Thinline pads. Worth the money?

[LR1976]

I have a terrible time keeping my saddle pads where they belong under my jump saddle and I want something to add a little more back protection as well. I love my fleeceworks pad but I can't get it to stay put. It's great with my dressage saddle but with my jump saddle it slips. Not a ton but enough to annoy me. ;) What are your thoughts on thinlines?

[purplnurpl]

well usually you don't put the thinline between the saddle and skin.
And putting one under sheepskin kind of kills the idea of using sheepskin.

What about one of those schammy things. Just a little piece you put near the wither to keep the pad from slipping. ?

I love thinline pads. They are the only pads I use for obsorbing concussion.
When I bought mine the woman at the tack store said, "these pads are awesome and Mike Huber swears by them. You can drop a golf ball on it and it won't bounce"
shrug, who knows. I use one though.

[LR1976]

Even if I put it between the pad and the saddle it should keep things from moving around, right??? I wouldn't use the sheepskin then. I might try a schammy. That's easy enough.

[purplnurpl]

depends on what is slipping.
If the saddle slips around on the pad (with the pad saying in the right place) or the pad slips around on the horse (but the saddle stays in the right place). ; )

[LR1976]

Pad slips around on the horse. Hmmm...

[jn4jenny]

depends on what is slipping.
If the saddle slips around on the pad (with the pad saying in the right place) or the pad slips around on the horse (but the saddle stays in the right place). ; )

Agreed. My Thinline does a good job of keeping the saddle where it belongs, but my horse is still a "pad spitter". If I ride the horse in a Thinline and a baby pad, the baby pad will be halfway out the back end of the saddle by the time I'm done.

I will say, however, that I am a Thinline fan. I used to be a major skeptic of the product, but I find that they either do no harm OR they help the horse a lot. In my horse's case, it did no harm and *maybe* helps him--I figure at the least, it is helping absorb some shock when I accidentally bang him in the back coming off a fence. For a friend's horse who came to her VERY back sore from an ill-fitting saddle, a Thinline pad got him back into work within the week rather than needing extensive time off.

Considering that Thinline will give you a 30-day money back guarantee, you don't have much to lose--just the cost of shipping, really. And there are almost always good coupon codes available that will get you 10-15% off the retail price. I had a great coupon code a few months ago and picked up a Thinline Half Pad for $49 shipped, so it doesn't have to be a super expensive project.

[redpony]

Our experience with my husband's horse convinced me to buy another thinline pad. Garcon has very wide spinal processes (according to our saddle fitter), which required a year long saddle search. After with the new saddle, plus Robaxin, he still was tender. So we bit the bullet and forked over the $200 plus for the pad. What a difference it made not only in the horse but the rider. Because there wasn't any concussion, my husband's back stopped hurting and he became a softer rider. Garcon goes round now and soft. When I steal the pad for my horse, I notice a difference in my riding and how I feel afterwards. I highly recommend the thinline pads.

[SGray]

chamois

[LR1976]

Thanks jn4jenny~ He's a "pad spitter", that's it! :D

[betsyk]

I need to look more closely at what's being sold as a Thinline pad these days. Way back when I bought my first horse I bought a thinline pad for her - just a shaped, impact-reducing plasticky pad for about $30. I still had it at the bottom of a trunk a couple months ago when people at our barn started talking about them, and a friend is using it now. I've used it off and on over the years but what I didn't like about it was it seemed to press on the withers unless you really pulled it up into the gullet of the saddle, because it wasn't shaped in any way, and I think it holds the heat against the horse's back in the summer. But maybe the new version has addressed those issues by putting the thinline material inside a larger pad that gives shape over the withers and breathes a little? People who have seen it agree it's the same stuff in a different form. Anyone else have an old one (early 90's?) hanging around?

[ponyjumper4]

I need to look more closely at what's being sold as a Thinline pad these days. Way back when I bought my first horse I bought a thinline pad for her - just a shaped, impact-reducing plasticky pad for about $30. I still had it at the bottom of a trunk a couple months ago when people at our barn started talking about them, and a friend is using it now. I've used it off and on over the years but what I didn't like about it was it seemed to press on the withers unless you really pulled it up into the gullet of the saddle, because it wasn't shaped in any way, and I think it holds the heat against the horse's back in the summer. But maybe the new version has addressed those issues by putting the thinline material inside a larger pad that gives shape over the withers and breathes a little? People who have seen it agree it's the same stuff in a different form. Anyone else have an old one (early 90's?) hanging around?

