| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Holly |
Posted - 31 May 2010 : 8:01:28 PM
The saddle fitter who i use insists that you shouldnt wear a numnah for 80% of the riding that you do so that the leather will soften and mould to the horses back so as to change with the horses shape. Also that by adding a numnah you are changing the fit of the saddle.
I have always used numnahs because i always thought that they would be more comforetable for the horse but over the last 6 weeks i have not used a numnah at all and found that my saddles have been staying place much better.
My horses seem quite happy to not be ridden in one but i know that everyone uses them. Just wondering what your reasons for using them are? Or if anyoine else doesn't use one? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Holly |
Posted - 01 Jun 2010 : 2:47:53 PM
Thanks for your replys. I have too always ridden with numnahs but when told not to by a professional then i thought i would ask.
I can understand the reasons for not riding in one regarding it changing the fit of the saddle. My saddle fitter told me that by riding in an english leather saddle with out the numnah the warmth of the horses back heats up the leather making it go soft and putty like which then moulds over time to your horses back and shape. she showed me on my horse just standing with the saddle on for a few minutes and the loeather really did warm up and feel all soft and putty like so it makes sense that it would change to fit your pony. She did also stress how important keeping the saddle clean is. Im going to start riding with my numnahs again but then every few weeks ride without so that as my horses get fitter and lose weight and gain muscle the saddle will re mould to the new shapes of their backs.
Holly x |
| Callisto |
Posted - 01 Jun 2010 : 10:45:32 AM
I use them for the same reasons outlined by Mrs V above, if the numnah is very dirty and I've forgotten the clean one then I have ridden without. I like the thin cotton ones for every day, and have nuumed sheepskin ones for competing (endurance), don't use thick ones. |
| delly-b |
Posted - 01 Jun 2010 : 06:12:06 AM
I was recently told by 2 saddle fitters the numnah is there to protect the saddle from sweat marks and to help keep it cleaner and in good condition....
And as above use a thin cotton one to avoid a well fitted saddle not fitting correctly...
The treeless saddle without gullets are generally used with shimms in the saddle (or cloths) to give the gullet effect for spine clearence. The shimms used in the same way to fit the saddle to the horse in the way gullets are fitted to a regular saddle.
This was my understanding of it all. X |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 31 May 2010 : 11:35:00 PM
haha!! I'm old school  but every day is a school day with horses so always willing to try new things. I like those numnahs with no filling / wool along the spine btw. And the Suba pad is very handy
Glad the canter work is coming on
Keep us posted Holly with your horses and their numnahless work (that's hard to say after a cheeky vimto!). Do some of the reactorpanel/treeless/barefoot type saddles have inbuilt pads instead of numnahs then? |
| Cryapakah |
Posted - 31 May 2010 : 9:10:05 PM
I have always used a numnah and once I posted that someone I know didn't use one and quickly got told by Mrs Vlacq that I should never ride without one!
I always trust what Mrs Vlacq tells me as I have had so much helpful advice in the past to help with my pony and its always worked!
So yeh thanks Mrs Vlacq :D
(p.s. Laura thanks for the cantering advice Maddie is now cantering 20 metre circles!) |
| BeckyBoodle |
Posted - 31 May 2010 : 8:40:50 PM
I had a saddle fitting today!!! So excited. It was for a Wow saddle. The lady that came out said to use the saddle with a think cotton numnah for much the same reasons as above, although one of the owners/founders (?) apparently rides without and you don't need to.
The question now is what colour to go for - saddle is going to be black and Eba is black too?
B |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 31 May 2010 : 8:32:31 PM
absorb concussion, movement and sweat; dissipate heat (known plety of horses react to leather on hot skin), prevent rubs (how many kiddy ponies have you seen with bald patches where they hoik the saddle over after a jump on a tight turn etc?); easier to clean than underside of your saddle too.
Yes, your saddle should fit without a numnah but always use one made of natural fibres. A thick pad will only make a poor fitting saddle worse so getting the right material and weight of numnah is essential.
The only exception is my sidesaddle which is serged and meant to be used without a pad, but I do use a limpet pad with that too to aid staying in the right position and to save having to have the fabric redone! |
