[QUOTE=GraceLikeRain;8479791]
I would think so. Currently it is being used with a flatter 17" saddle with good space available.[/QUOTE]
Awesome - thanks so much!!!
Ecogold for sure for my sensitive fellow…I use the frictionless pads. Ogilvie baby pads for my less sensitive boy as they have a really great fit and are much less expensive than the Ecogold.
Another vote for BOT pads…my gelding had some back issues last year and these came highly recommended by both vet and masseuse…I really think they cut our warm up time over the winter by half. I’ve slowly been expanding our collection - sometimes you’ll see them on Tack of the Day for a good price.
In the summer, I like the Tuff rider pads - thin, well constructed, and easy to chuck in the wash to keep His Royal Ponyness happy. They’re also crazy inexpensive, so feel free to go wild and buy one in every color 
I like Back on Track stuff, but I find that their pads aren’t very generous around the withers. ESPECIALLY the ones with the Thin Line pads built onto them. So if you have a high withered beast, it might not work. Also, the white ones get so grungy and ugly looking very quickly. Not a huge deal, but they always look untidy.
PRI pads are very nice. They are a lot of bang for the buck. They are also contoured nicely and they are pretty stiff.
I’ve been dying to try out the Fenwick ones, but I haven’t gotten a chance to yet. They look nifty.
So glad to hear that about the concept pad.
Back on Track in the winter (and for shows… their white pads look SO nice in the ring!). PRI in the summer. Both brands fit my saddle well, have good wither clearance, and hold up well to use.
I have a Back on Track pad which is fine, but it started to fray fairly quickly. I much prefer my Draper Equine pad. It has similar benefits but is incredibly soft and wicking on the underside. It also washes really well, and comes up sparkling white every time.
Back On Track, but I do agree on the withers being tight. In my view the therapeutic benefit is worth it.
If not, Classics 3 by tolkat, or Duratech.
Both have good wither relief.
PRI if you want thinner material.
I have tried many brands, dover, tuff rider, centaur, smart Pak. All of these seem to wear out fast, bunch up, and are very hot.
[QUOTE=Jumper_Princess1988;8484180]
Another vote for BOT pads…my gelding had some back issues last year and these came highly recommended by both vet and masseuse…I really think they cut our warm up time over the winter by half. I’ve slowly been expanding our collection - sometimes you’ll see them on Tack of the Day for a good price.
In the summer, I like the Tuff rider pads - thin, well constructed, and easy to chuck in the wash to keep His Royal Ponyness happy. They’re also crazy inexpensive, so feel free to go wild and buy one in every color :)[/QUOTE]
I recently got two new Tuffrider pads and they definitely changed the shape their all purpose cut used to fit beautifully under my dressage saddle and its now fit more for a CC. The material on top is different too. =(
As someone with a saddle pad collection problem I can say that PRI and USG are both good quality. I love the rope piping on USG, and you can get matching fly bonnets! PRI has a smidgen more padding - and is going to be better for a high withered horse.
Stay away from Centaur - I had one pad from them that lasted 4 rides. I got an embroidered diamond quoted pad from smartpak, and it is far too thin - my horse will actually sweat through the material.
I have one BoT pad and honestly can’t tell if it helps or not, but the material is a nice quality and washes well.
Since I wash my pads in our little washing machine at home, I purposely don’t buy pads that have shims,foam or fleece on them. I use a Thinline Ultra pad which is super low-profile but gives my horse just that extra bit of cushion.
We’re really happy with the Equinelux pads. Very good quality - http://www.equinelux.com/dressage-saddle-pads.php
I use a PRI pad in dressage. I think they are cheap and hold up really well. They aren’t thick, but I use a fluffy half pad anyway so I dont need thick. They wash really well in my opinion.
I have an Ecogold pad that I like for hot hot weather. It stays put and the material is really nice. Ive had it for three years and its now just ready to retire to the schooling pile for staining. I love that pad. Worth the money I shelled out for it.
I have a BOT saddle pad that is nice. The material is thick and high quality. Nice heavy pad. I have it in black. I personally use it for cool weather and I dont notice a difference in it for riding with the BOT technology. I had one melt in the dryer, first saddle pad that has ever done that too, so I am wary to hand dry them now. My only complaint about this pad. The melted pad is still usable just ugly.
