Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I used a 3/4" Tacky Tack pad as my only pad. Loved it. Used it for quite awhile
and lots of training miles. Then last year before Chicken Chase (my first ride
with Tanna), the tacky tack pad began pilling Tanna's winter hair and pulling at
it, causing some localized swelling.

I bought a Toklat woolback pad. Works great, except I didn't want to wash it all
the time (I'm lazy).

So I bought a used DM pad off eBay for a few bucks less than retail.

I didn't like the way it fit over Tanna's withers, either. So I cut out the pad
around the withers.

The thing about your pad staying dry I found isn't really true in my case. My
pad is almost always damp after a 2.5 hour ride. (And this was in the SE
winter...40 degree weather with a horse that doesn't sweat excessively.) But the
Toklat does dry very quickly, so it is just damp and not sopping wet, so that's
good.

The whole thing about the back cooler I'm not sure I buy either. Tanna is still
pretty hot and sweaty under the pad, but I haven't used a thermometer to see if
there is a difference between using it or not.

And on hills, if my saddle slides back a bit on the up hills, the DM pad will
also slide back. That's not a big deal. The irritating part is that when the
saddle slips back into place on a downhill or on the flat, the DM pad stays back
and eventually wiggles around until it's all outta whack. (Please don't start
telling me all the reasons my horse's conformation is screwed up and/or my
saddle doesn't fit right, that is NOT the point of this email.)

The slipping is fixed by tightening up my breast collar on when doing hill work
so the saddle stays put better. But still irritating. Probably happens with any
underpad, though.

All in all, I guess I like the DM pad, but it really comes down to being a
convenience to me as I don't have to wash my Toklat pad every time I use it.
More like every 5-10 times.

I'm not convinced it's doing his back any favors, but I haven't seen evidence of
it hurting him, so I keep using it. There have been no instances yet of pulling
at Tanna's hair, but if there is, I'll quit using it while he's shedding out and
just use the Toklat directly.

It does hold in some heat, though, so when the weather warms up even more, I'll
be taking my scissors to it again to have the DM pad the shape of my Toklat pad.

You can get 1/4" tacky tack pads from various suppliers that you can cut to the
shape of any saddle pad if you want a cheap underpad and tacky tack works for
you. (Jeffers has them for about $18) I use the DM because I have it, but I
don't know that I'd buy another.

April
Nashville, TN

On Tue, 16 Mar 2004 09:30:03 -0700, Cindy Collins wrote:
I have several friends who use the DM pads and LOVE them.  They did not
work for me or my horses, although I wish they did since the maker is so
charming and fun to talk with!  I use a saddle with a flexible tree
(Reactor Panel) and the DMs caused rubbing, plus I don't like the lack of
form, especially the lack of built-in wither relief.

After trying out several under pads, a ridecamper directed me to a company
called Hill View Farms.  The web site is <www.american-flex.com/pads.htm>
They offer a pad called the Tacky Tack pad and it has worked wonderfully
for me.  I did have to cut off the trim on the back half of the pad, as it
rubbed, but many folks using the Supracor have to do that and the Tacky
Tack pad is only $45 !  I've used it for conditioning, jumping and
dressage so far.  It will undergo its real test at my first endurance ride
of the season on May 8th.  It has great wither relief and will pull up
into the gullet and stay there.  Anyhow, I think it's great.  Cindy


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