I have one horse that really does better with sheepskin on her back and for simplicity I prefer to just use a sheepskin full square pad vs trying to layer a sheepskin half pad and a non sheepskin full pad.
But I am cheap and sheepskin in not. :sigh:
So what are some reasonably good sheepskin pads for the $$? I really don’t want to be spending $200+ on a Mattes or Fleeceworks.
I’ve seen these from Engel. Feedback?
Anything else out there that’s worth looking at?
I buy mine from Facebook groups and Ebay. If I see them cheap I buy them. Might not need them right then but I have a small stash and different thickness to use.
Which facebook groups, luvmyhackney? I follow a few tack groups, but the pads I see usually still seem awfully costly for the condition. Maybe I’m just not in the right places. And I see a LOT of half pads, but very rarely a square with sheepskin. :-/
I had one of the AP Engel pads for my old QH. I used it out trail riding for several years and actually liked it better than the Mattes pad I had. My current riding pony doesn’t really need sheepskin or extra padding, but I’m tempted to pull it back out to try on her anyway…
AP Engel pad with an AP saddle:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10100385557646366&set=a.10100385562017606&type=3&theater
I have bought sheepskin full mattes pads on Facebook, but I don’t see them often. What are you hoping for? I’ve been meaning to clean out what I have and I’m relatively close to you.
I’ve been looking at the Engel’s too and I hope you report back if you end up going that route.
You might look at the Toklat woolback pads like this:
http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Toklat_WoolBack_Dressage_Saddle_Pad_Contoured/descpage-TWDSP.html
It’s wool woven onto a backing, so easier to wash than fleece on hide. I’ve used the woolback girth covers and liked them. Not a fan of that much fleece under my leg, but maybe one of their designs would work for you.
Premier Equine also sells cheapish wool saddle pads in fun colors and they seem to have 20% off sales every few weeks. Shipping to North America is expensive but you would get the VAT tax deducted. I’ve been tempted but I don’t need another saddle pad* and I’d like to see one in person and know if the dye colors bleed.
https://www.premierequine.co.uk/merino-wool-gp-jump-saddle-pad-c2x22532754
The nicest wool I’ve seen in person were the ones from Christ Lammfelle of Germany, much superior to the Mattes. I actually stood there in a shop petting the saddle pad for 10 minutes. https://lammfelle.de/en/HorseDream/Saddlepads-Numnahs-Dressage/Saddlepad-Champ-D.html
*says the person who has four open browser tabs with saddle pads I am watching in anticipation of Black Friday Sales.
And, ah, where are those good sales? :lol: 
I like that Premier pad a lot–great price, fun colors. I assume they’re not really sold in the US? Or not for anywhere near that price?
@soloudinhere I think I’m looking for something pretty straight forward! Just a all purpose square with the fleece under the saddle, or the fancy all purpose shape like that premier pad. Don’t want the fleece all the way down, don’t need anything crazy like shims…I feel like I shouldn’t have to spend $200+ for that, you know?
@dazed really glad to hear you were happy with your Engel pad! :yes:
I haven’t seen the Premier ones in the US either online or in store. But my local shop selection is a little limited (white saddlecloths and more white saddlecloths. let’s go wild- here’s a black dressage pad!) so maybe someone on the East Coast has?.
Here are some more British options with the caviat that I don’t have personal experience any of these saddle pad brands:
Listed on Ebay from a store where I bought some leather goods a few months ago:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RHINEGOLD-Quilted-Jumping-Forward-Cut-GP-SaddleCloth-HALF-LINED-Sheepskin-Saddle-/291479826208?var=&hash=item89802cbd83
They also have some funky colored store samples in GP size:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/FSS-Luxury-MERINO-Half-Lined-Sheepskin-HI-WITHER-GP-Dressage-SaddleCloth-Square-/291974994927?var=&hash=item89989e3c24
I always see the British brand Nuumed ( https://nuumed.com/categories/14-saddlepad#/material-half_wool ) when I’m on UK tack sites. Google turns up plenty of shops that ship this brand to the USA like:
https://www.rideawaystore.com/en-US/Griffin-NuuMed-HiWither-Half-Wool-GP-Saddle-Pad/r5048072.htm?colour=White
Don’t know how this store’s customer service is, but if you don’t mind slow shipping and plain colors, this Weatherbeeta brown pad is listed at $60+ $10 for economy shipping.
https://www.rideawaystore.com/en-US/Weatherbeeta-Merino-High-Wither-All-Purpose-Saddle-Pad/r5052714.htm?colour=chocolate
I have some Engel pads. They’re well priced and last a long time. I also have Christ Lammfelle and Mattes. I find the Christ to be a little too thick. Both Christ and Mattes are kind of overpriced.
Try LeMieux. I find their products to be very high quality, and right now the exchange is good –– even against the Canadian dollar. I haven’t tried their sheepskin saddle pads (yet). I did just receive their sheepskin girth cover made for a Fairfax –– to use on a County Logic girth. The lambskin on the cover is incredibly soft and plush. I imagine their saddle pads will be as well. They have square and contoured pads.
[URL=“http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/saddle-pads/merino/merino-dressage/lemieux-merino-dressage-square-half-lined-white-natural”]http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/saddle-pads/merino/merino-dressage/lemieux-merino-dressage-square-half-lined-white-natural
I quite like Christ and Lemieux products. I have a Mattes jump pad and it’s not bad. I ordered it directly from Poland, so it cost a little less. I have the advantage of being in Europe though.
I bought an Engel girth cover in sheepskin and it’s been great so far. I have not seen their pads, but the cover has been a great value. I’d consider their other products. I’ve never been that impressed with Fleece works FWIW.
Out of all those brands, you should be able to scout out something.
I don’t know why people say the exchange rate is good. The exchange rate is only good when it is 1 to 1 or in favor of your currency :lol: IMO
Le Mieux is brilliant. It is well made and good quality. Beware of going too cheap with sheepskin-- some of the cheaper pads are made of several pieces stitched together, and if you run your hand on the side of the pad that will be on your horse’s back, you can feel the rough edges of the stitching and the unevenness of the padding.
Fleeceworks has some sale pads on their website. Once, I called and they even looked and found a sale pad for me that wasn’t listed on the website.my horse gets skin bumps from seams or edges. Fleeceworks is the only brand I have found that works for him. Even Mattes caused bumps.
What about the Ovation fleece saddle pads, the dressage pads are around $134 (Victory Canter has them) you can find the shaped pads for less.
The shires superfleece pads are very nice. Not real sheepskin but the feel very similar (it’s nicer than some real sheepskin saddle pads I own. I actually like it more than my mattes) and they wash easily without having to worry about how the sheepskin will look once you are done. I also think I got mine for under 100$, and it’s completely lined in the ‘sheepskin’. I really recommend them.
they also have dressage style ones
WOW. I just picked up two of the Premier pads from their site for $160, all in, with shipping! Yay!
I have a square pad from Balance International that you will have to pry from my cold dead hands.
http://www.balanceinternational.com/BALANCE-Deluxe-Sheepskin-Pads_B226BDH.aspx
Just curious…what colors did you end up getting? Thanks to this thread I’m considering buying the citrus/navy and the wine/green dressage pads. And I was just trying to lighten my load of saddle pads :lol:
I went kind of boring and did two of the red/navy. Really thought about the citrus/navy but thought it might start to look a little sad once it’s used a bit and gets dirty.
But do it! You need more saddle pads! :yes: :lol:
I have a dressage size pad with sheepskin. It’s lovely, but the drop is way too long for my horse. She’s a petite 15.2 I’d love to get a half pad.
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