Use
and Cleaning of Your Limpet Saddle Pad
Limpet Saddle Pad bonds your saddle to your horse so
well, you will think there is glue in it. The secret
is in these simple instructions. But be warned: If you
don’t follow these simple instructions your Limpet might
get angry and not work for you.
How to Bond Your Saddle to Your HorseSince
Limpet uses your horse’s body heat to bond your saddle
to your horse, it is best to store your Limpet in a warm
environment. Then lay your Limpet onto your horse with
the logo side up. Lay on your saddle and pull your
Limpet up into the gullet. Cinch lightly.
Fit your
bridle etc. Ideally, use a mounting block.
Generally, trainers and clinicians recommend that you
medium walk your horse for fifteen to twenty minutes to
supple muscles. This vigorous walk generates enough
body temperature to allow your Limpet to bond your
saddle to your horse. Limpet must form its initial bond
before you go into trot because there is too much
shoulder movement in trot to bond. Once the Limpet has
formed a bond, there will be no saddle slippage no
matter what gait you choose.
Younger horses often don’t read this fifteen-minute rule
and want to trot after five minutes. In that case, you
can damp the underside of your Limpet with warm water
and this will create an almost instant bond, eliminating
the walk warm up. In cooler temperatures, placing a
blanket over your saddle and your Limpet while
completing your tack up will help the body heat to warm
through the Limpet and thus create the bonding. Having
been bred to withstand desert temperatures, Arabians and
Arabian derivatives often need a longer warm-up time.
WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR LIMPET
TO BOND YOUR HORSE TO YOUR SADDLE, THE LIMPET MAY COME
OUT OF THE GULLET AND ONTO THE HORSE’S WITHER, WHICH
COULD CAUSE THE LIMPET TO TEAR.
Limpet
works best when used alone with the horse and saddle.
But if you have to use a show pad or want a pretty
blanket over your Limpet, the thinner the better. Using
too thick of a blanket over your pad could cause Limpet
not to stick.
Removing Your Limpet Pad Once
it has Bonded
After
your ride, to break Limpet’s bond, simply run your hand
between the horse’s body and the underside of your
Limpet pad to break the suction and then lift off the
saddle. Without your horse’s body heat, the Limpet will
quickly cool and come off the saddle. Then you need
only lay your Limpet across the top of your saddle to
let it dry.
Cleaning Your Limpet Pad
To
clean your Limpet after a leisurely ride, you can wipe
it clean with a hot damp sponge. To wash your Limpet,
place it in a pillow case or sweater bag and tie it
firmly, to prevent distortion, and wash it in your
washing machine on a regular, cold (40 degree) cycle,
using a quarter of a capful of green soap or horse
shampoo. Do not use detergent. After the cycle is
completed, spin it twice more. It will come out damp
but may be placed immediately on your horse as long as
it is warm.
Do
not put YOUR LIMPET into a dryer. Also, DO NOT
HOSE OFF THE LIMPET. Because the Limpet Pad is open
cell, it will absorb the water. |