Doormat Saddlepad

[Mellifluous]

Ran across this, thought it was interesting and is still on the market.

http://www.thelongridersguild.com/doormat.htm

[SandyMM]

I _love_ this saddle pad - when it gets warm - which is almost instant - it molds exactly to the horse's back. It keeps my horses _much_ cooler and rier than anything else I have tried. I use a regular saddle pad as cushioning as appropriate to the horse/saddle combination I am riding.

I was concerned about the abrasive effect it might have, but I have seen absolutely none. What I have seen is much fresher horses at the end of the ride and much drier saddles/saddle pads at the end of some pretty sweaty rides here in the summer in Georgia.

I also know that some endurance riders really like them as they help keep the horse much cooler. Calling it a 'pad' is a misnomer as it really should be called a 'liner'. If you rode one of these all by itself under a questionably fitting sddle I image it could cause problems... but I haven't seen any problems personally... In fact, I'm looking for more... I love them!

[Mellifluous]

I bet you could get it cheaper as a doormat! ;-)

[SandyMM]

Just did some rooting around and found out several interesting facts...
#1 - the Australian Long Rider mentioned apparently used the 'pads' for quite a while before having any problems - then had _massive' problems over the course of two days.... I have to wonder why they were fine for so long, then suddenly didn't work. A clue might be the very cold weather he was using them in... the pads work best when allowed to warm up and conform to the horses' backs.. maybe he - and others - got careless after months on the trail... ??

#2 - the complaints all seem to come from 'Long Riders'... there are a number of horse organizations that think the Long Riders themselves are overtaxing many of their horses in their efforts to ride extreme distances...

#3 - Many companies' products find multiple uses not realized in the original creation/marketing process.. NASA's space program is a perfect example of multiple uses for things originally invented for space....

#4 - Can't say I buy this hysteria on the long riders' part. I've seen these mats, used them, and found no damage of any kind - in fact, I have found just the opposite. There are an awful lot of people who use them and like them - without complaint.

[SandyMM]

The material itself is extremely expensive! This isn't your everyday matting. I find that it is extremely pliable when it comes directly off a horse's back and Emi would definitely let me know if he wasn't happy about hs tack! :-)

[tootsie]

This looks similar to something we use at the therapeutic riding center I volunteer at. They call it a "non-skid" pad and we put them under regular western & english pads a lot because some of our riders can't be as stable as a regular rider. They are smoother on one side than the other. I don't know where they got them from.

[Abejita]

they sell them in I think Valley Vet and the Grooma name is on it. Comes as either a rectangle (western) or Dressage cut. Grooma air flow I think ..

[Linda Y]

My friend has an english pad made from that. It works fine, but to my mind isn't suitable to be used alone. It just doesn't have enough cushion. I also have a pair of flip-flops made from it. I LOVE them! But it does pack down after a while. I was thinking about trying it under my Bob Marshall because Cita gets so sweaty under it. I am using an Old Mac Therapeudic pad now.

[SandyMM]

Linda - they do wear out after a while and need to be replaced. And you're right, I would never consider using one by itself - only as a 'liner'/sweat/heat barrier...

[Linda Y]

My flip flops only last a year...make that less than a summer. Do the pads wear out that fast?? :?:

[SandyMM]

I don't think so - but I lost mine long before it wore out! :roll:

Ed and Lindsay (sporthorse) use them on their endurance rides and they put in a _lot_ of miles!

[Mellifluous]

Oh, they are made of the flip-flop stuff? Those ARE comfy!

[Linda Y]

Here is a picture of the material the flip flop is made of. It is exactly the same as the saddle pad my friend has.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/yorkhrse/MVC-005F.jpg