01/23/2025
Let’s clear up some common misconceptions. Many believe gel pads are the magic fix to stop saddles from sliding forward. But here's the truth: even the stickiest gel pad won't solve this. the most common reason for your saddle to slide forward is that it isn’t properly leveled (I will explain how to level a saddle with pads in the next post). If your saddle sits level to the ground of the horse, then it won’t slide. The Problem with Gel Pads Against the Skin: When placed directly on your horse’s back, gel pads can cause discomfort and skin damage. Hair gets pulled into the pad’s holes and tugged with every movement, causing inflammation. Over time, this leads to skin & hair damage and even scarring. Any sticky effect of gel pads disappears as soon as your horse sweats, making them useless and harmful when used directly on the skin. Ps (Not all gel pads are made equally! Some are designed with different shaped holesTo minimize friction. However the most common type has this problem.)Years ago, I noticed something alarming with horses used for summer treks. They were ridden all season with gel pads directly on their skin. When I removed the saddles, I’d see visible, inflamed bumps where hair had worked its way into the pad’s holes. By fall, as their winter coats grew in, scars appeared in the exact spots where the inflammation had been. Don’t worry—you don’t need to toss your gel pad! Just layer it over top of a full pad. There are also many excellent half and full pads available with wool or memory foam on the bottom and gel on top. With these, you don’t need to worry.