I also use horsehealth.co.uk but many other UK tack shops often have sales, such as flash sales, that include Lemieux. So I often find pads cheaper elsewhere. Many of these shops ship internationally nowadays. So I’d try to search specifically in the UK (set your browser/location to UK or Google with UK in the phrase). Or UK eBay.
I have some Ogilvy pads, and while I like the cut, the “special quick-dry anti-bacterial/anti-fungal brushed poly on the inside” feels gross to the touch after riding.
I agree about the Roma pads - excellent quality and value for the price. And I have also fallen in love with the Lemieux
pads (and Weatherbeeta’s knock off - they are almost identical and the price is a tad less.) I agree that a quality pad does fit better, and the Lemieux is only about $10 over the $60 mark. They have some really nice features, lots of gorgeous colors to choose from and they wash really well too. I expect mine to last forever.
Matching everything is not important to me and I have to say I don’t understand the “fly veil” craze at all. Okay, if your horse is sensitive to flies, gnats and tends to shake his/her head a lot, by all means use one.
But you see them on nearly every horse these days. So that leads me to think they are simply a fashion craze.
I’ve switched entirely to the lemieux. With monoflap saddles they are the best because the straps attach to the D rings, and they are breathable, durable, and stay up off the withers. I do have a couple of equiline pads for showing but otherwise it’s all lemieux.
I recently bought a Le Mieux pad in the smaller size for my pony. It had to be shorter for him but long for my long-flapped saddle and Thinline pad.
I haven’t used it yet but wanted just one pad that will last instead of a few that would need replacing. I got it for $45 at Dover-- it’s last season’s lavender color.
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When the world isn’t facing a pandemic crisis, I work part-time at a tack store, and I confess to having a mild LeMieux addiction. My saddle is a monoflap, so I definitely look for pads that offer the D-ring attachment. I also really like my Schockemohle Power pad and the saddle pad the I have from Custom with their logo. All of them seem to really stay up in the gullet well. I haven’t tried the Professional’s Choice ones, but I want to. They seem like they, too, would stay up in the gullet really well because they’re a little stiffer than a lot of other pads. I did end up getting an Equito pad for showing, but haven’t gotten to use it yet. The Equito is the most I’ve ever spent on a non-corrective saddle pad with the Schockemohle second, I think. I do love all the pretty, shiny colors of some of those brands, but I just can’t spend that kind of money. I probably wouldn’t have so many LeMieux pads, either, if I didn’t get an employee discount.
Just got my Mattes Euro-fit dressage pad today. Unfortunately I did pay full retail price for it, but I’ve wanted one for a long time and decided to do it. I’m just getting back into riding after years of letting the horse be a pasture ornament and me talking about how I “used to ride dressage”. So, I’ve been treating myself to some nice stuff.
Anyway, I rode with the Mattes pad today and it is awesome. I love the look of it, the quality of it, the way it sits on his back and stays off his withers and spine.
I got a white one, but am now seriously considering getting a black one too.
Nervous about washing it, but I’ve been reading up and watching videos to get prepared. I’ll throw up if I ruin this thing, LOL.
Am I the only one who uses the anky saddle pads? They are so versatile and actually last quite a long time and have great color choices, so the amount they cost with the amount of use time I get out of them really is very good. I also use acavallo and back on track. Since this quarantine I’ve been shopping around for a couple of things I need and have notice there are a couple of saddle pads in the 150€ range nearly had a small heart attack I thought paying £110 for one of my acavallo was a lot, but it’s actually held up for about 2 years now.
I received my Woof Wear pad last week. I pretty much use only brands with D-ring attachements because monoflap and preference. It cost less than the Lemieux and is a nice everyday cotton type of pad. Similar in material to the Eskadron Cotton pads (small square style). I’ll see how it holds up.
Not sure they qualify as expensive, but I have been happy with Rambo and Lettia
I don’t have any PS pads, but I ride exclusively in ES pads. I’ve never had an issue with them shifting/moving while riding. They’ve held up really nicely and wash well, but if they get really dirty or covered in hair, wash them one pad at a time in the washer. That’s the only downside, but it would be the same with the PS pads. If you put too many in the washer at once, the hair and dirt cling to the shiny material and settle in all of the stitch lines. I only made that mistake once :eek:
My first LeMieux pad is currently in transit, ordered a Loire line pad from the UK. Hopefully it’ll be here in time for my pon’s birthday on Saturday 
Ohh, great learning thread for me. If you think dressage pads are expensive try looking at western. My dressage horse is also my trail horse, she has a endurance type of saddle that is a flex. When I put the dressage pad on under it with a thinline it worked wonders! So much cheaper than a western pad with thinline or some type of material inside, and easier to clean. So now I am on the hunt for dressage pads I can use underneath that are good quality and don’t break the bank. I have tried Roma, but now will lookat some other brands too.
Just ordered my first Equestrian Stockholm pad! So excited! I definitely didn’t need it, but I quarantine blues had me do a little retail therapy.
