Fleeceworks Design Philosophy
Minimum bulk – maximum performance. This is – and always has been - our mantra. The less padding, the better your feel and contact. But research has proven the need for a protective, thermal balancing layer, so it is our mission to make our horses more comfortable and our saddle pads more protective.
The technologies we develop come from our work with our horses in daily work and competition. They are reviewed and tested by top competitors,veterinarians, saddle fitters and chiropractors.
The materials we choose to work with are not by-product of other businesses. This. Is. All. We. Do.
The items we put on into your hands are not copies of other people’s work. We are passionate about our mission and continue to look for new materials and ways to give you the best possible saddle pad.
Fleeceworks Design Points and Materials
Each material that is used in our pads was selected because it is the best choice for each particular job. Our genuine Australian sheepskin comes from older, wool producing sheep. Unlike lambskin, whose wool is very thick and tends to be coarse, the sheepskins from older sheep are dense, strong and very soft. This type of wool allows us to shear the wool down to about 1” length, which is the optimum length to protect against pressure points, deliver an effective thermal balancing layer and yet retain the fit and contact of your saddle.
The two major benefits of real sheepskin are its ability to prevent pressure points and to deliver vital thermal balance. Genuine sheepskin has long been valued in the medical field. Bedridden and wheelchair bound patients depend on it for its ability to prevent pressure points. Even a well-fitted saddle can cause pressure due to the points of the tree and stirrup bars bearing weight over the shoulders. Fleeceworks pads are carefully constructed to provide extra protection in these vulnerable areas.
Thermal Balance
The most common cause of back injuries in horses is ill-fitting saddles, closely followed by muscle injuries due to overheating. The need for thermal balance cannot be overstated. In order for a muscle to operate at its peak it must cool itself constantly. If excess heat cannot be pulled away, and/or gets blocked by materials that do not breathe (such as gel and some closed-cell foam), this heat will radiate back into the already overheated muscle.
While high-tech fabrics, such as Coolmax were engineered to draw heat and moisture away, they lose their effectiveness as soon as they get wet. Sheepskin and wool can hold thirty percent of its weight in water before it even starts to feel wet, thus being able to transport excess heat away from the muscle much longer.
Fleeceworks new range of 100% Merino Wool pads with Perfect Balance Technology offer excellent thermal balancing properties. Since wool’s ability to provide pressure point relief is limited, we have added our Perfect Balance Technology to these pads. With the added full inserts made from visco—elastic foam, our wool pads deliver a complete protective pad. Optional Front and Rear inserts allow you to customize your saddle fit.
Fleeceworks FXK Technology
Comprehensive Relief for Withers and Spine.
It’s so much better than a hole in the pad…. As most great ideas go, Fleeceworks patent pending technology is quite simple: A cross elastic band (elastic that stretches vertically rather than horizontally) effectively acts as a shock absorber, taking the rotational pull of the shoulder before any pressure can reach the sensitive spine and wither areas.
The horse’s shoulder movement can pull a normal pad down so that it lies quite taut over the withers and some area of the spine. In the worst cases this can create pressure points at the base the withers, of cutting off blood flow.
A cut out still has a beginning point and an end point. Both these points lie over potentially sensitive areas and can cause pressure points. Please also consider that the position of the wither is different in every horse relative to the position of the hole in a saddle pad. So, how effective can a cut out really be?
To comprehensively protect your horse’s entire topline, the solution is FXK.
Simple. Effective. Fleeceworks.
Fleeceworks Perfect Balance Technology
Fleeceworks patent pending Perfect Balance Technology uses removable inserts to restore your saddle’s perfect balance when faced with saddle fit issues. This is very helpful for high withered horses, as this technology addresses the dip beneath the withers that makes saddle fitting sometimes problematic.
Front Inserts: Made from visco-elastic foam (also called “memory foam”), the front inserts are strategically placed to fill the dip beneath the withers. This high-tech foam is strong enough to sustain lift, yet pliable to provide seamless buildup only where needed. This design allows for free, unimpeded and comfortable movement of the horse’s shoulder.
Rear Inserts: These are made from Plus Foam and stop the saddle from rocking by restoring uninterrupted contact. The inserts will provide a lift of about ½ to ¾ inch.
Full Inserts: Visco-Elastic Full Inserts will help with more severe temporary fit problems or with horses that are very sore backed. Our older trail companions will also benefit from this option.
The tactical, seamless placement of the removable inserts give you the tools to maintain the optimum balance of your saddle and experience maximum contact between you and your horse.
