Well I am always talking about this amazing product so I might as well do a post explaining about them further! 

In my first year at Hartpury I was asked to take part in a study looking at saddle pressure. I was involved in the study on both Annabelle and Fintan. My saddle was put over a sensor with a regular saddle pad and then a second time with the Wing saddle pad. We had to do a  walk trot and canter exercise with both the regular saddle pad and the wing saddle pad. I have to say I got to see the data being recorded and I could already tell before it was looked at and analysed properly that the Wing saddle pads pressure was a lot more different than the regular saddle pad. 

After a few months the results were published and yes the regular square saddle pad does exert pressure on the spinous processes where as with the Wing saddle pad NO pressure is exerted on the spine or lumbar area behind the saddle. Now I know for me when I was first looking at this data that I have never once in my life thought about a saddle pad putting pressure on my horses back while riding. I also thought surely it can’t make too much of a difference to the horses performance and their comfort level. Boy was I wrong, I have been using my WING saddle pads for over a year now and I will never go back to a regular saddle pad. I have felt the benefit with each and every one of my horses. Especially while jumping! Annabelle now has extra springs when she jumps! I can actually feel her engage her back and have a proper bascule over the fence now where as before she would jump big but I would never feel much flexibility in the back and now I most certainly do.

 Also the horses are a lot better about these saddle pads being put on. They don’t flinch or try and bite like they used too, probably because there isn’t any pressure being exerted now to make them uncomfortable. HRP Equestrian currently has two different designs both of which do not exert any pressure on the spine. They have the Mono Wing Saddle Pad which is designed to sit right in the gullet of the saddle and stay off the horses back and then there are the Dual Wing Saddle Pads which are able to have a half pad on if you want the option or they can also be used without, it is preference on the style in that case. Both the Mono and Dual Wings come in dressage, jump and general purpose. Here is the link to their website and they do ship Internationally!!!

HRP Equestrian

 I really couldn’t recommend these saddle pads enough especially if your horses has kissing spines or back problems. Instaead of spending loads of money on special gel pads which in my opinion are not always very beneficial, you could buy a saddle pad that actually relieves pressure from the area where there is pain or have been problems. Even with my horses who I have never (touch wood) had really bad back issues with, majorly benefit from them. Check them out and if you have any questions feel free to ask me or send an email to HRP. 

Until next time!