Numnah Half Pads: Practical Solutions for Saddle Fit Problems
Numnah Half Pads: Practical Solutions for Saddle Fit Problems
Even the best-fitted saddle can start to shift as your horse changes shape with training, age, or condition. That’s where a well-chosen numnah half pad can help. Far more than a comfort extra, these pads provide targeted lift, reduce pressure peaks, and improve airflow. But the key is to use the right type for the right problem—otherwise, you risk adding bulk and making the fit worse. This guide breaks down the most common saddle fit challenges Australian riders face, and which Delzani half pad offers the smartest fix.
When your saddle slips forward or back
Slippage can be caused by round barrels, laid-back shoulders, high withers, or even a sweaty back. Beyond being frustrating, a moving saddle causes rubs and destabilises your position. A contoured, spineless sheepskin pad improves stability by wicking sweat and keeping the saddle sitting flat against the back.
Best choice: Air Pro Plus, with triple air vents for airflow and layered sheepskin–memory foam cushioning that grips without bulky lift.
When there’s pressure on the withers or spine
Low front saddles, lost muscle, or old flocking can leave your horse sore at the withers or along the spine. The solution is a spineless design that creates a clear air channel while supporting either side of the wither with foam or shims.
Best choice: The Air Pro Plus relieves pressure with its channel and cooling vents. For adjustable lift, choose the Defender (front/rear pockets) or the Contour Pro (full-length pocket for precise shim placement).
When your horse’s muscle is uneven
Young horses, those returning to work, or naturally asymmetrical backs can leave a saddle tipping forward, back, or side-to-side. Shimmable half pads let you add subtle lift only where it’s needed, keeping the saddle balanced while the horse develops or until flocking is adjusted.
Best choice: The Defender for simple front–rear balance, or the Contour Pro for high withers and trickier asymmetries.
When one saddle is used on multiple horses
One saddle rarely fits different toplines perfectly. Shimmable half pads let you keep a recordable set-up for each horse, maintaining clearance and balance without constant reflocking.
Best choice: The Defender for straightforward adjustments, or the Contour Pro if you need more precision.
When heat and sweat are the enemy
Australian summers test even the toughest coats. Salt and dust combine with heat to create friction, often leaving sensitive backs raw. Sheepskin is a natural solution—breathable, absorbent, and cushioning—while spineless pads and air vents keep sweat channels clear.
Best choice: Air Pro Plus for airflow and cushioning, or step up to a shimmable design if balance adjustments are also needed.
Fitting and care tips
Adding any pad is like wearing thicker socks in snug boots—recheck clearance with the rider up. Shim with intent: add lift only where needed. Always pull the pad into the gullet to free the spine, and reassess fit monthly during heavy training. Between rides, brush and air-dry sheepskin in shade, and wash only with specialist wool detergent.
Choosing your Delzani half pad
Match the pad to your challenge:
- For slipping saddles and summer sweat: Air Pro Plus
- For simple front/rear lift: Defender
- For high withers and tricky asymmetry: Contour Pro
Explore our full range of Delzani numnahs and saddle pads. Remember: half pads are fine-tuning tools, not replacements for professional saddle fitting. If you notice soreness, white hairs, or reluctance under saddle, book your saddler and vet. Used correctly, a half pad can give your horse more freedom, comfort, and confidence in every stride.
Related Equestrian Guides
Wash Guide - Sheepskin
Follow our care guide to get the the best advice on washing your sheepskin numnahs and saddle pads.
Best Horse Grooming Brushes & Combs in Australia
Premium HAAS brushes and natural, effective tools for a glossy, healthy coat.
Do Half Pads Really Help? A Rider’s Guide to Comfort, Saddle Fit and Performance
Sheepskin numnahs and half pads improve comfort and saddle balance for Australian riders. With natural wool, spineless designs, and shim options, they protect backs, smooth pressure, and keep good saddle fits feeling consistent.
Gel Half Pads: When Extra Grip and Shock Absorption Help (and When They Don’t)
Gel half pads can add grip, shock absorption, and comfort for Australian riders, especially in jumping or high-impact work. Learn when gel pads improve saddle stability and protect sensitive backs, and when extra bulk may not be the right solution.
Dressage Shim Pads: How Micro Adjustments Improve Balance, Comfort and Performance
Dressage shim pads help fine-tune saddle fit, balance, and comfort. With lambswool for breathability, spineless designs for freedom, and adjustable shims, they support topline changes, rider balance, and performance in Australian conditions.
