I love these pads:
https://www.sstack.com/dura-tech-v-free-dressage-pad/p/30709/
Not cheap, but not terribly pricey, either. I have several that I’ve used for at least five years and they’re still in very good shape.
For every day use, I love PRI saddle pads. They’re around $35-40, and they hold up well for years with constant soaking after rides and some washing. They aren’t very thick (I don’t want a thick saddle pad), but aren’t very thin - hold their shape well and don’t seem to bunch. AND, they come in some great colors. One might say I horde saddle pads (it’s true!) but I use the PRIs the most.
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PRI and Ogilvy are my favorites. I wash them every ride and they hold up well. Ogilvy has a little more longevity than PRI but I think PRI has the best shape.
I have a strange problem with my double bridle reins getting sucked under the pad. Doesn’t happen as much with the PRI.
:lol::lol::lol::lol: I’m having a hard time imagining this! Or, I’m having a very amusing time imagining this. The black hole under your saddle pad that is attractive to only pairs of reins, not single ones… :lol::lol:
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Lemieux. I bought my first three in 2015 and they still look brand new. I wash them in a front load HE on cold and hang to dry. I own 7 of them. 😊
Another vote for PRI. Good shape, fits a variety of horse sizes/shapes IME (short flap saddle on small horse is hard to find pads for, but these also work on average sized horses), thick enough not to bunch or pull. And, as @Goforward said, the byte of the reins doesn’t get sucked under the front edge of the pad (a pet peeve that happens on the little horse, where there tends to be more excess rein hanging down and with the wrong pad, too much pad sticking out in front of the saddle). These have worn like iron for me.
In the winter I use Back on Track a good deal of the time, as well. They’re not quite as perfectly shaped or as hard-wearing as PRI, but I think they convey a small advantage in warming up a stiff back in cold temps.
I find the Roma Ecoles to be too big for smaller horses, and shapeless and floppy in a way that can create weird bunching. IME they wear out quickly. The Dover ones wear slightly better, but IMO have the same big/thin/shapeless problems as the Romas.
Thank you everyone! I took the plunge and bought two of the new Eskadron Velvet collection (nervous as they aren’t mentioned on here as nice pads!) but I really wanted a nice olive and navy pad and found these on sale.
Will keep an eye out for LM sales - they were what I was going to originally go with me but the olive was sold out. And same for the BOT ones - I really like the look of the maroon new style one but at $150 AUD - I have to wait for a sale to purchase that.
I dont plan plan on having a large collection so it’s important that they wash up well and stand up to use.
I’ve owned the Eskadron Cotton and “Big Square” - with a satin-like material, and still have 2 or 3, but I sold the rest of them because I preferred LeMieux. The cotton ones held up well for a roughly 30 Euro pad, and washed decent too.
I don’t know that the velvet will be great for everyday. I’m not sure how it washed or if things will stick to it, how it holds up to sweat, etc. I’m curious though.
Dover is (or was) having a big sale on the LM pads…
