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  Discussion on "Tacky" Shelf Liner
Author Message
Member:
suzym

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 11:41 am:

I have a question for those of you who use the shelf liner stuff to keep the saddle from slipping. When you "cut to fit" what size to you use? As big as your saddle pad? Smaller? And exactly where do you place the stuff?

I'm thinking of trying it to see if it will enable me to ride with a slightly looser girth on my wide body Morgan.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 12:27 pm:

Most convenient and efficient is the same size or slightly larger than the saddle pad. That way all of the saddle pad stays cleaner and drier. What I am using right now is an under-pad of similar but slightly heavier material that was already precut to the saddle pad shape it came in. You can buy some cut-your-own ones from the Schneider's catalog, I think. If the material is too thin and if your horses back is shaped so it doesn't lay flat, it becomes bunched or creased and can then cause the horse to be uncomfortable. That does not happen with this heavier but similar material, but I've not seen anything quite like it for sale for a long time.
Member:
suzym

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 9:01 pm:

Thanks, Vicki. What I ordered is supposed to be extra thick - from Amazon. I'll let everyone know how it works.

I will also check around to see if I can find some of the thicker stuff you described. Wrinkling is a concern I do have.

I'll report back.

Thanks again!
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 12, 2007 - 9:15 pm:

Thanks, Suzanne. If you have found something that works well without wrinkling I will be very interested in that product.
Member:
suzym

Posted on Sunday, Jul 15, 2007 - 8:48 pm:

Ok, everyone - I'm back to report my experiences. I got the shelf liner stuff from Amazon. It seems to be a little sturdier than some I've seen.

I ride an Aussie saddle with a fitted pad. The pad has a strap across it to hold the sweat flap. I laid the pad down and fitted the shelf liner to the bottom of the pad. Then I tied it securely - without stretching it - to either end of the straps on both sides. This makes it follow the pad even up into the gullet of the saddle. I also tied the back to a couple of the many tie rings on the saddle.

This has been working very well. The stuff stays smooth, and it stays off his withers and spine. I was afraid he wouldn't like the feel of it, but he doesn't seem to even know it's there.

I'm now able to ride with my girth two full holes looser, and the saddle doesn't slip a bit.

This would work with and English saddle of course. I'm not sure about a Western pad. But with any kind of fitted pad it works great!

Suzy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 7:18 am:

Hello Suzanne,
What brand did you end up buying that worked so well?
DrO
Member:
suzym

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 11:46 am:

Hi, Dr. O ~

The product is called Griptex Wonderliner Extra 20 by 60-Inch Roll, White. I bought it through Amazon.com.

I still think I would have wrinkle problems if it weren't tied to my pad, but this does seem thicker and sturdier than others I've seen. I had to tie it very securely to keep it from slipping around as I was adjusting the saddle on Indy's back - it IS tacky! - but it has held up and hasn't ripped out the holes I put the string through.

It must be comfy or Indy would certainly let me know!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 7:32 pm:

Thanks Suzanne,
I am sure this will help someone.
DrO
Member:
suzym

Posted on Monday, Jul 16, 2007 - 8:24 pm:

I hope so, DrO!
Member:
shanson

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 2:49 pm:

Does it breathe at all? I would think their back would get really hot and sweaty with material like that. At least, that was my experience with the Tacky material they sell for this purpose.
Member:
suzym

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 - 9:06 pm:

You're thinking of Tacky Tack, right? I have one of those pads, and I don't think my horse likes it.

This shelf liner stuff is a rubbery open grid - has holes in it. My horse actually seems to sweat less under it than his sheep skin pad alone.

This also works better than the Tack Tack anyway.

Suzy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 8:25 am:

I have to disagree here Suzanne about your assessment of Tacky-Tack. We use seven of them on our seven horses for the past year and a half and ride in the Southeast during the summer where it is known for heat and humidity. I believe it breathes better than normal saddles pads which you presumably would have under or over your shelf liner. It has a very large holes in its springy web design that allow air and moisture to freely circulate. As you move the pad actually acts like a pump, pushing air and moisture out with compression and sucking it in during expansion.
DrO
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 - 5:56 pm:

Thanks for sharing, Suzanne.
Member:
suzym

Posted on Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 - 10:55 am:

Hi, DrO ~ I'm glad your experience with Tacky Tack has been better than mine. It just didn't seem to make any difference at all. That disappoints me, since I would much rather use a pad than the shelf liner.

I'm using an Australian sheep skin pad over the shelf liner.

Suzy
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jul 20, 2007 - 9:15 am:

Actually I was wondering if you were identifying it correctly since you compare it to the shelf liner "with the rubbery open grid". The Tacky-Tack pad has a "rubbery open grid" also making me think either you were confusing it with another pad or possibly the pad has changed since we have only been using them for several years now?

Being a 260 lb man trail riding a 16 plus horse with not much for withers, saddle slippage is a major deal for me and this pad has greatly reduced the problem for me and I think greatly improved the even distribution of weight across the horses back.
DrO
Member:
suzym

Posted on Saturday, Jul 21, 2007 - 11:58 am:

I think you may have something here, DrO. I tried so many things....

The pad I was using was supposed to be non-slip, and it looked very similar to what you are describing, but in was not the "Tacky-Tack" brand - it was by Fabri-Tech. I'm trying to find the exact name. Anyway, it didn't work, so I'm thinking that the original Tacky-Tack by Equi-Tech Labs may be different somehow.

Hmmm... Now I'll have to try one of those.
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