Privacy Policy
Delzani is committed to providing you with a high level of customer service. This includes protecting and maintaining the privacy, accuracy and security of your personal information. We are bound by and will abide by the National Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act (Cth) 1988 . This is in addition to our existing obligations under the Privacy Act.
What personal information do we collect and hold?
In the process of conducting our business we are likely to collect a wide range of personal information about you. The type of personal information we collect always includes your name, residential and billing address, email address, telephone or mobile numbers and products and services we provide to you. We don’t store any credit card information on our web site. We pass it onto our bank for processing.
How do we collect personal information?
Delzani collects personal information directly from you when you submit it online at Delzani.com.au . There may be occasions when we collect information from publicly available sources or third parties. This information includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers and social media profile name sourced from permission based marketing activities.
Cookies and Web beacons
A cookie is a small text file that is stored on a user’s computer for record-keeping purposes. We use cookies on this site. We use session ID cookies. We use session cookies to make it easier for you to navigate our site. A session ID cookie expires when you close you browser. If you reject cookies, you may still use our site, but your ability to use some areas of our site will be limited.
Some of our business partners (e.g. tracking utility company) use cookies and Web beacons on our site. We have no access to or control over these tracking technologies.
Delzani advertises with Google. Google may show you our ads based on your having visited our site. If you do not wish to see these ads you can opt-out by visiting the Google advertising opt-out page here http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html.
Rate and Review
If you provide a review or rating for a product available through Delzani Online we reserve the right to publish part or all of your review or rating together with your first name and suburb.
Links to Other Sites
This Website contains links to other sites that are not owned or controlled by Delzani. Please be aware that we, Delzani, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies only to information collected by this website.
How do we use personal information?
In order to improve and better our offers and service, we may keep track of patterns of use in the e-mails and social interactions we send. By supplying us your information, you have given us permission to communicate to you via mail, e-mail, SMS, MMS, social media and telephone to inform you about services we deliver relevant to you indefinitely.
Disclosure of personal information
We may use or disclose your personal information to organisations outside Delzani for purposes relating to the management of your account with us. Such organisations include: Service providers who manage the services provided to you; mailing systems which organise delivery of the products you have purchased; live help service providers, maintenance and repair services; market research; and our professional advisers, accountants, lawyers and auditors.
We require these organisations to adhere to strict confidentiality of your personal information and also seek to ensure that they adhere to the National Privacy Principles. These service providers may not use your personal information for their own marketing purposes.
Security
Delzani takes reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is secure. We have robust systems and procedures in place to protect your privacy whenever we collect, store and use or disclose personal information. We are continually upgrading these systems and reviewing our procedures to ensure the highest standards of security are used to protect your personal information.
How to access and amend personal information
If you wish to obtain a copy of our data privacy policy, access the personal information we hold about you or your personal information is inaccurate, incomplete outdated or to unsubscribe, please direct any queries regarding your privacy rights email sales@delzani.com.au.
The release of information is subject to some exceptions such as information relating to existing or any anticipated legal proceedings, together with exceptions provided by the Privacy Act. Our objective is to respond to any request within a reasonable timeframe and no later than 30 days.
How your information may be shared
Except for the purposes outlined in the Delzani Privacy Policy, we never sell or disclose your personal information. However, we may release personal information under the following circumstances:
-
when requested by the courts or laws (for example, a subpoena) or regulation or is requested by a government agency;
-
where we deem a company or an individual may be engaged in fraudulent activity or other deceptive practices that a governmental agency should be made aware of; and/or to appropriate persons, where your communication suggests possible harm to others.
Changes in this Privacy Policy
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this document, the home page and other places we deem appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time, so please review it frequently. If we make material changes to this policy, we will notify you here, by email, or by means of a notice on our homepage.
Shop Now. Pay Later.
Always interest-free.
Add your favourites to cart
Select Afterpay at checkout
Log into or create your Afterpay account, with instant approval decision
Your purchase will be split into 4 payments, payable every 2 weeks
All you need to apply is to have a debit or credit card, to be over 18 years of age, and to be a resident of country offering Afterpay
Late fees and additional eligibility criteria apply. The first payment may be due at the time of purchase
For complete terms visit afterpay.com/terms