Get the best saddle fit
Saddle pads that can be adjusted with shims are practical for growing horses, horses with changing toplines, as well as for riders with multiple horses. Not only they are more comfortable for the horse but shims are easy to use.
In the video below, equine massage therapist Michelle Skawronski from Greater Strides Equine demonstrates how to shim an Ecogold saddle pad to obtain the perfect saddle fit.
“You don’t always need to shim. If you have a saddle that fits your horse well, there’s no need to shim,” Michelle explained. “But as we all know, not all of our horses are perfect. Shims help with horses as they change shape or are young and still growing.”
Front and rear shims for Western saddle pad
How to get started:
Start by opening up the velcro pocket of your Ecogold saddle pad. “Have a good understanding of your foam shims before you place them,” Michelle said. “Make sure you know which is supposed to be placed where.” For example, the front shims are made for the shoulders and withers, as opposed to a back shim for the seat of the saddle and back.
Once placed, the shims will stay in place inside the saddle pad. As a result, there is less friction.
“They hold up really well,” Michelle said. “There are no pressure points.”
Open the velcro on your saddle pad and insert the shim
Customize your saddle fit:
Riders can order shims as a set or for front and back placement. “They go wherever you want,” Michelle described. “You can cut the high-density foam inserts for a more customizable fit. For example, if your horse drops some behind the scapula, you can cut it and put it within the pad at that appropriate placing.”
When you’re done, all you need to do is to close it back up.
“It’s super easy,” Michelle said. “For horses like Ellie, who is built downhill, we use shims in the front of her pad to help even her out.”
Ecogold’s Western saddle pads, the CoolFit and Calmatech saddle pad lines for dressage, show jumping and cross-country, and all Flip half pads are customizable with shimmable offerings.