It is same basic material from when the company started in the early 90's and there have been improvements--it's softer and more breathable than the original. Back then, you could buy a basic pad for $30--you either bought a square and cut it to shape or you bought one of 2-3 hand cut designs and that was the extent of the ThinLine product line. Fast forward about 15 or so years to when current ownership began, and there are A LOT more options and products. They have always been breathable as it is an open cell foam and because it is a foam, you can't build a wither profile into it. It conforms to the horse's shape as you ride and does not constrict movement (assuming the saddle is correctly fitting). If you want or need a wither profile, you buy a pad with the ThinLine built in, like the cotton or sheepskin pads. I still come across people who have and still use their original ThinLines from 15+ years ago.

[eqsiu]

chamois

LOL I was thinking the same thing. :lol:

[LR1976]

chamois


:lol: Didn't think schammy was right. What do I know?

[mythical84]

I was a bit skeptical at first. I'm a minimalist when it comes to saddle pads, and hesitate to put anything bulky under my custom fit saddles. I was at Devon two years ago and the woman talked me into buying one, and I absolutely love it.

Even though I have the ThinLine and not the UltraThinLine, I've noticed that it helps my back as well, which is a nice benefit. And Harry gets cranky if I ride him without it.

This is the one I have: http://www.thinlineinc.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=10

[Hilary]

I have one too - and I like it. I'm not a devotee at this point, but it was just what my saddle & horse needed for a while to make things happy.

Star is a 'pad spitter' too - great term. I can't use PolyPads on her (or anything without billet AND girth loops)- fwoop- right out the back after the first 20m circle. I think it's her back shape b/c the same pad doesn't budge on my much narrower TB

I alternate using the Thinline next to her skin or between the pad & saddle. If it's really hot I put it between the pad & saddle because I think it makes her sweat too much.

[OneDaySoon]

This has been mentioned elsewhere, but the best combination for me is the Back on Track pad with the thinline sewn on top of it. No slippage, plus all the benefits of both products. It is a complete no brainer, but not exactly inexpensive.

http://estore.websitepros.com/1305182/Detail.bok?no=103

[NewbieEventer]

"Back on Track pad with the thinline sewn on top of it." -- the Contendor II pad? I've been eyeing those too, but am not sure if it would warrent spending $170 on a saddle pad :eek: Would love to hear thoughts from those that have the pad. My horse doesn't have any back issues that I'm aware of, but I'm all for prevention and making everything as comfortable as possible.

[hollyhorse2000]

another positive review for the back-on-track pad combo with the thinline. worth the money IMHO

[NewbieEventer]

BOT/Thinline Contender II pad...do they hold up well? Washable? How long have they been on the market?

[ponyjumper4]

The joint product Contender II has only been available since September, but both products independently have been around for years. BOT is very well known in Europe and is gaining in popularity here--a lot of the big timers use their products. I have their blankets and saddle pads and they've made improvements in my mares.

[lstevenson]

They are definitely worth the money. They are the only pad that can give you added protection without adding bulk between you and the horse or affecting saddle fit.

[OneDaySoon]

BOT with thinline definately worth the money and hold up really well. I stopped using all other pads in my barn since I got this one. Try asking your local rep for used demos. I got mine for $130.

[denny]

I`ve got a horse, Union Station, who gets those solid lumps from ingrown hairs. They are sort of pea sized, and they can be in clusters, and the only thing the vets say to do is inject them with steroids.

Anyway, about 4 months ago, I started using one of the sheepskin Thinline pads on top of just a clean underpad, and all the bumps have about vanished.

Very interesting.

[hamsterpoop]

The thinline pads always seemed, well, too THIN to be really effective at absorbing shock. Not so?

[paintgirl]

I bought one last week after reading all the incredible hype here on COTH! My mare is a cold- backed princess who threatens to buck for about the first 3 minutes of every ride, despite trying everything ( pads, lunging, vet visits). The thinline ( regular thickness) is not bulky at all, and the very well fitting saddle still fits the same. I. pull it up a little into the gullet. I rode every day last week and the horse really seems more comfortable, and is noticably softer and rounder. Her canter is always an issue, and she did better yesterday than she has for a year, maintaining counter canter on serpentines. I am a cautious believer so far!

[purplnurpl]

:lol: Didn't think schammy was right. What do I know?

And you guys think PURP could dish out the correct spelling? never!! lol.

[Blugal]

I bought one on sale (my other favourite pad is no longer being manufactured) and put it on my plastic chair at my desk for a week during exams. I alternated studying sitting on it and without it. Like someone else said, either it did no harm or it worked, as my back wasn't sore and my tush was definitely more protected when it was on. I really need to do a comparison test with my old pad for full results though!

