V.I.P Saddle pad (the Very Important Pad) reviews
Sam Francis
Sam shares the VIP love around her yard, and with fantastic results…
I’m so impressed with the VIP Saddle Pad. I was unsure if I would notice a difference, as my horse Oz does tend to walk like a stiff old chicken for a few minutes when I first get on. But, not anymore!
I have used the pad both directly on Oz’s back and also between his saddle and numnah. I personally felt it more beneficial placed directly on to his back. I have literally done everything in it and love it.
It’s made a noticeable difference straight away in everything we do and I feel much happier using the VIP, knowing I have that extra bit of care for my horse’s back.
A few people on the yard have also used it. One of the girls was so excited by the VIP, as her horse can be very stuffy in his way of going and quite grumpy, and said he went the best he has ever gone. Of the people who tried the VIP on the yard, they all reported back to me how impressed they were.
It’s an absolute must to try this pad and it’s great that you can have it on demo to try before you buy. That’s confidence in a product in itself.
“I have literally done everything in it and love it”
“It’s made a noticeable difference straight away in everything we do”
“I feel much happier using the VIP, knowing I have that extra bit of care for my horse’s back”
Jess Bright
Jess is thrilled to have found ‘the one’ and her horse Zig approves of the VIP too…
In the minefield of gel pads, I think this may be ‘the one’! It is a very well-designed product and I believe it really does help improve the horse’s comfort when working.
It has a thin, film spine, which can be pulled into the saddle’s gullet to alleviate pressure on the back. The bobbles allow the pad to move and mould to the horse’s movement and increase the surface area for more even pressure distribution. There are no air holes to get filled with sweat and grease, and it isn’t sticky.
I was a little worried about how thick the pad is – 8mm and quite heavy. However, all my
worries were put at ease as soon as I put it on. Zig was much more willing to stretch down with this pad on and was a lot easier to bring up into a shorter contact. He is very sensitive and the slightest fitting error with his tack and you know about it. He did everything we asked without complaining once, which is almost unheard of!
The pad fits perfectly under both my jump and dressage saddle and was barely noticeable. This was great as I like everything to be neat and tidy when competing.
“In the minefield of gel pads, I think this may be ‘the one’!”
“It really does help improve the horse’s comfort when working”
“Zig was much more willing to stretch down with this pad on”
Laura Warburton
Find out how Laura and her horse Harvey got on trying out their first gel saddle pad…
This was my first experience of using the VIP Saddle Pad and it has been a very positive one! I have only ever used half pads with sheepskin, and never used anything with gel, so I was a bit apprehensive at first.
I found it fitted well between the saddle pad and saddle, without slipping off the saddle pad. The gel material used distributes any pressure evenly, meaning no uneven pressure across the saddle or horse’s back.
The VIP is very low maintenance to keep clean; you literally just wipe it over! The material that it is made from is very flexible and easy to store. However I would encourage anyone to keep it flat or underneath their saddle when not in use.
The VIP is not heavy or bulky and the gel inside stays exactly where it’s meant to be, which, as I said, keeps the weight distributed evenly over the horse’s back. I personally found the VIP to make my horse, Harvey, sweat quite a lot in that area, but he is a very warm horse. This would not put me off from using it.
“The gel material distributes any pressure evenly”
“It’s easy to keep clean; you literally just wipe it over!”
“Not heavy or bulky”
Kirsty Pearce
It’s ‘hooves up’ from Blogger Kirsty’s horse Lizzy who has been feeling very relaxed and happy in her VIP…
Read the full review on her blog
“The pad didn’t move at all whilst in use”
“The material used has undergone 45 years of human grade research”
“It’s the perfect addition to complement the saddle cloth under my saddle”
Elise Blair
Elise finds the VIP not only helps her horse Dave’s way of going, but her own position too…
Read the full review on her blog
“The gel draws sweat away from your horse’s back, so you don’t have to worry about overheating”
“It sits over your horse’s back like a second skin”
“The pad acts as an ‘air bag’, cushioning your horse’s delicate back”
Here are some VIP reviews posted to our Facebook page by our fabulous Comfy Horse customers…
Janice
“The VIP gel pad is an absolute godsend! I honestly can’t explain the difference this has made to both our horses as soon as we used it. Recommended by our our chiropractor and we would now not be without it. So impressed. Needs to be tried to be believed!”
Stephanie
“Although using a perfectly fitting saddle and mares receiving massages regularly, I’ve noticed a difference, now on day 3 with VIP pad… great suppleness through back, stretching long and low… I’m positively impressed, thank you Santa and Comfy Horse Company!”
Lucy
“Great to deal with and first class service. I love my VIP – it is more than a pad – the unique and clever texture, which needs to be felt to be understood, makes this product the best of its kind and definitely worth paying a bit more.”
George Hilton-Jones Eventing
“Being a professional event rider I have a lot of horses through my yard and I’m yet to find one that the Very Important Pad hasn’t helped. It gives me peace of mind that the horses are comfortable in their saddles, allowing freedom and dynamic movement of the horses’ backs, which many other pads on the market do not. It’s a fantastic feeling knowing that horses are able to perform at their best.”
Viv
“The VIP Saddle Pad is brilliant. I am currently using it on a horse who is very sensitive. Since using the pad he has become much more forward going and happily works in a consistent outline. His saddle is checked regularly because he is so sensitive and I would never compromise on saddle fit, but the pad has definitely helped. Thank you.”