Thinline pads...decisions decisions
 

I have decided, after reading lots of reviews that I will invest some of the money I have just got from a saddle sale into buying a thinline pad.

I know I need a large size, so that is sorted, but them I run into issues.

I was looking at a second hand half pad with sheepskin

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1330736034

In black, very sensible color, good price, but has hair on from the current horse.

Or for the same price I could go for a new trifecta with sheepskin rolls

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1330736933

or do I just go for a large contour pad?

http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/...jpg?1330650432



Thoughts.....

Well I kind of like the sheepskin, but it does add bulk, and then I would have to decide on a color, black for schooling, but white for show?

If I go for the large contour will it be covered by my saddle, so color doesn't matter?

How does your saddle fit now, without any pad? If it's even the slightest bit tight, adding bulk of sheepskin will create even more of a tight spot; I've noticed a difference in Ronan's willingness to round since I took the half pad out of the equation.
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Currently everything I have here is on the wider side, saddles that is, so sheepskin wouldn't be an issue, but need to get everyone fitted up for saddles properly, so that might change as some get sold and new ones bought in.

ETA... The reason I am dithering about the contour is the lack of a 'lift' for wither or spine

I have the sheepskin thin line. I didn't think I liked it at first but I've decided that Riley seems most comfortable in it. I use it over my show pad. My bates has the extra wide girth because the wide is narrow. But the extra wide is just ok as fits go. I'm not educated enough for advice on the pad but I can tell you I thought it worth the cost. I got white for show. But I only go English at shows....

GH, do you need shims for fit adjustments? If not, I'd go with the large Contour (I use one for 3 or 4 years and LOVE it (as well as my horses)). Thinline material in Contour covers large area and (IMHO) provides better protection. However if your horse is asymmetric or need a lift somewhere I'd look for the one with shims (although I'm not fan of sheepskin, so I'd go with one without).

Shims could be handy, given the variety of horses and varying degrees of fitness:wink:

I have the large contour pad. I think it's better for more sensitive horses since the sides are longer.

I'm kind of angling toward the Trifecta, but I'll wait to the weekend, I'm picking up Ben on Friday, so need a saddle fitting session with him, I'll see what we have and how it fits, then I'll think about what thinline to get.

The only reason that I hesitate on the large contour is that lack of a spine, or shaping, just worries me a little.

Mine looks like it's all kinds of funky when I first set it on his regular pad lol. I "pinch" the front part up into the saddle due to mega high withers and the rest lays nice and flat.

GH, if you plan on buying a new one look into victorycanter.com. They had the lowest prices on Thinline pads while back (although I don't know about the delivery, since you are in Canada). BTW, keep in mind the shims are thin, so if you have real issues with saddle fit they may not help really with adjustments.

"The only reason that I hesitate on the large contour is that lack of a spine, or shaping, just worries me a little."

What do you mean by "lack of a spine"? Muscles? I'd think contour would protect the spine area better than trifecta.