I love my BOT! High quality, nice thickness, accommodates high withers (yes it does), warms their back (they seem to like it!) looks good and washes up nicely. I use it with a thin line half pad and a 17.5 Voltaire saddle. It would be fine with an 18".
[QUOTE=FLeventer;8491692]
I had one melt in the dryer, first saddle pad that has ever done that too, so I am wary to hand dry them now. My only complaint about this pad. The melted pad is still usable just ugly.[/QUOTE]
From BOT’s website:
Care: Machine washable up to 86°F or 30°C. Use normal detergents that do not contain bleach or fabric softeners. Air dry only, do not tumble dry.
[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8491971]
From BOT’s website:
Care: Machine washable up to 86°F or 30°C. Use normal detergents that do not contain bleach or fabric softeners. Air dry only, do not tumble dry.[/QUOTE]
Also right on the package they come in! And on the tag on the pad itself - hang to dry.
I’ve tried a LOT of pads - USGs are fun colors, love the braided trim, but they are a little hotter then the PRIs, and they do wear out faster - I find the underside tends to get worn too quickly.
Dover brand, forget it - the stitching and trim starts unraveling after the first couple of washes (and I only air dry my pads, no dryer). Mattes pads are lovely, but expensive! I use a Mattes half-pad, but their regular (no sheepskin) pads are just too pricey. Toklat - eh, OK, but they aren’t as long lasting or nicely padded as the PRIs. I’ve tried many others, and honestly, keep coming back to PRI and BOT for long lasting quality!
[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;8492273]
Also right on the package they come in! And on the tag on the pad itself - hang to dry.
I’ve tried a LOT of pads - USGs are fun colors, love the braided trim, but they are a little hotter then the PRIs, and they do wear out faster - I find the underside tends to get worn too quickly.
Dover brand, forget it - the stitching and trim starts unraveling after the first couple of washes (and I only air dry my pads, no dryer). Mattes pads are lovely, but expensive! I use a Mattes half-pad, but their regular (no sheepskin) pads are just too pricey. Toklat - eh, OK, but they aren’t as long lasting or nicely padded as the PRIs. I’ve tried many others, and honestly, keep coming back to PRI and BOT for long lasting quality![/QUOTE]
I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who feels this way about the USG and the Toklat pads. I bought the USG pad in petrol, and my biggest complaint about it (other than that it was too short for me to use with my sheepskin half pad -half pad hung over the back end of the saddle pad, which always worries me in regards to possibly creating a pressure point on the seam) is that the champagne/gold colored rope style of trim has “flaked” off in places. I was kind of upset because the pads aren’t cheap-cheap and I’d even spent extra money to get it embroidered. Really disappointing.
I love my Harry’s Horse pad and my Seams Right pads. Seams Right pads wear like iron, and I’m pretty sure that they’ll end up living longer than I will. I want to try those LeMieux pads, though, and am willing to give PRI pads another go, even though they seemed a little shorter down the spine than I like the last time I had one.
[QUOTE=NJRider;8473895]
LOVE the Fenwick Bamboo pads. They wash well, do not slip, I have 2 of them. Company is great. http://www.fenwickfarm.com/products/products.aspx?id=13[/QUOTE]
These look a lot like the Anky pads, http://ankyaustralia.com/collections/horse-gear/products/anky_saddle_blanket they’re fantastic!
[QUOTE=FLeventer;8491692]
I use a PRI pad in dressage. I think they are cheap and hold up really well. They aren’t thick, but I use a fluffy half pad anyway so I dont need thick. They wash really well in my opinion.
I have an Ecogold pad that I like for hot hot weather. It stays put and the material is really nice. Ive had it for three years and its now just ready to retire to the schooling pile for staining. I love that pad. Worth the money I shelled out for it.
I have a BOT saddle pad that is nice. The material is thick and high quality. Nice heavy pad. I have it in black. I personally use it for cool weather and I dont notice a difference in it for riding with the BOT technology. I had one melt in the dryer, first saddle pad that has ever done that too, so I am wary to hand dry them now. My only complaint about this pad. The melted pad is still usable just ugly.[/QUOTE]
Regarding the BOT pad, the company is very clear that you never, never put them in the dryer because the heat will ruin the warming effect that the pad has, and apparently they melt too. I love mine.
