoulderreliefgirth #saddlemaking #squishpad #saddlemaking #leatherwork #horse #dressage #showjumping #eventing #USDF #usea #westernriding #westernpleasure #roping #rodeo #saddlecinch #hunterjumper
In this video I cover data from pressure sensor mat testing to reveal that a lot of saddle pad marketing and design does not solve the core issue with horse comfort.
Many brands sell on the premise that heavy duty "impact protection" is the key to protecting a horse with a saddle pad. They often use arbitrary examples like dropping heavy objects on the pad or smashing it with a hammer to prove its effectiveness. But the reality is that the saddle's actual impact on a horse's back is minimal (only about 2-4 psi on average)... and thus using a material that hardens on impact to disperse a high load of energy is not necessary. If fact, it can hurt performance.
As the data shows, DAMPENING is the key... like shock absorbers on a car, always absorbing small bumps every second to make for a smooth ride. Watch to video for all the details on how and why this method works so much better than impact protection.
Total Saddle Fit makes intuitive products for horses. We are best known for the Shoulder Relief Girth and Shoulder Relief Cinch. More recently we've released the PLUSH Pad and SQUISH Pad to improve Western saddle fit. - Домашні улюбленці та дикі тварини
My two cents worth on the subject. marketing just wants your money. Just because it is for sale doesn't mean you need it. I went from a thick felt, to a thin felt, to a blanket. The material is important to me as I want something that will "breath" and allow the back to cool and absorb sweat. I focus more on good saddle fit (why I own three) instead of trying to fix things with a pad. I strongly dislike any kind of foam or gel pad that doesn't breath. They are also insanely expensive compared to a felt pad or a blanket. There was a time people put nothing under the saddle. The blanket that came first was just to keep the saddle clean. It was easier to wash than a saddle. Now we are told we need so much more.
Your historical perspective is true. I don't know that we have a way to know how the horses back fared as it aged from long ago? At least the horses that had good riders etc...😃
True. We never even knew (or cared) about saddle fit either. The pendulum has swung to the other extreme and people obsess over some things now. On that note, a pad can ruin your saddle fit. ie: A 7 inch gullet with a 1/2 inch thick pad becomes a 6 inch gullet. The more I learn the thinner the pad I use. The less it changes the fit of the saddle and the saddle is much more secure. I can mount and ride without a cinch if the pad is thin enough and the saddle fits properly. I even did a video where I demoed that. It was more about proper mounting, but showed the rest too.@@tanyita5846
@@MaxNafeHorsemanship Good points! I notice that the doma vaquera saddles and even other Spanish or Portuguese saddles use very little to zero pads. They are also the most comfortable saddles I have sat on! Yeah, I think the old ways had something to them.
Thank you for your comprehensive reply! 🎉
How about a wool fleece pad?
Omg!
This made absolutely no sense.
Any saddle pad is fine with a horse. The issue is that very few people check the saddle fit.
And learn to ride. The best saddle or pad will not protect the horse‘s back from bad riding.
The true issue I am facing is that the saddle makers have no clue about horses and produce a saddle that looks fancy but doesn’t fit any horse.
Thank you for taking the time and actually preforming tests to prove what products work and doesn't work. It's important to me that my horse is comfortable! Ah, I wish we had research like this 30 years ago!
I would love to try out ANYTHING TSF makes! I have 3 TSF saddle pads, one is the Squish pad! I have 2 girths, one shoulder relief and one straight. I love them All! Thank you for making such wonderful products!
Amazing to hear that ♥️
I have the original felt pad yall developed and now have the Squish pad as well. I can definitely tell a difference between them when I ride! TSF is forever be my favorite pad out there!
Lamb's wool? heat retention? a lot of unanswered questions here.
I use a 3cm “Tempur-Pedic” pad over a thin absorbent, breathable blanket. Always place the blanket about 5cm ahead, then slide it back to keep the hair smooth.
😄🤑😅👹🙈🙉🙊👺👋🐴🐎🦄🐤🐦🦆🦜🍿🍔🥩🧁🍰🍺
I am not great with math, but 4.0 max pressure with felt, and 3.7 max pressure with gel foam felt pad. That doesn't seem like that big of a difference.
Average pressure...well, how long does a real working horse spend in the max pressure zone as opposed to the average pressure zone? And how does this ultimately affect the horse please? Ty! ❤
Great question. If we assume the majority of the ride time will be in the "average pressure zone," then the difference (improvement) from a regular felt pad to a gel foam & felt pad would be about 27%. That would be an average reduction of PSI over the horse's back of 27%.
