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[RC] Skito V. Toklat? (for SportsSaddle) - Lucy Chaplin TrumbullI'm currently dealing with what I hope is a "pad/ rigging/too much riding" sore/balding loin issue with my horse, so I'm considering buying a new pad for my SportsSaddle. For the last six years, I've been using either a Skito (100% wool, bought new) or a Toklat Woolbak (100% wool, bought used) under my saddle with no discernable problems. However, now we're getting ready for Tevis, so riding a whole lot more than usual, and I'm starting to need all the cushioning/ shock absorption I can get. Recently I started using my husband's new 3/4 wool/ poly fleece Skito, complete with the "special SS shims" that create the extra gullet along the spine and taper off either side. This doesn't seem to have been a great success. The horse now has a balding loin and is sore. Hmm. (oh, and btw, this isn't due to shedding out his winter coat - he's been wearing his summer coat for a good 6 weeks now - so much so that someone at a ride two weeks ago asked if we were from Southern California <g>). Going back to my existing old pads: The old Skito fleece looks pretty good underneath, but it probably much thinner than new, so I worry about it's cushioning abilities. The Toklat Woolback fleece is very bobbly. This may be related to care however, since we bought it used and I've no idea how it was cared for before us. The foam inserts in both pads were starting to look a little worn, particularly around the shoulders, plus the cats scratching their claws on them didn't help <g>, plus a couple of them are torn and held together with duct tape. Part of the rubbing is probably due to using the "center fire" type rigging described elsewhere (using the back cinch ring as well as the front) as this causes the saddle to be much snugger over the loin. And this is a horse with a *lot* of hip movement - he will walk any pad right out the back of the saddle unless it's tied on securely at the front. I've just re-rigged the saddle back to normal. I ride with a fairly loose cinch (loose enough that I can't mount from the ground without the saddle turning) and a breast collar (we do *lots* of up and downs). Another contributing factor is doing much more riding than usual (as well as too much speed + distance added at the same time (slap that girl)), but part may be pad related. Anyway. Enough background. I'm thinking about treating us to a brand new pad, but can't decide what to get. Skito: Pros: contoured to fit back shape, pretty colour Cons: expensiver Toklat Woolbak: Pros: slightly cheaper, reversible Cons: the fleece on our used one has pilled into bobbles much more than the fleece wool. I see you have the option to get "Triple Thick Fleece - $25" with the Toklat. Is that total overkill, or is that a nice cushiony/avoid-loin- rub idea? Or I could opt for 1" thick foam inserts instead of 3/4". Again? Good idea? or overkill? I have ridden with shoulder shims in the pad, with no (discernable) ill effects on this horse, so I don't think the extra thickness would cause any tightness. I just want to cushion his loin from any more abuse. Any thoughts gratefully received. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lucy Chaplin Trumbull elsie AT foothill DOT net Repotted english person in the Sierra foothills, California * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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