Limpet Saddle Pad - Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

-   Why is the Limpet Saddle Pad better than other pads on the market?

-   Is an Open Cell Pad better than a Closed Cell Pad?

-   Is an Open Cell Pad better than a Gel Pad?

-   Do I need a 10mm or a 20mm pad?

-   Wouldn't a 20mm Limpet generate a lot of body heat on my horse's back?

-   Won’t the open cell Limpet absorb sweat and make the pad really heavy?

-   What size do I need?

-   How do I make sure the Limpet bonds my horse and saddle together?

-   How do I remove the Limpet from my horse after it has bonded?
-   How do I clean my Limpet Saddle Pad?

-   If I my horse has a sore back, would a Limpet help?

-   If I have an ill-fitting saddle, will the Limpet help?

-   Is that any warranty on the Limpet Saddle Pad?

Q: Why is the Limpet Saddle Pad better than other pads on the market?

A: The Limpet Saddle Pad’s revolutionary open-cell concept uses your horse’s body heat to bond your horse, saddle and the Limpet as one, eliminating friction. This allows your horse’s back to soften, his shoulders to open and the hinds to follow through, generating up to six more inches of stride. Also, the concussion absorption allows you to sit deep on a 16 HH, Warm Blood trot.

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Q: Is an Open Cell Pad better than a Closed Cell Pad ?

A: Yes. The horse’s skin can not breathe under a closed cell pad. Your horse needs to have air to breathe or the hair follicles and the skin cells will die. A closed cell pad is like putting a plastic bag over your horse. Also, the sweat and heat build up underneath a closed cell pad results in a breeding ground for bacteria, causing acute skin irritation.

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Q: Is an Open Cell Pad better than a Gel Pad?

A: Yes. A Gel Pad, in many instances, bottoms out under points of pressure, such as the stirrup bars and the seat bones. Usually gel pads are heavy over the horse’s point of shoulder, thus restricting freedom of forehand movement. Generally, a gel pad will not be particularly effective as a method for reducing lateral and forward movement of your saddle.

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Q: Do I need a 10mm or a 20mm pad?

A: A 10mm Limpet is suitable for use under a show saddle where riding time is limited, or if your horse is between eight years old and fourteen years old and is only doing gentle work for a limited period.

The 20mm Limpet’s greater concussion absorption and pressure dissipation is essential for competition horses, as well as horses under eight years old or over fourteen years old, since the 20mm Limpet takes up the varying everyday changes in your horse’s body structure. This 20mm Limpet gives you a 365-day fit for your saddle.

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Q: Wouldn’t a 20mm Limpet generate a lot of body heat on my horse's back??

A:No. Because the Limpet’s unique bonding property eliminates shoulder friction heat build up that is usually caused by other pads. Also, because the Limpet is an open-cell pad, it will allow your horse’s skin to breathe, thus dissipating body heat.

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Q: Won’t the open cell Limpet absorb sweat and make the Limpet really heavy?

A: No. Although the open cell Limpet does absorb the sweat, the movement of the rider on the saddle causes the sweat to be squeezed out of the edge of the Limpet onto the body hair where it evaporates. Unlike other pads, the Limpet will not weigh considerably more after a long ride but will have only a marginal increase in weight, making it ideal for endurance riding and trail riding.

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Q: What size do I need?

A: Your Limpet pad should extend out one inch all around your saddle. If your Limpet is too small, it will create pressure points. When we say a Limpet fits up to an 18" saddle, we mean front to back (pommel to cantle), not the seat size.

Q: How do I make sure the Limpet bonds my horse and saddle together?

A: It is essential that the horse’s body heat is allowed to warm up the pad. So it is best to store the pad in a warm environment. To allow body heat to start to warm through the Limpet, saddle up first, laying the Limpet well into the gullet and cinch lightly. Usually, your walk warm-up exercise of fifteen to twenty minutes is sufficient to bond your saddle to your horse. In cooler temperatures, placing a blanket over your saddle and your Limpet while completing your tack up will help in the body heat warming through the Limpet and thus creating the bonding.

Having been bred to withstand desert temperatures, Arabians and Arabian derivatives often need a longer warm-up time.

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.

WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR LIMPET TO BOND YOUR HORSE TO YOU SADDLE, THE LIMPET MAY COME OUT OF THE GULLET AND ONTO THE HORSE’S WITHER, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE LIMPET TO TEAR.

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Q: How do I remove the Limpet from my horse after it has bonded?

A: Run your hand between the horse’s body and the underside of your Limpet pad to break the bond 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.

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Q: How do I clean my Limpet Saddle Pad?

A: After a leisurely ride, you can wipe the Limpet clean with a hot damp sponge.

You may also clean your Limpet by tying it firmly inside a pillow case, to prevent distortion, and washing in it your washing machine on a regular, cold (40 degree) cycle, using a small amount of green soap or horse shampoo. 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 is open cell, it will absorb the water.

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Q: If I my horse has a sore back, would a Limpet help?

A: Yes. A sore back resulting muscle atrophy will benefit from the absorption of concussion obtained from a 20mm Limpet. In addition, Limpet’s unique bond which allows for a lack of shoulder friction allows muscle regeneration to become established and may also protect open sores so your horse can remain in work while the skin heals.

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Q: If I have an ill-fitting saddle, will the Limpet help?

A: To a certain extent, yes. Obviously, the ideal is to have a saddle that is fitted for your horse. But we have ranch hands and trial guides who often ride the “horse of the day,” so their saddles rarely have a perfect fit. While Limpet cannot cure a situation caused by an ill-fitting saddle, it can and will help.

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Q: Is that any warranty on the Limpet Saddle Pad?

A: There is a limited warranty in that we guarantee that the Limpet Saddle Pad will not harm your horse's back or that you horse will be allergic to the pad |

We can't give an unconditional warranty because, even though we have never had a pad that was a problem or a horse that was a problem, we have had people that were problems. If you gallop out of the barn without allowing your Limpet to bond, it can not only slip out the back but could also tear. If you allow the time to bond your pad to your horse, you should never have a problem.

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