Introducing Toklat's T3 Matrix Western Shim Saddle Pad, an innovative design using advanced technology for the comfort and protection of your horse. The shim version of this T3 Matrix Western Saddle Pad has three pockets on each side of the spine, with 2 felt shims per pocket. These shims allow you to correct the fit of the saddle from front to back and side to side. Both the Impact Protection inserts and the shims can be access through a Velcro spine opening.
This pad is lined with our 1” WoolBack™ fleece lining. WoolBack is 100% natural virgin wool manufactured in the US, with a resilient dense pile that will offer excellent pressure relief.
Wear Leathers
31 x 30 can be ordered with or without wear leathers. Select "without Wear Leathers" if you plan to use the pad under a blanket. All other sizes come standard with wear leathers.
What are the Impact Protection Inserts for?
The impact of the saddle and the rider hitting the horse’s back can contribute to serious musculoskeletal conditions over time. Extreme Pro and Ortho-Impact offer excellent impact protection to protect your horse’s topline. Don’t wait until your horse has a problem! A saddle pad with quality impact protection can help you maintain a healthy back and prevent problems long term.
How to Select The Best Impact Protection Inserts For Your Horse
T3 Impact Protection inserts are interchangeable within each style of Matrix Western pad! If your horse’s needs change over time, you can purchase the matching inserts separately. Feel confident about making the best choice for your horse at the time of purchase, knowing you can adapt your pad as needed.
Extreme Pro – 9mm XRD™ foam, perforated for breathability. The “yellow” insert is XRD, a foam engineered to absorb 90% of the energy from impact. Extreme Pro is lightweight, highly effective, and ideal for preventive care. Best for: Horses with well-developed topline muscle that should be protected; performance horses in top condition.
Ortho-Impact – the “blue/yellow” insert is 5mm XRD™ foam bonded to ½” memory foam, perforated for breathability. XRD absorbs 90% of the energy of impact; memory foam cushions the muscles. Ortho-Impact works well for horses that need to build back muscle. Best for: Horses with an undeveloped topline, such as young or green horses; horses that have not been ridden for a while; senior horses with a dropped topline; horses recovering from a back injury or soreness.
FlexForm – the “blue” insert is ½” memory foam. Memory foam offers cushioning, but little to no impact protection. Best for: adding a little extra cushion for very infrequent and low impact riding, such as a short ride around a pasture.
How to Use the Shims
Shimming is a simple process used to balance the saddle when the saddle and the horse's back are not a perfect match. The shims work by filling in voids to create a level surface so that there are no pressure points. Each T3 Matrix Shim Saddle Pad comes with a pair of Impact Protection inserts and 12 1/4" felt shims: 2 front, 2 middle and 2 rear. Strategically place the shims to balance the saddle from front to back to prevent rocking or bridging; or adjust from side to side to compensate for asymmetrical muscle development. Easily converts from built up to bridge pad, the two most common saddle fit issues. When shimming, follow these general guidelines:
- If you find that the pad has an even fit from front to back and side to side with all of the shims in each pocket, remove the shims! Your horse doesn't need them at that time and they are just adding bulk. Store them in your tack room in case you need them at a later date.
- Horses change shape throughout the riding season. Make sure you check the saddle fit frequently in case you need to adjust the shims as your horse becomes more conditioned.
- If you need to put more than 3 shims in one pocket to try to fill a void, the saddle does not fit the horse and the shims will not compensate for the degree of mismatch. Consider a different saddle.
NOTE: shims can be moved from pocket to pocket to adjust the fit of the saddle, but the Impact Protection inserts should only be removed when cleaning the pad.
Saddle Pad Features:
- Extremely lightweight and breathable.
- Correctly placed cut-out for close-contact leg position.
- Contoured high profile for maximum wither clearance.
- Ergonomic design for maximum freedom of movement.
- Velcro spine to access the shim pockets and Impact Protection inserts.
What Impact Protection means for your horse:
- A noticeably more comfortable back and rounded top line.
- An overall healthier back that can build and maintain muscle.
What Impact Protection means for you:
- XRD reduces rebound energy, giving you a more secure seat.
- XRD also helps reduce fatigue and stress on back, knees, and ankles.
Easy Care: Remove all inserts and shims. If pad has wear leathers, hose off bottom of pad and line dry. If pad does not have wear leathers: machine wash, line dry, using a mild detergent. Impact Protection inserts can be hosed off or lightly wiped down with mild detergent and rinsed off. Shims can be rinsed in cold water. Dry flat. Do not dry in direct sun or with heat.
