Favorite Type of Saddle Pad

[mamboschick]

What is your favorite type of hunter saddle pad? Do you like all purpose, dressage, baroque, close contact, fitted pads, half pads, etc? What measurements do you prefer? (I prefer a 22" back seam with a 20" drop) Are you interested in any cool pad shapes? (Like butterfly wings or scalloped edges? What colors/ designs (or combinations) do you prefer your saddle pads to be? Is there anything you don’t like about certain types of saddle pads? How thick do you like a saddle pad to be? Also, how much are you willing to pay for a saddle pad?

In addition, do you like saddle pad/polo wrap/ (fly bonnet) combinations?

I am looking to start making pads, and while I am not trying to price them as high as possible, the materials are VERY expensive, so I am looking to see if I would be able to make any money on them at all (even if it’s only $5 a pad profit,). The pads I would be selling would have 1" thick foam on the inside, which would appear thinner after it was sewn together, a quality canvas or other high quality fabric top, and a (very) soft felt (I didn’t even realize it was felt at first) or other soft type of material that won’t pull hair out on the underside. I am interested in doing cool colors and stuff if I can get access to the materials.

Any comments, tips, or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

[evenstar]

[QUOTE=mamboschick;7741130]
What is your favorite type of hunter saddle pad? Do you like all purpose, dressage, baroque, close contact, fitted pads, half pads, etc? What measurements do you prefer? (I prefer a 22" back seam with a 20" drop) Are you interested in any cool pad shapes? (Like butterfly wings or scalloped edges? What colors/ designs (or combinations) do you prefer your saddle pads to be? Is there anything you don’t like about certain types of saddle pads? How thick do you like a saddle pad to be? Also, how much are you willing to pay for a saddle pad?

In addition, do you like saddle pad/polo wrap/ (fly bonnet) combinations?

I am looking to start making pads, and while I am not trying to price them as high as possible, the materials are VERY expensive, so I am looking to see if I would be able to make any money on them at all (even if it’s only $5 a pad profit,). The pads I would be selling would have 1" thick foam on the inside, which would appear thinner after it was sewn together, a quality canvas or other high quality fabric top, and a (very) soft felt (I didn’t even realize it was felt at first) or other soft type of material that won’t pull hair out on the underside. I am interested in doing cool colors and stuff if I can get access to the materials.

Any comments, tips, or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you![/QUOTE]

Huh? Seriously, hunter pad versus dressage is totally different to me. And I see NO connection of saddle pad to polo wraps or fly bonnets!

For my horse I’m currently using a pad with wool inserts that make up for marginal deficiencies in saddle flocking plus a thin line pad which I think is wonderful and addresses any other issues with saddle fit (our barn’s saddle fitter actually agrees).

There might still be a very good market for what you want to sell, but it’s not sounding like I’d be someone you would sell to.

[3rottenponies]

I personally don’t use fly bonnets or care tooooo much if my polos match my saddle pad, but I know people who do, so why not make that sort of thing an option?! See what you get.

I am not too fancy…for work pads we like a thicker pad, and for showing we have the Classics III in white with black trim. I think some colors look nice, especially if rider has a matching burgundy/rust/etc etc colored shadbelly and boots. Not sure what the measurement is on that, mot of the time it is the right size for horse/saddle/bounce pad. We also use the thinlines at shows and some horses in their everyday work.

[CrotchetyDQ]

The felt SOUNDS like a good idea, but according to our saddle fitter, is a BAD idea. It compresses under the saddle and becomes hard. I would go with a nice brushed flannel instead. I have a few pads with a brushed cotton flannel that I love.