Roma
Front Lift Riser Half Pad
English Saddle Fittings/Pads
Manufacturer: Roma
Model: Front Lift Riser Half Pad
Category: English Saddle Fittings/Pads
Purchase: Purchased from SmartPak Equine online and paid $34 with free shipping using a coupon code.
Likes: The material seemed like it would fall apart when I first felt it, but it has held up very well and has not torn or bent out of it's original shape. I bought the black, which I was happy about b/c the white, although would have matched my pad, would have shown dirt way too easily. Unlike other riser pads, the lift is pretty substantial, which was exactly what I needed. It has about a 1 1/2" lift from what I can see and it filled in my wide saddle that was waiting to get re-flocked for a medium to med-wide mare. It did not seem uncomfortable for my mare. This pad is a sufficient temporary fix to help a saddle that is too wide and sits down in front, however I would never recommend this pad for long term use or a permanent fix. I could see the possibility of soreness or odd muscle formation or lack thereof with the use of these types of pads.
Dislikes: The pad stayed fairly in place during flat dressage work in the walk and trot. Once I would start canter work, the pad tended to do either of two things. Ride up and pull my saddle forward with it, so within 10 minutes of canter work, I would have to dismount and fix my saddle. Or, the pad would slide backwards and try to come out the back. My girth was tight enough and i had a non-slip pad underneath, so I am blaming this on the pad. Although, my mare did not show dis-comfort, she definitely did not move as freely as she does without it. I would not use this pad for jumping, as I did notice the stability of my saddle was compromised and that was just flat work. The material is obviously not my favorite, but then again, we are talking about a $35 pad, not a $200 correction pad.
Quality: Good quality foam/neoprene type material. Very dense and easy to clean, just hose off and hang to dry. Very lightweight, which is an added bonus, except on those windy days!
Summary: I would not hesitate to use this pad again for youngsters growing into their saddle or for a last minute option to help the saddle fit prior to a saddle fitting appointment. These pads are not meant to be used as a permanent fix, only a saddle fitter can really make a saddle fit correctly. Padding up usually does more harm than good if used on a saddle that just doesn't fit right, but can help with a saddle that fits right but might need minor flocking adjustments.
Rating: 3
Author: Nicole Spiess
Date: 2010-08-03
Usefulness Rating: 2.93069 out of 5.
101 reader(s) voted.
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