The Impression Pad
THE IMPRESSION PAD is made from clear flexible vinyl and contains moldable putty which we affectionately call Equi-Dough. It's extremely easy to use, place it on your horse's back, do up the saddle and go for a ride... that's it! When you remove the saddle, you will have an exact impression of how that saddle fits that horse, with that rider.
The Impression Pad can be rolled out (with a baker's rolling pin) and reused again and again, allowing you to retest your horse whenever you want.
The Impression Pad can be used as a tool to determine saddle fit or in conjunction with our CORRECTION PANELS & CORRECTION PAD
Place THE IMPRESSION PAD on your horse's back. Position your saddle, do the girth up and go for a ride. The time required to create an impression varies with the temperature of the Equi-Dough and the weight of the rider as well as how poorly the saddle fits. Generally, a 30 minute ride is all that is required. It is important that you walk, trot and canter in both directions. Dismount and remove your saddle
You now have an exact impression of the pressure your saddle exerts upon your horse while you are riding. Compare this with the bars on the underside of your saddle. Ideally the Equi-Dough will be evenly displaced under the length of the two saddle panels (bars). Areas where the Equi-Dough has been completely displaced are the extreme pressure points.
The Correction Panel
The Correction Panels work in conjunction with the Impression Pad. Once you have determined your saddle fit problem, you are able to create a customized Correction Panel to correct the fit. Whenever you want, the Correction Panels can be retested and modified.
How it works...
- Determine saddle fit with the Impression Pad. The Impression Pad indicates saddle pressure by the displacement of the Equi-Dough. Areas under the saddle (bars) that have the least amount of pressure will have the thickest amount of Equi-Dough; areas of extreme pressure will have the thinnest.
- Apply varying thicknesses of foam rubber spacers to the leather Correction Panels replicating (copying) the curvature of the Equi-Dough. The leather panels and closed foam spacers all have Velcro attachments.
- The Correction Panel in the following illustration could be used for a saddle that bridges (no pressure in the middle of the saddle bar). By placing the thicker spacers where the Equi-Dough is thick (least amount of saddle pressure) and the thinner spacers where the Equi-Dough is thin (most amount of saddle pressure) you are able to fill the gaps between the horse's back and the saddle's bars. This will equalize the saddle pressure on your horse's back.
- Level the Equi-Dough in the Impression Pad with a (baker's) rolling pin.
- Reattach the Correction Panels to the Impression Pad.
- Place the Impression Pad (with attached Correction Panels) on your horse and retest saddle fit.
- Evaluate new saddle fit, make adjustments to the foam rubber spacers if required.
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The Correction Pads
The Correction Pads are manufactured to fit to any type of saddle. The Pads are elegant enough for the show ring, yet durable enough to stand up to everyday use. The nylon shell is shrinking proof and easy to care for. It is made from the "original" CORDURA®. This yarn is still the standard for toughness: abrasion, scuffs, punctures and tear resistance. It outperforms standard nylons, polypropylene, vinyl, cotton and leather by factors up to 10! The 100% cotton fabric is preshrunk and brushed. Cotton has excellent moisture-absorbing properties so that the horse’s back stays cool and comfortable. We have quilted to our specifications using a high-density fill.
All Correction pads are pocketed to accommodate Correction Panels. The Pads are designed with a contoured top line that is anatomically correct. This reduces pressure on the horse’s spine and withers.
Available in an assortment of styles to fit all types of saddles.
In white, charcoal grey, evergreen, royal, navy, maroon or black.
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