Based on Karla's previous message about
ordering an Equipedic pad, I studied their website and ordered one, too. I
also talked to the inventor, who knows who I am through mutual
acquaintances. He had greeted me warmly at the convention and I had to
tell him I couldn't remember where I had met him. We got that straightened
out and I figured that was a good starting point for an e-mail to him regarding
his saddle pad. He then called me and we had an informative chat about the
pad. I selected and endurance model for an English saddle, as I like extra
pad in back to prevent saddle bags from rubbing. The pad arrived in one
day, as it is made right here in our county. I used it for the first time
yesterday, on a brisk, tough 9-mile trail. There was lots of climbing and
descending, and I was observing every step my horse took. Here are my
observations:
1) I was able to use my favorite
saddle, an Arabian Saddle Co. Sylvan GP, which was too wide for him until I used
the Equipedic pad. At first the saddle felt like it was rolling around on
the horse's back, but as it warned up and molded to his back, it stopped feeling
like that. One does have to check the girth periodically at first, as
instructed on the insert with the pad.
2) The horse did more trotting uphill
than he has ever done before. He used to trot some, then try to lope
(fruitless on our steep hills). Yesterday, he hardly tried to lope at
all. The previous ride we had taken, when he tried to lope a lot uphill,
was on Thursday, so the difference of 2 days hardly figures. It must have
had something to do with the pad.
3) He was much smoother and freer
coming downhill. He used to pick his way at a walk, one careful step at a
time. He came much closer to floating downhill yesterday.
4) We trotted a good mile or more
uphill, steady 15-20% grade, until the horses were puffing, but still
going. At the top, I jumped off and pulsed my horse. His pulse was
about 64, if I was reading it correctly. I was taking a digital pulse with
my finger, not a stethoscope. I would like to use the latter the next time
to be sure I'm getting it right, but if I am right, this is a phenomenal reading
for the work load the horses were carrying. And speaking of loads, I'm no
featherweight, but a "good solid middleweight", as a vet once said as he
presented my horse with an overall BC for a 5-day ride. Then the vet said,
"Oops!", but I assured him he was right and I wasn't insulted. Anyway, my
new horse is looking very promising. I think his trot is a bit smoother
with this pad, too, and I know he is smoother if he is second to my husband's
horse. Banner finds it hard to be first and have to face all those
terrible horse-eaters out there on the trail. I was the one who wrote
about my "sproingey" horse a couple of days ago. Maybe with a comfy saddle
pad and a second place in line, he will be less sproingey.
All in all, I think the pad is very
promising. It is beautifully made......Cordura nylon on top, wear leathers
where the cinch would lay (endurance saddle with western rigging), and lined
with some sort of high-tech grey felt-like material that's supposed to wick heat
away, etc. etc. The inserts are Tempur-pedic, like the stuff they make the
mattress out of. It stays where you put it, doesn't slip out from under
the saddle or work back or sideways. Stayed tuned for further developments
and observations......
I've done 2 training rides so far with the
equipedic and my SS. So far so good. It is thicker than the skito but I'm a HW
so I should be using a thicker insert. I used the skito with the wither shims
but my last horse needed it since his withers were more pronounced. My
current arab is flatter, wider and pretty short-backed--so the
wither shim was not working for him. He is quite a stocky arab so time will
tell if this works for him.
Call equipedic and talk to them. The pad is
nice but you have to use your own judgment when choicing. Kind of like riding
your own ride....what works for one person, won't work for another.
If we all took the $$ we have all spent on
saddle fit and gave it to the hungry, we would end world hunger!
After reading all the posts on Equipedic pads, I perused
their web site. But, I didn't find any info on how the pad is made
for/works for sport saddles. How wide is the gullet space? Can Equipedic
graduate the pad toward the top like Skito does? I'd be interested in
trying an Equipedic pad but that built up twist created by the tapered
skito pad is important to me...guess I should be directing these
questions to the company, shouldn't I...but would love to hear
from anyone using one of these with their sport saddle. Kristi
iluvdez at yahoo dot com
__________________________________ Do you
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endurance is dressing for 20 degrees in the AM and by noon its
85 degrees! ~ Heidi Sowards
