I am really into nice saddle pads, well okay, maybe I have a teeny-weeny addiction to saddle pads. It seems like lately there is a flood of gorgeous styles, fabrics and colors to choose from now that ‘matchy’ is a thing. I find myself drawn to, well okay lusting after, all of them. Now, maybe I am stuck in the 90’s but since when did everyone have to shell out nearly $100 for a pretty saddle pad? I know there are some in the $50-$60 range but they are not as enticing and the ones I have tried are not really holding up well. Not sure if this is just a rant or what but would love to hear what others have to say and what you all are buying cuz when I get to rated shows the day before and get into the arena to school, I feel pretty plain compared to everyone else with all their flashy expensive pads, matching fly bonnets and boots!
First of all, I doubt anyone “important” is judging or impressed by all the matchy matchy gear. In fact, I know several BNT that find it off-putting.
Secondly, why worry about paying for something that will last a long time that is so trendy?
What am I buying? White; white pad, white boots. Cream pad for the times I wear brown. I’m too cheap to buy cream boots so we school in white boots or the silver or black boots that I bought only because they were on sale.
No slave to fashion here. However, I pay right around $100 for my plain white and cream quality pads.
I rarely, if ever, spend more than $60 on a saddle pad. Of course, I value quality, but I find that most of the saddle pads that are so highly priced are more of a “brand name” thing. My $30-$60 have held up just fine over the years. I do have some high end Eskadron, PS of Sweden, Equestrian Stockholm, etc. but I only bought them either on sale or discounted as part of a matching set. Not sure they’re worth the price otherwise. Speaking as a person who does like to match and loves saddle pads 
USG pads are good-looking and hold up very well.
I buy ROMA double diamond pads; I have 4 colors, rotate them every couple days. They have lasted a long time, and under $50. I am probably one of the least fashion conscious people on the planet and not into various add-ons. My horse schools with no wraps/boots, no fly bonnet, basic black tack and above pad. Me in breeches and polo. Same at shows on schooling day. Nothing fancy on show day: white shirt, white pad, Navy coat. Hate stock ties. clean boots.
So I’m not help here, but I get that there are things we lust over
Yes, it is nice to find them on sale but it is rare. I guess that was kind of my point - that they are really nice but not necessarily worth $90 - $100. Even though I love the way they look, they just seem WAY overpriced, even for a tack addict.
For me, it really has nothing to do with wanting to impress anyone! I really love the look and would live to indulge but find the price tag a bit much. I feel like that just about a lot of equestrian stuff. The price if the nice new helmets also gives me sticker shock.
Ironically, my white show pads are the really cheap ones from Smartpak because white just doesn’t stay white for long. My expensive pads are for regular use. I scored at a consignment store once on an Ecogold pad and an Equine Couture pad. I paid full price for a navy blue Ecogold jump pad that gets used for lessons and competitions.
But yeah, I have to say, when I’m eyeing someone at a show their saddle pad is probably the last thing I notice 
I just spent more money for a saddle pad than I ever have in my life, but I’ve been wanting one and I finally bit the bullet and ordered the Mattes dressage pad. I got it in white just in case I decide to show at any of our farm’s little schooling shows because white looks much better on my horse. Maybe I’ll save up and buy a black one for everyday purposes in the future, but that’ll depend on if I think the first one is worth the price and how difficult it is to keep clean.
I tell myself it’s an investment. Sure, it’s expensive. But if it makes my horse more comfortable and is a high quality pad that lasts a long time, it’ll be worth it. Right? Right.
I upgraded to Ogilvy for my dressage pad and Lemieux for my jump pad because I wanted the higher withers, longer drop, and more stable construction. Totally worth it. But I have them in subdued colors and I don’t use boots or bonnets. I am very happy with them
Mattes pass ordered custom through Hufglocken are not very expensive with the AUD exchange rate right now. I had a black sheen pad with Hunter green binding and lighter green piping for about $60. Will be ordering another batch pretty soon.
Am I the only one who loathes to spend over $25 for a saddle pad? :uhoh:. I mean, I appreciate the pretty look of the expensive pads, but I just can’t justify the expense. And most of my pads were on sale, $20, white for showing (or blue for xc) and once stained, enter the daily rotation.
I have nice half pads with shims, but with the cost of entry fees (and EVERYTHING else) I can’t “add to cart” a $60 pad when a $20 one does the same job. But, I am a cheap eventer riding OTTBs, so maybe it comes with the territory. 
My own tack addiction is horse blankets (turnouts & coolers) and I secretly covet many bridles, so I guess we all have a “thing.”:winkgrin:
I thought the same thing, but after using LeMieux suede pads I found they are much better than cheaper alternatives - and more expensive alternatives for that matter. They fit well and clean up perfectly. Even the direct copies of other brands don’t quite fit as well.
I know traditionalists hate it, but I prefer color saddle pads. White just doesn’t stay white. The colors may fade a little, but in my opinion they stay looking presentable longer. Obviously I have white pads for clinics, but given the choice I prefer a color.