As far as on the horse... either no harm or good. It's better than my old pad in that you don't need to warm it up in the winter in order to shape it to the saddle.

[jn4jenny]

The thinline pads always seemed, well, too THIN to be really effective at absorbing shock. Not so?

It's a logical fallacy to say that something that's thin can't absorb shock. If someone was, say, SHOOTING at me at high velocity, I'd take a thin Kevlar vest any day over a mattress. It's all about how the material disperses force.

[LR1976]

I`ve got a horse, Union Station, who gets those solid lumps from ingrown hairs. They are sort of pea sized, and they can be in clusters, and the only thing the vets say to do is inject them with steroids.

Anyway, about 4 months ago, I started using one of the sheepskin Thinline pads on top of just a clean underpad, and all the bumps have about vanished.

Very interesting.


Not to hijack my own thread but is that what they are? My horse gets them too! They don't bother him and are just ugly. Get's them every year about half way thru the season. Pea sized, in clusters, on his back. Three vets have looked at them and none have been able to tell me what they are.

[LR1976]

And you guys think PURP could dish out the correct spelling? never!! lol.

Hey I just followed suit! I knew exactly what you meant! :lol:

[hamsterpoop]

Point taken; However, if I fell out off the roof I would much rather land on the mattress then a Kevlar vest!

[Gayla]

I have never ridden in a Thinline pad so... But I have never found anything as good as the Skito equalizer (http://http://www.aretesaddlery.com/tack/tack/saddle-pads/skito-pads/equalizer-interpad/prod_40.html) pad. It is not cheap either nor is it as thin as the other. But it makes a HUGE difference in the way the saddle feels under my seat, not the fit of the saddle. I think the equalizer pads are popular with the endurance people. I am interested to use a Thinline now that I have read this thread.

[bip]

Point taken; However, if I fell out off the roof I would much rather land on the mattress then a Kevlar vest!

See, for me that would depend on who was wearing the Kevlar vest ... or laying on the mattress!

[Sudi's Girl]

OK - I have a question as I'm looking at two thin line half pads:

The Sheepskin Comfort and the Trifecta (and btw, there's a significant price difference).

Can someone tell my if there is any benefit to shipskin over the non sheepskin? I thought the point of sheepskin was to have it against the horse's skin, but the halfpad would be on top of another pad...I'm confused...

Any thoughts?

[hamsterpoop]

See, for me that would depend on who was wearing the Kevlar vest ... or laying on the mattress!

Amen!

[jn4jenny]

OK - I have a question as I'm looking at two thin line half pads:

The Sheepskin Comfort and the Trifecta (and btw, there's a significant price difference).

Can someone tell my if there is any benefit to shipskin over the non sheepskin? I thought the point of sheepskin was to have it against the horse's skin, but the halfpad would be on top of another pad...I'm confused...

Any thoughts?

Nobody said you HAVE to use your sheepskin pad over another pad. That's just the latest (and IMO idiotic) fashion trend that, as you point out, negates much of the value of a sheepskin pad.

I use my Thinline Saddle Fitter sheepskin pad directly on my horse. In the rare cases where I feel another pad is called for, I use a Thermo Manager Baby Pad, which has wicking properties and seems to preserve a lot of the air flow properties of sheepskin. It does not preserve the friction-reducing properties of sheepskin, so that's a definite compromise area.

If you're going for a show-appropriate look, you could always put the sheepskin pad UNDER another saddle pad.

[Cheval Gris]

So is there a difference between the ultra thinline and the trifecta as far as effect goes? I would like to get one, but am not sure there is a difference between the two as far as effectiveness goes(and the small price difference)?

[eventrider]

I swear by the thinline pads. They do make a huge difference in my horses softness and in using their backs. My favorite is the contender pad. They are worth every penny. My new horse was tense and tight about relaxing through the back. He made remarkable changes on the flat using the contender. And I have tried him without the pad since getting it and he goes very stiff without the contender. I don't have back pain myself now and ALWAYS did before.

Christan

[Soldier06]

Stumbled over from hunter land!

They are great, as are all the Back on Track products. The initial horse it was purchased for was a very girthy guy who'd come out short first few steps, and didn't like the sitting trot till about 15 minutes into the ride. W/the thinline the girthiness is gone and he is MUCH softer.
We have acquired 3 thinlines, 2 ultra and 1 reg. I like the reg better for the girthy hunter and the ultra on the uncomfortable pony and the dressage horse. He also wore the Thinline pads on his feet, which I really liked but unfortunately they were a little to thick for him (hard TB feet to shoe).