In the "max pressure zone" the improvement from felt to gel foam is closer to 8%. But I think it is fair to assume that is a much smaller portion of the overall ride time.
In practice, this material design makes a horse and rider much more comfortable. A rider will feel the difference in their lower back in many cases. And the saddle in general is less bouncy.
Can I use my high withered saddle pad for my pony on my other pony that does not have high withers I got the basic saddle pad 1 inch
Would this data change with the confirmation of the horse’s withers and back?
What about rider weight, and how often the horse is ridden and for how long?
Good questions! I can't speak on rider weight, but I know someone in Europe released some research on that semi recently.
As for duration of the ride, that is something we consider. And we should have a new video in the next couple weeks that addresses it.
I know treeless saddles are controversial in some circles and vary greatly across build quality - but would you say the same general principles apply (pressure distribution/dissipation over impact)? Obviously in a treeless saddle there is more potential for point pressure such as from stirrup leather attachment points or girth, so I would think it would be similar only more important to dissipate the weight. I'd be curious to see the data on that.
Yes but it’s not true for the impact of your look at show jumpers at landing. That’s where absorbing the “impact” portion of it matters. The repetitive shock is what damages the horse’s back. I recommend listening to Dr Audrey DeClue, on podcasts. She’s a vet in sports medicine and studied shoulder girdle injuries.
That's a great point. We're going to look deeper into that specifically.
laracroce5814 Ah but before you worry about the back look first at the impact on the pasterns in a downward motion that for a a split second takes the weight of both rider and saddle as the horse lands after a jump on the ONE leg!!! I used to compete at Foxhunter with well-fitted saddles and can safely; say from my experience, that more horses suffered from leg problems than ever they did their back.
@@freddiebiscuit9703oh yeah there’s no question about that at all. But I was just responding to the video on the subject of the pad.
But yes, fetlocks and even the compression of the spine on landing too. Lots to consider.
@@laracroce5814 Oh so sorry if you misunderstood, I was not being critical of your comment just making my own. It is somewhat amusing why everything that goes wrong and can't be explained suddenly becomes "a back issue" I find myself smiling because pads are expensive and I have always thought somewhat dubious of their efficacy. I have a failed racehorse who came to us as "dangerous" to ride because of "kissing spine" which he doesn't have and neither is he dangerous in the right hands (that applies to most horses). When I first started riding (100 years ago it seems) pads and numnahs were not that popular only amongst the more elite. Once again sorry if I came over as having a go x
Dr. DeClue "gets it" and I'd love to see her collaborate on a pad or any other tack! I've learned so much from her.
10:42 4/12/24 l love the girth , I just had my saddle reflocked and still see a tiny rub on my horses right side . Will the swish pad alleviate this ?
Thanks! It may help. Without seeing it on the horse it is hard to say for sure - but it's worth a try 😀
The saddle needs more work on it. Is the saddle fitted for the horse in the first place?
To be honest’ that line triggers me
So the gel saddle pad is good?
In this test yes the gel foam performed best 😀
How soon will this new pad be in development? I was about to take the plunge on a squish pad but if something new is coming....
The Squish Pad is actually the product of this research. So you’re good to go 😀. We are still developing the English version though.
@@TotalSaddleFit can't wait for that one too!
Pads either absorb sweat or prevent friction of the saddle on the back of the horse.. That's it!
What is the benefit or no benefit of a felt pad..1inch and a wool folded saddle blanket..?
@lesliejacobs3002 in general any pad is better than no pad. Felt is an excellent material and in our tests is a big pressure reduction improvement over thinner cotton pads.
SADDLE FIT and GOOD RIDING which includes CONDITIONING. Nuff said.
So glad you talked about saddle fit because I was composing my question , then you answered it.
Wondering if you have tested the Saddleright pad (if we are allowed to mention brands) I have been using them for about 12 years, since the original owners. One of their claim to fame was pressure distribution, and I believe it does a great job of that. Another claim was that it could actually make even a poorly fitting saddle better,not ideal, but at least better. IMO there are definitely more problems with saddle fit than the pads underneath. I would be curious to know the differences in PSI with the SR pads, expect worse as there is hardly any squish to them.
I recently did change one of my horses to a “squish” pad, I sure wish I had known you were developing one, I would have waited! Be on my list for next for sure though.
That's a great question. We have not tested that brand, but we should. We have tested some other brands, but for the time being I don't want to call out pads by brand... just to keep things respectful :)
18 total ribs for the average horse and the Arab has less.
Nope. Get back with me when you test a Saddleright pad.
Way too generic, on the right track.,but to much waffle