Pony Pad

[MonsterChopz]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice please.

My 12 year has a neuropathy which has resulted in spasticity in her legs (presents a bit like cerebral palsy), she also has a very flat backed 13.2 cob with negligible withers. Finding a saddle that suits them both has been nothing but a ballache. She has always been more comfortable riding bareback and is much more balanced when riding without a saddle. I have bought a treeless saddle but none of us like it!

I'm thinking something like a shires Aviemore pony Pad would work better for her and for pony. Any experience of them being used by older kids? She is very lightweight and currently in a 15 1/2 inch saddle so not worried about her arse not fitting on it.

She only does light hacking and pootling about the arena. Nothing strenuous and no showing.

Thanks in advance

This might be worth looking into.

You do need to use the correct padding underneath and keep up with regular back checks as you would do anyway. However, they really do suit some people and horses and your daughter does sound like someone that it might be great for.

https://total-contact.co.uk/

In regard to the Aviemore saddlepad, sorry, I don't know anything about them. I know that some people have success with Thorn saddlepads (which of course are more expensive and are styled for showing) but I don't know how similar they are performance/comfort wise when in regular use.

https://www.thornsaddles-pads.co.uk/saddle-pads.html

Thank you. I'll have look at both of those in more detail. I like the idea of the total contact but my head just can't get round the look 🤣. The thorn saddle pad looks lovely. Will do some more investigation

We have a tiny thorn that my son used on our late Shetland, it is a beautiful saddle pad. We now have a 42” Shetland and my son is 11 and rides her in a aviemore. It’s fine, he can gallop and jump on it but my 8 year old son hates it so I need to find something else for spring.

if she is happy riding bareback then I expect she’ll be ok on the aviemore and they are pretty cheap second hand to test out.

The total contact looks better with the pad it comes with. It's not my cup of tea but from what I've seen it will not put stirrup bar pressure on the back the way a pad does. Not usually a problem for a 2/3 year old using a pad on a robust pony but for a 12 year old it could be a problem.

I have a similar sized flat-backed cob and use a Total Contact Saddle. It is the best for my pony and the addition of stirrups makes it much easier to ride than bareback. Trying to find a saddle that stays in place on a flat pony with no withers is almost impossible!

It really is a nightmare getting a good fit. It was bad enough getting one that suited my daughter and her legs but when you throw in chonky cob it's high on impossible.

I'll try and get my head around the TCS and in the meantime I'll maybe look for a second hand thorn or Aviemore to try out too. She is only the weight of an average 5/6 year old so it might work out.

*nigh

I came here to suggest a total contact saddle.

I ride my very round cob in one and its brilliant. Very happy to share more info on my set up if of interest