Back Protection for Both Horse & Rider
ThinLine absorbs shock and reduces pressure points making your ride smoother and more comfortable for your and your horse.
Historically, equine products work on a compression basis, meaning they compress then spring back or, like gel, move away from pressure. What makes ThinLine unique is its open-cell foam that moves shock, weight, and heat laterally which is far more effective for protecting the back from high impact.
Beginning as a liquid, microscopic cells are poured into a mold and then polarized, so each cell lies end to end, creating a tunnel. Another layer is poured into the mold and polarized in a new direction. This process is repeated hundreds of times to create a honeycomb matrix formation allowing impact and heat to move laterally ACROSS the ThinLine pad for unparalleled comfort for both horse and rider. Riders will also love how the open-cell horse tack technology transfers recoil off the horse’s back laterally rather than directly up into the base of the rider’s spine.
ThinLine products also carry tensile strength so that pressure is actually distributed. Behind every pressure point, there is always a hollow point. ThinLine products work to relieve pressure points by adding weight to the hollow points.
What is ThinLine?
ThinLine is a thin, shock-absorbing non-slip breathable foam.
- Impact (shock) absorbency of over 95%
- Carrying Capacity – it is the only equestrian product that distributes rider weight across the pad
- Non compressing – It never bottoms out, moves or degrades.
- Breathable
- Non-Slip
- It is the only saddle pad endorsed by spinal surgeons, master saddlers, and veterinarians for back health in horses and humans.
Benefits for the Rider
ThinLine gives you a confident, freely moving horse you can sit with ease!
ThinLine’s slim design puts you in closer contact with your horse while providing them with all the protection of much thicker pads. You’ll feel the horse moving bigger, but with the extraordinary shock absorption of ThinLine, you will be moving in unison with your horse.
Riders will also love how the open-cell technology transfers recoil off the horse’s back laterally rather than directly up into the base of the rider’s spine. The non-slip, breathable shims, also made of this exclusive protection foam, can create a perfect saddle fit.
Integrity and softness allow ThinLine to flex and stretch over high withers, around bones, splints, girths, or saddle pressure points without bottoming out (like memory foam or moving, like gel).
The integrity and softness of the material allow ThinLine to flex and stretch over high withers, around bones, splints, girths, or saddle pressure points without bottoming out like memory foam or moving like gel.
Body temperature warms the ThinLine material allowing it to conform to the horse to support tendons and muscles, and relieve pressure and impact. When returned to room temperature, 75° F, it rebounds to its original shape.
Specifications
ThinLine is 3/16″, 4.7mm thick.
ThinLine material is the thinnest option designed to protect horse and rider backs by eliciting a soft, quiet, elastic connection. The ThinLine foam reduces the extraneous ‘background noise’ of your movement, allowing your horse to balance and focus better. It also makes your seat aides clearer and more effective. So thin it will not alter custom saddle fit. Additionally, it can clear up small saddle fit issues all on its own. This thickness is sewn onto all of our shimmable saddle pads.
Impact test & professional review
While many pads on the market compress under pressure and don't help much with reducing bounce, Thinline truly absorbs impact without causing pressure points. The bounce test in the video below shows just how much imact this thin and innovative material provides. Check out a thorough review from a professional pad maker on the quality and premium materials used in the Trifecta Pad.
Field Testing
For Thinline, the priority is an homogeneous pressure distribution. Here are some real examples of how a thinline pad could effect the comfort of your horse.
A full PDF of the report can be found HERE
One then look at absolute values :
• BLUE-GREEN: moderated pressure
• YELLOW-RED : significant pressure
And then to the zone :
• Horses are more sensitive at the back of the saddle
• The spine must be free of pressure.
Here's a look at a few different saddles and horses that took part in the pressure testing.
The images are a MAP virtual picture: calculated mean value over the period of each sensors in the PDF report
We all know every horse and rider is different. Thinline pads are not the solution for every situation, but every rider also has room for improvement, and every horse deserves to be as comfortable as possible. Try adding a thinline shimmable pad, bareback pad, half pad or full saddle pad to your western or english tack set up. Your horse (and your back) will thank you.
