ThinLine Technology

ThinLine Saddle Pad Technology – a shock-absorbing breathable, non-slip foam with many extraordinary features.

Back Protection for Both Horse & Rider

The way ThinLine material absorbs shock and reduces pressure points is what makes your horse happy and free in the back. 

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 technology. ThinLine is an open-cell foam that moves shock, weight, and heat laterally along the pad, boot, or girth.

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. 

In each ThinLine pad, this process is repeated hundreds of times, creating a honeycomb matrix. This structure allows ThinLine to move shock, heat, and weight laterally, much like the ripple effect of throwing a stone into water.

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 to the hollow points.


See the Science Supporting ThinLine


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).

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, it rebounds to its original shape. 

ThinLine Technology Endorsements

ThinLine is endorsed by spinal surgeons for rider back protection.  In addition to absorbing shock, ThinLine is profoundly effective at reducing spine movement causing riders to sit more quietly and improving communication with their equines. This is why both horses and riders love it so much.

ThinLine is endorsed by Veterinarians for horses with Kissing Spine Disease and is recommended as a preventative product for sore backs in horses.

ThinLine is also endorsed by Master Saddlers because of its’ shimming system.  The open pocket design allows fitters to create a perfect fit by adding shims on any challenging topline, shoulder, or wither height, providing therapeutic benefits to both horse and rider.

ThinLine Technology’s Manufacturing Process

Beginning as a liquid, open cells are poured and then polarized so each cell lies end-to-end. Another layer is poured and then 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.

Think of ThinLine like rings from a pebble tossed in a pond; shock, weight, and heat are moved laterally away from the horse and rider’s spines. 

This is our exclusive technology and the reason nothing else performs like ThinLine. 

How it works in Horse Tack

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.


Material Details

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.

 

Which Non-Slip Saddle Pad To Choose?

We frequently receive questions regarding which ThinLine pad is the best.  Every ThinLine Pad is made with this amazing material. You choose the style of pad you like and the size to fit your saddle.  ThinLine, sewn onto different textiles, provides you with the perfect pad for all saddles and lifestyles.  Every single ThinLine product offers the same performance and protection.  Every pad has a pocket to add saddle-fitting shims.  ThinLine offers saddle pads for English disciplines like hunters, jumpers, eventing, and dressage, in addition to western disciplines like barrel racing, reining, ranch work, endurance, and trail riding!