[ShannonSevenfold]

My new mare is 20 years old with a mild swayback and another HF member suggested I get her a swayback pad which I didn't even know existed. I've been looking for one left and right but all the ones I can find are $100+. Does anyone know of any good brands that are under $90? Here is my mare:

 

[horseluver250]

Hmm they are pretty expensive. Cashel and reinsman are the one I've been seeing, but those are $95-105. Tuffy used to have one, but they seem to be discontinued everywhere. Did you try looking for a used one? I had seen one on craigslist for $75 near pittsburgh pa... but can't seem to find it now... sorry I'm not too much help!

Your mare is very cute by the way, I love how fuzzy she is, she looks like she'd be great to jump on bareback

 

[ShannonSevenfold]

I didn't even think to check Craigslist. Will do!

And she is fantastic to ride bareback. A nice flat back with (maybe a little too much) padding. :lol: She's a fuzzy chubby monster. Don't you just love her? I know I do.

 

[wyominggrandma]

swayback pad

We use the Reinsman swayback pad for my husbands older gelding, it is built up along the spine and has the "tacky too" backing that helps it stick to the back. We have used it on long trail rides and easy ones, it doesn't seem to make him sweat at all, stays in place and we are not always having to move the saddle over and over like we always did with pads with the sheepskin lining.

Well worth the expense, we paid $95 for ours last year and am glad we did

 

[ShannonSevenfold]

I just thought of this today - Do you think a pad with the pockets where you can add/remove felt shims to change the shape of the pad would work? I found one with three pockets, one in front, one in back and one in the middle. Could I just add shims to the middle pocket to build up the support?

 

[horseluver250]

I think that should work to add your own shims in where you need them. Skims that are tapered at the ends would probably work great.

 

[QHDragon]

I agree something like that would work, you will likely need shims in the middle and in the back. The great thing about those too are that as your girl gains some more back tone you can always take some out and aren't stuck with just one shape.

 

[luvs2ride1979]

You might consider a Skito Correction saddle pad. They are custom made for your horse and saddle. You use it over a regular saddle blanket or thin felt pad. Most of the pad is hidden by your saddle. I have a couple of these pads and really like them! Shims can be changed out or removed, so you can use the pad on various horses or with other saddles. The shims and base foam are made with a firm memory type foam that comforms to your horse's back and breathes really well (unlike neoprene or other closed cell foams which trap and even create heat under them).