Advice needed. Which harness saddle pad?

[heathera]

I'm confused and could do with some advice

We have a lovely Webster Euro harness which fits Tola and fitted Rose when we bought it. Now Rose has fittened up and lost weight the saddle is too big for her. The person we bought it from only has new parts coming in once a year in December so we'd have a long wait for a new, cob size saddle in the Euro harness.

At the moment we're driving using a four wheeler so my understanding is that we don't need a sliding back for that but we would if we went back to using the two wheeler?

My dilemma is that the person that we bought the Webster harness from has a Zilco Tedex saddle pad that can be bought that has a sliding back band and quick release tugs. However, it's a bottom of the range saddle pad so I know it won't last as long as the rest of the harness and I'm concerned about wear and tear plus comfort for Rose.

If we went for the higher level of Zilco saddle we could buy a better quality but it wouldn't have a sliding back band.

So do I go for one that's got the sliding back band but is lower standard or do I go for one without a sliding back band that's higher standard?

[harleydales]

You're right - a sliding back band is needed for a 2 wheeler to help with balance, so if the wheels are at different levels due to uneven ground there's no strain on the harness.

I've used a Tedex Tedman harness on Harley since I started driving with no issues at all - it is braod, the bearing surface is wide and soft, and you can move the pads to fit the horse perfectly. I also use a Zilco gel saddle pad underneath if he's a bit lean or his muscles aren't developed, just for extra comfort.

[cadeby]

Which vehicle do you think you'll use the most? If it's likely to be the 4-wheeler then I would choose the better quality fixed back band now, and wait for the Euro harness to be available in December, when you'll know if you still need it

ETA - Have you seen Zilco's memory foam pad. I used to have one for Pagan, until Inca Puppy ate it Pagan's weight varies from morbidly obese to fat to almost presentable, and I found the memory foam pad moulded to her changing shape and ensured the driving saddle fit snuggly.

[heathera]

The two wheeler is still for sale as I doubt we'll use it much. We've had the usual time wasters who come along, tell me everything that's wrong with it (and don't like it when I show them I know more than they think by telling them, ever so politely, that they are talking guff) and then offer me £250 to £500. I'm not so desperate for the money that I'm willing to sell it for that but I would like it sold.

I guess that answers the question for me really in that we'll probably only need a fixed back band.

Although, if the two wheeler doesn't sell we could use it to start Tola to driving.... <aaaaargh!>

The gel pads look nice, I think what I might do as an interim is go with the Tedex for now as that will do both carriages and I can put the gel pad underneath it. If it proves to not be good enough for what I want to do then Father Christmas can provide us a new Webster Euro one as I can buy just the saddle pad itself, all the other straps like tugs and girths will fit it so there's no need to buy them again.

Realistically all we do is potter round the arena and the tracks at home, I doubt very much we'll ever go to even a club drive out let alone compete at anything.

Thanks for the input and helping me think it through.

[harleydales]

The gel pads are ace - we've got one.