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Why the
Gel?
The gel in Gel-Ride™ saddle pads was developed in response to the need
for a saddle pad that would conform to the horse during riding. The
Gel-Ride pad helps prevent pressure, concussion and saddle fitting
problems while making your horse more comfortable.
What Is the
Gel?
The Gel-Ride™ gel is a cross-linked elastopolymer with micro dispersions
of a naturally occurring liquid oil placed in the polymer's matrix. These
micro oil droplets are fixed in place by their shape so they will never
bleed out as will happen with some of the gel coated products. The
Gel-Ride™ gel is cast in shape and then reinforced on the surfaces to
add strength while maintaining maximum flexibility.
How Does It
Work?
When pressure is exerted on the Gel-Ride™ pad, the elastopolymer deforms
with the oil droplet helping disperse the load. As more pressure is
applied, the resistance to deformation increases, thus slowing the shock
in a controlled manner and eliminating it entirely over time. This all
occurs over a fraction of a second. When the pressure is released, the pad
rapidly returns to its original shape and is ready to absorb the next
shock.
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The results without
Gel-Ride!
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Better
than Foams!
Gel-Ride™ gel removes the shock and disperses
the load better than foams because the highly mobile oil droplets in
the gel are non-compressible and deform with the elastopolymer as a
load is applied, but the pad never "bottoms out." There is
always more shock absorption available with almost any level of
load. Foam pads (closed or open cell foams) are often stiff and will
always "bottom out" since there is only highly
compressible air in the foam.
The egg drop test bears this out. An egg dropped on a Gel-Ride™ will not
break, but when dropped on a foam pad, the egg breaks. This is because in
foam, when all the air bubbles are compressed, there is still the hard
stop and consequent shock to the egg.
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Heat
Absorption and Heat Conductivity
Gel-Ride™ gel acts as a conductor to heat. It will absorb heat from the
horse's back and conduct it away from the horse. Foams, on the other hand,
are excellent insulators and will trap the heat, causing sweating and
potential sores.
Gel-Ride™ pads may be heated in warm water or a microwave or cooled in
cold water or a refrigerator to warm or cool the horse's back.
Gel-Ride™
Saddle Pads Cover
The cover on the Gel-Ride™ pad is made from highly durable four way
stretch cotton polyester blends woven in a twill pattern. This combination
of construction and material allows maximum pliability and suppleness to
the Gel-Ride™ saddle pad.
Tried and
True!
The Gel-Ride™ pad is made for long-lasting, rugged use. Gel-Ride™
saddle pads have been around for many years, and many of the first
manufactured pads are still in use. Over the years we have further
improved the long life of our pads with increased internal reinforcing and
improved sewing methods. |