Then following the thinline pads I bought him a BOT blanket (reg. indoor sheet), the no bows and hock boots. All of which I love. He lives in the blanket in the winter, gets wrapped in wraps after a hard jump school (w/or w/o Sore No More poultice/gel) and he wore the hock boots for 2 months after having a bursa drained. I just bought the knee brace for myself and plan on continuing to use Sore No More with it every night. The Sore No More is a great additive to the product. :)

Neither product is particulary "cheap" but it cost the same to feed the happy, top -of -his -game horse as the eh one. :)

[maxxtrot]

would love to talk to a rep. anyone know who the rep is for the ocala area?(for thin-line and back on track)

[roki143]

I'll let ponyjumper chime in tomorrow, but anyone who would like more information can call 888.401.9101 and a ThinLine employee will be more than happy to answer any questions you have!

[DLee]

Now I know what I am going to get from BoB when I work for them at Rolex! :yes:

[Iride]

I can't decide if I should get the Contender (which is a Back On Track pad with attached Thinline strips along the withers/spine), or a plain Back On Track saddle pad and a Thinline Trifecta half pad. Anyone care to comment on one or the other? Getting the Contender alone means less Thinline material (which I was thinking might be a good thing so as not to compromise too much seat 'feel')... links for the two:

Contender pad (Back On Track pad plus Thinline strips):
http://www.thinlineinc.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=130

Trifecta (full Thinline lining attached to a cotton half pad) which would go over a regular Back On Track pad:
http://www.thinlineinc.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=150

Regular Back On Track pad (first pic):
http://www.backontrackproducts.com/horsesaddlepads.html#horsesaddlepad

[Centuree]

How does one wash the Contender 2? Is it even possible to wash them?

[eventrider]

I just washed mine yesterday. We hung it in the washrack and cleaned in with a brush, then into the wash on cold gentle cycle. Hung dry. It looks like new.

[rhymeswithfizz]

I`ve got a horse, Union Station, who gets those solid lumps from ingrown hairs. They are sort of pea sized, and they can be in clusters, and the only thing the vets say to do is inject them with steroids.

Anyway, about 4 months ago, I started using one of the sheepskin Thinline pads on top of just a clean underpad, and all the bumps have about vanished.

Very interesting.

I had a horse who got these too - though his disappeared after I got the flocking on my saddle adjusted. Saddler told me that the flocking had gotten compressed and narrowed the gullet. Interesting!!


For the OP - The same master saddler also told me that if you saddle pad moves much, then your saddle doesn't fit well enough. Better get that part fixed first. ;)

[Candle]

Thanks to TOTD I ended up with a BOT saddlepad with free polos, and had picked up the thinline half pad and the saddlefitter pad (thank you pinehurstsaddlery!!) earlier. I don't get back pain anymore when I ride with the thinline, and my mare loves the BOT. The saddlefitter pad is really quality sheepskin, I use it without anything under it, and it stays really soft and fluffy. I just brush it out after the sweat dries, and have no problems with it. I alternate depending on what saddle I'm using and how much my mare is muscled up, since the saddlefitter is pretty bulky and does make my jumping saddle too narrow. I bought my dressage saddle specifically to fit with the saddlefitter under it, and that works great. I'm still kicking myself for not buying the no-bows on TOTD the other day though. They're both great products IMO.

[ceclark303]

I too have a pad spitter. My horse has well sprung ribs with a forward girth groove, so saddle slippage and pad spittage can be a problem. I've saddles with serge and an anatomical girth almost eliminate the problem. However, I recently bought a new saddle with leather and not serge for this horse. I don't know what I was thinking. Anyway, slipping was a problem until I pulled an old thinline pad out out the tackbox. I use it between the pad and saddle and no more slipping. My horse appears to sneeze and relax a bit more with this pad too.

[Alibhai's Alibar]

Thinline half pads are on Tack of the Day today for $49:

http://tackoftheday.com/default.aspx

[nappingonthejob]

Thanks for posting that. I don't get the TOTD emails (well, now I do...) and have been coveting a ThinLine pad for quite awhile. This caught me on a weak day and I caved! But my two sensitive horses will no doubt appreciate it. And $57 inc. shipping is pretty good.

[Alibhai's Alibar]

Thanks for posting that. I don't get the TOTD emails (well, now I do...) and have been coveting a ThinLine pad for quite awhile. This caught me on a weak day and I caved! But my two sensitive horses will no doubt appreciate it. And $57 inc. shipping is pretty good.

