Europa Sheepskin 4-Shim Half Pad - White/White

A sheepskin half pad with a channel spine and two sets of shims, in white.

The shims are what this pad is for. Ovation builds it in plush premium sheepskin over a rolled cantle and wither with a channel spine, and supplies two sets of removable inserts: thicker memory foam and thinner felt. That is a fitting tool rather than a comfort feature. The channel spine keeps the pad off the horse's back down the center line, which is the point at which a half pad either helps or does harm.

Specifications:

• Plush premium sheepskin
• Rolled cantle and wither
• Channel spine
• Two sets of removable shims: thicker memory foam, thinner felt
• White
• Sizes 15 to 15.75 in, 16 to 16.5 in, and 17 to 17.5 in

What the shims do:

A shim is a removable insert that changes the thickness of the pad at the front or the back. It is how a rider corrects a saddle sitting low in front, or bridging through the middle, without having the saddle reflocked. Memory foam gives more correction, felt gives less, and both sets come with the pad so the fit can be adjusted as the horse changes shape.

Care:

Remove the shims before washing. Machine wash lukewarm with a leather wash and line dry. Do not put it in the dryer.

What sets this one apart:

Real plush sheepskin over a rolled cantle and wither, with a channel spine that holds the pad clear of the center line of the back. Two sets of removable shims are included, thicker memory foam and thinner felt, so the fit can be corrected at the front or the back without reflocking. It is a half pad, worn under a saddle pad rather than in place of one.

Why it is here:

Both shim sets included rather than sold separately. A half pad with one shim thickness is a guess; two thicknesses is the difference between correcting a fit and hoping.