Cottage Craft Comfort Numnah & Saddlecloth

...my thoroughbred mare has a Cottage Craft Comfort Saddle Cloth for daily hacking.


Why use a numnah?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A saddle that fits correctly should not, theoretically need a numnah. However, there are veryfew horses that are happy being ridden without a numnah. If you imagine the saddle being placed on the back, the girth being done up tighty and then a rider sitting on the saddle, a ...
...us on to discussing the Cottage Craft Comfort Numnah.


Cottage Craft Comfort Numnah.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have the comfort saddle cloth which is the one pictured above. The numnahs are the same, just saddle shaped.

They are available in:-
Black
Brown
Narron/Navy
Navy/Pale Blue

I have the black version of the saddle ... more

I ride nearly every day and have several numnahs and saddle cloths. I have three horses so they need one each and it is nice to have one for best and a spare when one needs washing. OK, so I don`t have 9 but I have more than 3. They all have a polypad each as they are my favourite. It is nice to have a different one though so I tend to use polypads on long rides but my thoroughbred mare has a Cottage Craft Comfort Saddle Cloth for daily hacking.

Why use a numnah?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A saddle that fits correctly should not, theoretically need a numnah. However, there are veryfew horses that are happy being ridden without a numnah. If you imagine the saddle being placed on the back, the girth being done up tighty and then a rider sitting on the saddle, a numnah would be greatly appreciated by the horse to relieve some pressure. I should imagine it would be a bit like wearing shoes with no socks. The thickness of the numnah depends on the fit of the saddle really. Whilst you make a saddle fit that doesn`t fit by using a thin or thick numnah, you need to be aware that a numnah can change the fit of the saddle. This can be detrimental as, if the saddle fits well and a really thick numnah is used, it can make the saddle too tight so chose correctly.

A numnah is for the comfort of the horse, it can look nice but also it keeps the underside of the saddle clean. I know you groom the horse before riding but dust can still remain which accumulates on the numnah. It is easier to wash a numnah than it is to clean a saddle (though the saddle does need to be cleaned regularly so that it remains supple).

It is important to wash the numnah regularly as dirt can cause irritation and if left too long can rub. When washing a numnah I never use washing powder as this may cause irritation. My thoroughbred mare became irritated once by washing powder, you can`t win sometimes.

I know I have rambled on a bit about numnahs in general but this is only to bring us on to discussing the Cottage Craft Comfort Numnah.

Cottage Craft Comfort Numnah.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have the comfort saddle cloth which is the one pictured above. The numnahs are the same, just saddle shaped.

They are available in:-
Black
Brown
Narron/Navy
Navy/Pale Blue

I have the black version of the saddle cloth. I think the others look nice, especially the navy and pale blue. In my experience black numnahs (or at least dark) are the easiest to keep clean. Pale colours are the most difficult. There is something about horses and clean clothing (which includes saddle cloths), they just do not mix.

The comfort numnah and saddle cloth are both about £12.99 which is not bad. The polypads that I use more frequently are more expensive.

The features of the numnah and saddle cloth are that they both have twin quilting and padding. The lower part features high quality quilting and the upper part has heavy diamond cushion quilting. You can see this from the above picture and description. The bottom half is quilted but not very thick, the top part is thicker.

I have the saddlecloth because I fancied one and they look quite nice. All of my others are numnahs so therefore saddle shaped. It generally looks smarter at competitions to wear a numnah in a plain colour like black. You would not wear a colourful saddle cloth for showing, in fact a lot of people don`t wear anything under the saddle or a very discrete numnah. I think it looks nice for a change to have a saddlecloth. The only thing that I find on a hot day is that the horse sweats over a wider area. They usually sweat just under the saddle (or more if really hot) but often with a saddle cloth they sweat under the entire area.

Advantages and Disadvantages.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It is a good numnah but not as good, in my opinion as polypads.

It has a girth strap and a strap for the stirrup leathers to pass through. Whilst this is a feature of most numnahs, the polypad does not have this, it has no straps. I find the straps superfluous. I don`t even bother to use them and it stays it place. I find that these straps can be a disadvantage. If you look at the saddle cloth it is slightly shaped to fit over the wither. Sometimes when you use the straps, especially when you put the girth through the girth strap, depending on the shape of the saddle, it can move the numnah slightly, compromising the fit. Whilst this numnah (and saddle cloth) is quite a good fit, I still find these straps a nuisance with the potential for making the numnah fit in slightly the wrong place.

The numnah is padded more on top. Whilst this is good in the respect that this is the part that the horse will feel the most pressure, again it may alter the fit. I found with one saddle it did not work as it caused a bit of a pressure point. This was due to the thicker top making a part of the saddle closer to the horse. It did not suit this saddle, the saddle was alright with the polypad. The numnah was alright with other saddles. It is not a criticism of the numnah, it just highlights that not all numnahs fit all saddles. The thick version of the polypad does not suit all saddles as it can make them tight. You just need to use a numnah appropriate to your saddle.

The numnah looks quite nice, it does not look cheap, it is well made and feels comfortable to the touch.

It washes really well at 30 degrees, dries quickly and keeps its shape.

It is hard wearing.

Do I recommend?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I think this is a good quality and good looking numnah and saddle cloth which is reasonably priced. It is certainly a good buy. I would rather pay a bit more for the polypad but that is my personal choice. There is nothing wrong with this one I just don`t like the straps and the polypad is slightly more flexible. I do use it regularly though on one of my horses for daily use. 

...less