That said I can’t justify the really pricey ones. I shop sales and I keep them and use them for years.
I have a minor saddle pad obsession. My favorite is Lemieux. They last and look like new everytime I wash them. They wash so well. I am able to find them on sale from time to time. I also love their sensitive pad that has fleece along the edge. Perfect for the rubs my horse gets during coat changes!
I also have Eskadron, but find the drop to be quite long. They’re good quality, some don’t wash as well and even shrink/shrivel a bit when washed properly. However, they’re not so expensive (in Europe anyway), especially when a new collection comes out the and precious seasons goes on sale.
I bought a custom Mattes Euro Dressage pad, and that is a nice substabtial pad too. The girth straps aren’t the best quality, but it washes well.
I have 2 Weatherbeeta pads, similar design to Lemieux, but the quality isn’t as good and they are prone to fading.
I recently bought a Fairplay pad on sale for a good price (30€) and want to see how it holds up. I also have a Woof Wear on the way.
My main attraction is pads that have straps for the D-rings (Lemieux, Weatherbeeta, Woof Wear, Fairplay, Schockemöhle) since I have a monoflap, and just think it’s a better design overall.
I always shop around, find discount codes, or look on eBay. I rarely end up paying full price for a pad. I only buy the pads since I’m not into wraps (horse wears black boots) and not into ear bonnets either.
Matchy-matchy is fun…and that’s about it.
I used to only buy the Dover mini-diamond dressage pads. I’d buy 7 or 8 at the start of spring and as they got less white, they became schooling pads. Granted, that was…16 years ago? - and the quality is not the same. They used to last me years. Now I’m lucky to get a season out of one.
A well-made pad lasts longer and sits better on the horse. I’m happy to spend $60 for a pad that will last a few years. I buy $20 eBay white pads for shows and they get added to the schooling pile after a show or two. When they disintegrate, they become barn cat beds. I hose off the nice pads and machine wash the throw-aways.
My current favorites are LeMieux and PS of Sweden.
I’m also a LeMieux convert. The fit is impeccable and I also love the wither design. Every time I wash them, they look new. My horse also doesn’t sweat so much in them. I no longer use any of my old pads.
I also have an Hermès pad that I received as a Christmas gift. It’s cut similarly to the LeMieux at the withers and the craftsmanship is incredible. I used it to school at the last show and I can say that pad did turn heads. I had a lot of compliments on it. It’s pretty posh but it does slip a little, unlike the LeMieux which stays where I put it.
I love these LeMieux pads!
Fellow saddle pad addict here. I have yet to buy one that approaches $100, though I’ve certainly been tempted by the some of the nicer Eskadron pads. I love jewel toned, deep colors. I never do matchy matchy because I don’t use bonnets or polos. And my overreach boots are black so I don’t have to worry about stains.
I’ve had a USG pad for 6 years with regular use. It’s faded but still going strong. I think it will probably last another year or two.
I also have a Horze, Weatherbeeta, PRI, Roma and a Waldhausen.
Of the ones I have, the USG pads have been my favorites. I like the Weatherbeeta so far but I haven’t had it for that long so I can’t say how it will stand up over time. I don’t think I’ll be getting another Horze, PRI or Roma pad. I love the Waldhausen but it’s really thick so I only use it on the few days of the year when I know my horse isn’t going to sweat under the pad.
I used to machine wash my pads a lot to totally remove the hair and sweat. But I’ve found machine washing is the fastest way to fade and disintegrate the pad. I hose them down and hang them to dry after every ride. I only machine wash them once or twice a year.
Well, I guess I am in the minority, LOL but I love my collection of pretty Eskadron pads (and all the matchy matchy stuff that goes with them.)
I do try to buy them on sale and have several online shops that I kinda haunt looking for deals. But I do find that the nice quality, thicker type pads hold up really well, come out of the wash looking new, and seem to have a cut that stays in place on the horse and doesn’t shift - around which I really like. Are they worth the $$$? I think so, just based on how many years of use I get out of them and how nice they stay even with regular use.
For show days I have a couple of white Ogilvy pads. Again not the cheapest but they really hold up well and come out of the wash looking show-ready despite literally years of use. I’m ok paying more for quality vs. having to replace cheaper stuff over and over again, and I like the better cushion those pads provide compared to thinner, less expensive pads.
Ditto. I won’t pay $100 for a fancy pad that is a super-specific color that will clash with most of my other stuff. But I’m more than happy to pay $60 for a pad that is durable, cut properly and washes up well. I order plain black cotton pads mostly. My thought is that lots of piping, shiny fabric, embroidery, etc. is going to look like crap after a certain amount of washing and use, so I stick with basics. I did start using the Mattes that has one row of piping as a schooling pad since it doesn’t look like we’ll have a show season this year. We’ll see how it holds up after a few washes. I do wish the Mattes had the wear panels at the billets like the LeMieux pads. When I started using my first LeMieux pad, I thought “wow, it’s like this was designed by someone who has actually used a saddle pad before!”