Glad you grabbed one- they sold out in less than an hour :eek:

[IFG]

Valley Vet appears to have the same pad with free shipping, thus the same as the TOTD price:

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=F16A9D83-734C-4649-AF58-55E3B5923F5D&item=38319&ccd=IFH003&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=free&utm_content=38319

[bizbachfan]

Valley Vet has some great deals! thanks for sharing

[2869]

I did not read all the answers so someone may have already suggested this but you can get no slip thin pads at any store that sells for racing or I think Ive seen them in either Dover or BOB. Here is the link. http://www.bitofbritain.com/Nunn_Finer_No_Slip_Pad_p/0179.htm

[bort84]

Okay, just stumbled upon this thread again (I know it's a bit older). I'm considering getting a Thinline, but I'm wondering if I should get the half pad or the contour pad. I've heard some say the half pad is a little too small to be useful and that the contour pad is a little better for jumping. Also, does anybody show in either of these? Do they show if you put them on top of the saddle pad? Or do you use them underneath the saddle pad when you show? I'd rather not pay extra money for a show ready pad as well, and I'd kind of like a black one because I'd imagine they'd stay fresh looking longer. I wouldn't be against getting a white one and using it on top of a white pad for showing, but do they stay nice looking with everyday work? Thanks!

[Scaramouch]

Okay, just stumbled upon this thread again (I know it's a bit older). I'm considering getting a Thinline, but I'm wondering if I should get the half pad or the contour pad. I've heard some say the half pad is a little too small to be useful and that the contour pad is a little better for jumping. Also, does anybody show in either of these? Do they show if you put them on top of the saddle pad? Or do you use them underneath the saddle pad when you show? I'd rather not pay extra money for a show ready pad as well, and I'd kind of like a black one because I'd imagine they'd stay fresh looking longer. I wouldn't be against getting a white one and using it on top of a white pad for showing, but do they stay nice looking with everyday work? Thanks!

I have the half pad in black and it works well with both my dressage and jump saddles. I show with it on top of a plain square pad and I don't think it's very noticeable at all. There's enough of it to pull some up into the gullet for airflow and still have all the pressure points covered and have pad on both sides equally. I think the contour pads tend to shift more and leave a massive amount sticking out on one side. The white ones in my experience tend to get a bit dingy looking after a lot of use, but I don't think that would be too obvious with just the edges visible under the saddle. I believe that they are washable, as well.

[bort84]

I have the half pad in black and it works well with both my dressage and jump saddles. I show with it on top of a plain square pad and I don't think it's very noticeable at all. There's enough of it to pull some up into the gullet for airflow and still have all the pressure points covered and have pad on both sides equally. I think the contour pads tend to shift more and leave a massive amount sticking out on one side. The white ones in my experience tend to get a bit dingy looking after a lot of use, but I don't think that would be too obvious with just the edges visible under the saddle. I believe that they are washable, as well.

Hmm, that's good to hear because the half pads are a good bit cheaper = ) Haha. My only concern with the half pads was that they might be a bit too small. But my saddles are 17s which the website says they are supposed to fit...

[jn4jenny]

Hmm, that's good to hear because the half pads are a good bit cheaper = ) Haha. My only concern with the half pads was that they might be a bit too small. But my saddles are 17s which the website says they are supposed to fit...

My Thinline half pad fits very nicely under my 17.5" Amerigo. It comes up short on my trainer's 18" Bates CC. So you should have no problem with a 17" saddle.

If you have any questions, just call Thinline. They are super nice. Tara, their customer service rep, posts here on COTH (I think under the name ponyjumper4?)

[eventrider]

My saddles are only 16 inches and 16.5 inches and I cannot ride in the half pad. They are too small to fit under my saddles without the edges being under the saddle panel. My horsey chiro guys insists that the pads come out far enough that there is no pressure from the edges being under the saddle. But I am extremely happy with the contour pads and I use them for showing on top of a regular pad, as well as at home everyday. The white doesn't get too dirty either. You will be happy you got one ;).

[Iride]

If you find that the contour pad is too big in some way, it supposedly can be cut to size with an exacto knife.

[INoMrEd]

I bought this Ultra ThinLine half Pad w/Sheepskin and I just tried it yesterday and today. I was astounded at how much more forward, and loose I felt Louie move using this pad. I was able to acheive a level of roundness so that his lofty trot with a ton of suspension was much more comfortable. I'm sold that it was well worth the $125.00 I paid. Now my BFF at the ranch want's to try it on her horse!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260466728347