Have you tried one? They look interesting.
Glad I stumbled on this thread.
I was sort of waffling between Lemieux and PS of Sweden. I love this oneā¦(and it is crazy expensive but not the point) https://www.psofsweden.com/ps-of-sweden/horse/saddle-pads/saddle-pad-monogram-sapphire-dressage
Interested to hear thoughts on the carbon mesh
@seriously? I have one of those. Fine for summer if itās not too hot but the mesh doesnāt really do anythingā¦ the pad is stiff/thick and my horse definitely sweats. PS is for looking pretty and not much else :haha:
Yeah, I wondered about the carbon thing.
How are you getting your impressions of the PS? Overall online reviews seem favourable.
Like I said, itās mostly for looking pretty. It stays off the withers and doesnāt rub but rubs arenāt an issue Iāve had with this horse yet. The only thing I would say thatās kind of annoying is that when it does get sweaty my saddle bleeds on it-- maybe more so than other pads Iāve used. You canāt see when the saddle is on but itās still kind of annoying, so I usually only use it when I have a lesson and itās not too warm. I only have one because $$ and someone gave me a gift card for part of it.
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That PS of Sweden pad is what I would use for winter here. Theyāre beautiful but thick.
These are my go-tos for summer:
https://www.weatherbeeta.com/weatherbeeta-prime-dressage-saddle-pad
https://klselect.shptron.com/p/usg-small-quilt-saddle-pads?pp=8
https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/PRI_Quilted_Dressage_Saddle_Pad/descpage-PSDP.html
I donāt own one but from what Iāve seen in person, these cotton LeMieux pads are great too. Theyāre nearly identical to the Weatherbeeta but more expensive.
https://www.lemieuxproducts.com/saddle-pad/dressage-pads/cotton-dressage
I got my Weatherbeeta on sale for $35 on a close-out color.
:encouragement:
I have to give a shout out to their anatomical line that has a sheepskin underside - as in, sheepskin directly on the horse. Itās a bit different than their Prosport line which has the faux leather backing where the billets go - itās made of a more traditional material. I got it a few years ago as a present and liked it so much I got a few more. No slip issues, and the thing I really like about it is at the end of a hard ride, I donāt find that the pad is putting pressure around the withers, which is something I found with a lot of dressage pads.
It is the earlier generation of this:
https://www.doversaddlery.com/half-lined-close-contact-sq/p/X1-190401/
Totally worth the price IMHO. Mine was used daily for 3 or 4 years before I got more, itās held up very well. I just hose them down if theyāre particularly sweaty.
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Every time I stray from Lemieux, I regret it. Their shape just works. They also last and wash well. The Weatherbeeta Prime pads are not as nice. I have one, and Iām a bit disappointed in it. Just not the same quality as Lemieux. I did buy a Woof Wear pad which seemed to be nice, but itās too big for my compact horse.
I do have a pad by Fair Play that is good, and has a nice material for summer.
I found a Lemieux Carbon Mesh pad for 33Ć¢āĀ¬ so I ordered it. Itāll arrive in a few days. Seemed like a decent deal and Iāve been curious about them.
The Eskadron Cotton pads arenāt terrible either.
That was the first thing I thought of when I looked at it. Not necessarily bleeding, but that the panels would be in contact with the wet parts of the pad through the openings in the mesh.
I used this pad on a long, hot, sweaty trail ride in FL with a friend (we got lost in a huuuge wildlife preserve). My friend used a standard Ogilvy on her horse. Her pad was heavy with sweat and literally dripping when we were done. Her horseās back broke out in hives in the saddle area. My pad was barely damp to the touch. I was amazed and became a true believer.
Yes, I have one and I like it a lot! My horse seems to sweat less under it than other pads.
So, Iāve used my Lemieux mesh pad a few times, and letās just say Iām glad I only paid 33Ć¢āĀ¬ No saddle bleeding issues and if washes well, but it is thick and takes a long time to dry. I have no idea how it is any ācoolerā than the others. Still nice quality, but not a necessity.
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GEM Custom Saddle pads on Facebook. They are perfect for the muggy south Texas heat. I have five. I cannot stop.
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I like the Eskadron Big Squaresā¦ They do very well so far in the heatā¦
No oneās mentioned it, and it definitely does NOT meet the affordable requirement, but I prefer Mattes (sheepskin dressage shaped pads) - for all seasons, but I especially appreciate it in summer. Unlike cotton, the wool absorbs the horseās sweat, and also unlike cotton, it has a huge capacity for absorption. Once cotton is soaked, so is the horseās back - and the saddle. It also has antibacterial qualities and doesnāt develop the rank odor that cotton can. The pads are admittedly much harder to care for than other options in addition to being super expensive (I wait for sales), but I find that I can use a pad for about a week in summer if it is dried and brushed out well between each ride. Iāve tried other pads, including the LeMieux wool lined dressage pad, but always come back to these.
Of course, they only work if the wool is directly against the skin - putting a Mattes half pad over a cotton pad, as Iāve seen done, defeats the purpose. Also, itās best to have your saddle fitted with these pads. My fitters have generally always liked how the saddle fits with them, on multiple horses, but there have been a few exceptions.
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I really like PRI pads for the summer. They are light weight and hold up well. Iām in NC and ride in an uncovered arena. Iāve never had a problem with them. I hose them down after every ride.
PS, I ātuck it upā into the saddle gullet so it doesnāt put pressure on the withers or back.
Thanks alot.
I already have a problem with accumulating saddle pads and I found several that I want on their site. That I really want. Thanks. :no:
