Saddle Pad

Horse Saddle Pad

Saddle Pad Types

• All Purpose Saddle Pad
• Black Saddle Pad
• Dressage Saddle Pad
• Endurance Saddle Pad
• English Saddle Pad
• Equestrian Saddle Pad
• Felt Saddle Pad

• Fleece Saddle Pad
• Gel Saddle Pad
• Horse Saddle Pad
• Saddle Pad Carrier
• Saddle Pad Covers
• Saddle Pad Liners
• Saddle Pad Shims

• Saddle Pad Size
• Sheepskin Saddle Pad
• SMx Saddle Pad
• Supracor Saddle Pad
• Toklat Saddle Pad
• Western Saddle Pad
• Wool Saddle Pad

A good horse saddle pad can mean the difference between a quality ride and one that's painful. For your animal, it can mean the difference between a back that continues to carry riders for years and one that can barely support weight. Thus, it's important to choose quality equipment that will allow you and your animal to continue working together for a long time.

When buying a horse saddle pad, it's important that you not only choose one that will meet all of your needs, but that you get one that fits you, your animal, and your other equipment. In order to buy something that does all of these things, there are some things you should remember and tips that will make it easier.

Choosing a Horse Saddle Pad

Before you buy a horse saddle pad, you'll need to make some decisions about the material you want your saddle pad made out of, the shape that will work best for you, the overall look you are going for and how much you want to spend. Each of these factors will influence the pads you look at, try out, and eventually purchase.

The first thing to consider when choosing a horse saddle pad is the overall look you're aiming to achieve. There are times and places in the equestrian world where a fluffy pink saddle pad or a brightly colored Indian blanket are not appropriate, but there are other places where those are perfectly acceptable.

If you're not sure what look you should aim for, look at other riders who do the kind of riding you want to do and buy something similar to what they have. You can also ask them for advice, or approach your trainer or a tack store employee for help. In general, English riders will want white pads that closely follow the contours of their saddle and Western riders will be more likely to use a blanket as padding. These are only generalizations, however, and your needs could be different based on the nuances of the style of riding you're pursuing.

Next, consider the shape of horse saddle pad that will work best for you. A blanket will be square under your riding equipment, not following its contours but covering more of the horse's back and ribs. A contour pad will follow the outline of your saddle much more closely. While these are the two most common shapes of saddle pad, others are also possible. Some dressage riders use a round skirt pad, which is a combination of the blanket and the contour styles. In addition, some horses need raised pads or pads with the withers cut out to accommodate their backs without injury.

You'll also want to decide which sort of material or materials you want your horse saddle pad to be made out of. The first decision in this category is whether or not you want to have natural materials on your horse's back or if synthetics are also acceptable. Many riders want to use natural fibers if at all possible, because these are less likely to irritate a horse's back. If your horse has special needs, however, you may need to use synthetic materials to provide the necessary cushioning.

Cotton and wool are the most common natural materials for these pads. Cotton, while cool, does not do much beyond that for either the horse or the rider. Wool saddle pads come in several different forms, like wool blankets, fleece pads, and felt pads. These tend to offer more in the way of sweat wicking and shock absorption than their cotton counterparts.

If synthetic materials are acceptable or necessary for your horse saddle pad, you have many choices. Neoprene is popular, as are closed-cell foam and gel. You can find cotton or wool covers for each of these types of pads. While this won't make it all natural, it will mean that your horse is less likely to be irritated by his padding. Each of these pads have their positive and negative attributes, and you'll want to decide based on your horse's needs.

Finally, decide how much you can afford to spend on a horse saddle pad before you go looking for one. While it might seem like they should be fairly inexpensive, it's possible to spend quite a lot of money on this item of equipment. If you do your research and know what you're looking for and about how much it should cost, you're less likely to fall prey to an upsell at the tack store or end up spending more than you can really afford. Unless your horse has serious back issues, you should be able to find a pad that will work in almost any price range.

Fitting a Horse Saddle Pad

Knowing the kind of horse saddle pad you want is half the process, but it has to fit your animal well if it's going to work well for you. While the nuances of fitting are detailed and should only be attempted by an experienced horse person, there are some things you can consider before you get any help.

First of all, find out if your horse has any special needs that a horse saddle pad could help with. Be sure to ask your vet and even your farrier if you're unsure about this. Some horses have high withers or a swayed back, both of which conditions can be irritated by the wrong type of padding. You may need to purchase one that is built up in certain areas or cut away in others in order to accommodate your animal's needs.

In addition, you may have noticed that your animal has problems with particular pieces of your equipment. They may cause him to be sore in spots or you may find areas where the hair and/or skin has been rubbed away. While you may not be able to alleviate all of these problems with a horse saddle pad, you can probably help your animal not to suffer anymore. If you have questions about particular injuries and how a saddle pad might be able to help, be sure to ask someone before you try to purchase one.

Once you know how your horse saddle pad needs to fit your mount, make sure it fits your saddle and other equipment, too. Some of this will be based on the shape and type of pad that you choose, though there are some generic principles that you should always follow. Saddle pads should never have an edge that is trapped under any equipment. All edges should clear the equipment by at least an inch, preferably at least a little more. In addition, pads should not slide around, as you risk sliding off your horse or creating a painful rub for him.

Now you're ready to buy a horse saddle pad. If you're not comfortable choosing your pad or fitting it by yourself, be sure to take a more experienced rider, your trainer, or another competent horse person to help you out. After you've made your purchase, ride confidently, knowing that you educated yourself and made the best choice for you and your horse.