"ThinLine Saddle Pads and Saddle Fitting"
by Cordia Pearson,
Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter
www.saddlefitter.com

ThinLine Pads are a gift to horses, riders and saddle fitters! When ThinLine asked me to test their product, I did so with no preconceived notions. For three weeks, I rode two of our Morgan stallions, both with correctly fitted saddles. One day with the ThinLine, the next without.

Every time the ThinLine was on board, my boys’ gaits swung more, their backs were consistently up and my aids were more thoughts than actions.

These are some of the conditions you too should turn to ThinLine to solve:

Young horses: With their growth so unpredictable, we protect a developing back while keeping the young horse’s saddle balanced with the Cotton Comfort and Sheepskin Comfort pads (using the appropriate shims.) No more changing the flocking of the saddle every few months. No more unbalanced saddles (low in front) driving the points into the growing horse’s back. And it saves money!

Rehab horses: Pictured here is one of my favorite 2008 rehab story, an Eventing Thoroughbred. When I first met Navarre, he was in a gorgeous saddle sadly two tree sizes too small. He had severe muscle wastage under the saddle points and his back was very sore to palpation. We got him fitted with the correct width of saddle and added the ThinLine Sheepskin Half Pad. Two days later, he was at Trott Brook, our largest Event in MN. He placed fifth in a large field with Sieren Peterson on board. But even more gratifying, a month later when I rechecked him and his new saddle, Navarre’s back was not only healed, but turning into a gorgeous field of new muscle.

New riders and those losing weight: I also use ThinLine basic pads for new riders or riders in the process of losing weight. In both cases, with the use of the ThinLine pad, 95% of recoil is diverted from the horse’s back. I try to get all my school horses outfitted with [a "naked"] ThinLine pad for just this reason.

For riders with back problems: The Ultra ThinLine offers the rider same recoil removing qualities as the ThinLine does for the horse.

For saddles on round horses: Lateral stability is everything in the horse’s back growth and the rider’s security. Even with appropriately shaped trees, I give the round backed horses a ThinLine pad and girth and the saddle stops rolling.

Email us to get 10% off retail on the full line of Thinline products.

ThinLine Endurance Pad - $90 (Retail is $100)

Keep you and your horses back healthier and happier!  This pad is endorsed by World Champion Endurance riders Danielle McGunigal and Valerie Kanavy.  Also endorsed by Surgeon and author Dr. Jim Warson "The Riders Pain Free Back".

This endurance pad measures 26.5 inches wide from flap to flap, 23.5 inches long from flap to back, and 16 inches across the seat.  It works with many styles of saddle, including most English and some Western, so don't write it off until you measure your saddle!

ThinLine Endurance Pad - $90

ThinLine Trifecta Cotton Half Pad
JUST $121 (Retail is $135)

Introducing the first cotton pad with the 1/4" thick ThinLine material, this new half pad in the Trifecta series takes the basic ThinLine Half Pad to a whole new level. The cotton base design creates a wither profile and spine free channel, allowing the ThinLine to lay on either side of the spine so that it is always in the right place. The 1/4" ThinLine is recommended for young or green horses, beginner riders, horses with chronic back pain or stiffness, or horses in high impact situations like show jumping or cross country.

Increased Benefits in the Trifecta:

• Even Greater Rider/Saddle stability.
• Spine Free and wither profile creates the most comfortable fit.
• Easy maintenence: very washable or use over another pad.
• "Shimmable" - add inserts to correct minor saddle fit issues!

Available in Black only.  

Be sure to measure the panels of your saddle to determine the appropriate size.
Medium is for 16-17.5" saddles; it measures 21.5" along the spine.
Large is for 18-18.5" saddles, as well as any Saddle Seat or Endurance Saddle; it measures 23" along the spine.

Choose Size and Shim Options:

Medium, No Shims $121.00 Large, No Shims $121.00 Medium, Front Shims $136.00 Large, Front Shims $136.00 Medium, Rear Shims $133.00 Large, Rear Shims $133.00 Medium, Front & Rear Shims $148.00 Large, Front & Rear Shims $148.00

Shim Thickness (if ordering shims): 1/4" (ThinLine) or 3/16" (Ultra ThinLine)?

ThinLine Girths and Cinches: Great for "Girthy" Horses!

On the outside, fashionable and great looking leather.  Against the horse, what they care about, comfort. Beautiful European leather girths lined with our famous black ThinLine material. The breathable, anti-microbial, and no-slip / no-rub ThinLine lining makes this the best girth/cinch to keep your horse comfortable and your saddle in place. Keep them cool and comfortable so they can perform better.

No-slip technology allows you to stabalize your saddle without over tightening your cinch. ThinLine molds to the horse when warmed to body temperature creating a custom fit every ride. Used on multiple horses, ThinLine will not transfer skin diseases (USDA approved). This girth does not slide, bunch, or pinch your horse's skin. No need for sheepskin. Horses never have a skin reaction to ThinLine. Plus it's easy to clean - just wipe with a damp sponge - and very durable!

Due to metric conversions, the girths actually measure 1" shorter than listed. If your current size is a close fit, order the next size up. Other girth colors and sizes available by special order; please expect at least a 4 week delay.

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ThinLine Dressage Girth
JUST $155 (Retail is $175)

The dressage girth has elastic in the middle with roller buckles on both ends, allowing your horse to stay relaxed and breathe.  Girths are in stock in black and sizes 55cm-85cm (basically 22 inches to 32 inches).

Read George William's glowing review of this girth here at SavvyEquestrian.com.  His only "con" was it needed more billet keepers--our new model has them above and below the buckles!!

Choose Size: 50cm ~ 20" 55cm ~ 22" 60cm ~ 24" 65cm ~ 26" 70cm ~ 28" 75cm ~ 30" 80cm ~ 32" 85cm ~ 34"

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ThinLine Hunter/Jumper Girth
JUST $150 (Retail is $168)

The H/J girth has elastic and roller buckles on both ends.  Girths are in stock in black, dark brown, and tobacco (chestnut brown), in sizes 48"-54".

Choose Size: 120cm ~ 48" 125cm ~ 50" 130cm ~ 52" 135cm ~ 54"

Would you like Black, Dk. Brown, or Tobacco?

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ThinLine Western Cinch
JUST $150 (Retail is $168)

Currently available only in Tobacco.

This cinch has elastic in the middle with roller buckles on both ends, allowing your horse to stay relaxed and breathe. It is available in tobacco (chestnut brown) only, in sizes 24"-38".

Ed Dabney, well known clinician, had this to say about the ThinLine Cinch:
"After using the ThinLine cinch for several months on many different horses in varied terrain at all gaits I am happy to say I am very pleased with the cinch.  It is an excellent design, attractive, durable, easy to clean and most importantly it is good for my horse.  With the ThinLine open cell foam lining the cinch is breathable and non-chaffing.  It evenly distributes the cinch pressure and holds the saddle securely in place.  I've had no girth galls or skin fungus in the cinch area since the ThinLine foam is antifungal.  The ThinLine cinch keeps our horses cool, comfortable and healthy."

Choose Size: 60cm ~ 24" 65cm ~ 26" 70cm ~ 28" 75cm ~ 30" 85cm ~ 34" 95cm ~ 38"