Australian pad help, please.

[Mustang]

Can I use my western pad(32x32)?

Do I definitely need an Aussie pad, like this one?

What about a pad like this one, instead?

It’s for an outrider endurance saddle (wide tree), worn by a 14.3 horse. She requires FQHB/WT, but other than that has a very nice topline and shoulder/withers. No physical issues or abnormal fit issues.

Thank you!

[Guilherme]

Pad type and shape should match saddle type and shape and horse. You might be able to use your current pad, but then maybe you can’t.

Tack up the horse and see what you’ve got. If it works, God Bless You. If it doesn’t, fix it.

G.

[Halcyon_Days]

I’m using a Supracor under mine, works great. You don’t want to use a thick western one, they’re supposed to be a little more close contact, the saddles themselves are cushioned (unlike a western) so the pad is just there to protect the saddle from the sweat

[Mustang]

[QUOTE=Guilherme;8075313]
Pad type and shape should match saddle type and shape and horse. You might be able to use your current pad, but then maybe you can’t.

Tack up the horse and see what you’ve got. If it works, God Bless You. If it doesn’t, fix it.

G.[/QUOTE]

Thank you.

@Halcyon Days;8075948

I’m using a Supracor under mine, works great. You don’t want to use a thick western one, they’re supposed to be a little more close contact, the saddles themselves are cushioned (unlike a western) so the pad is just there to protect the saddle from the sweat

That’s what I was wondering about. It is so clearly well-cushioned, and yet the thought of just grabbing a plain and basic dressage pad(as I had seen recommended), seemed so thin to me (can you tell I’m used to western saddles? :lol:), so I was unsure.

Thank you for your input!

[walkers]

When Aussie saddle first got big in this country I bought one and they came with a thin horsehair pad in a wool cover, pad was square so that the flaps were in contact with the horse . Later I tried to get more pads as they were wonderful and durable however the new ones although looking the same were clearly not filled with horse hair in fact they felt like little pieces of plastic were in the pad. Its 20 yrs later and I still have thse orginal pads.
Back to yor question, the pad should be thin but maybe not dressage thin.

[spookhorse]

Depending on the saddle and horse, I just anything from a saddle towel to a regular english pad. You shouldn’t need anything thicker if your saddle fits right.

[Bombproof]

I’ve ridden in Australian saddles for years and it’s been my experience that they’re very forgiving about the type of pad you use. I usually prefer a dressage pad but I’ve used almost anything else you can imagine at times. Since the saddle has wool-stuffed panels (or air-filled in the case of my Bates), as long as it fits correctly it doesn’t need any extra padding. The pad mainly just wicks away sweat and helps keep the saddle clean.