Good saddlepad for use with dressage saddle?

[ride2endure]

I use a dressage saddle for all my riding, and I’m looking for a good, durable saddle pad to use for conditioning and eventually competing for endurance/competitive trail. I’m having trouble finding shaped pads that I like that have adequate protection for Huck’s back.

I’ve looked into Skito pads, but all the options get confusing. My saddle fits well, and so the thought of the inserts makes me wary of ruining saddle fit. Can you just get a regular pad?

I’ve looked into Equipdedics and Haf pads, but those are a bit out of my price range, and even then, most only offer square pads to fit dressage saddles.

Currently I’m just using an array of thin pads under my saddle, my favorite being my Poly Pad (http://www.polypads.co.uk/) which has been shown to have some shock absorbing ability, and now have a shaped dressage pad. I’ve considered using this in conjunction with a ThinLine, but then the cost of the two puts it in running with a Skito pad.

I’ve also looked at Toklat pads, which seem to be pretty popular as well. They have a shaped dressage model.

Any suggestions? We’re currently conditioning for doing an LD this fall if all goes well. I’m hoping to get into some 50s next year.

[Bank_of_Dad]

I love these pads. I have one that’s 20 yrs old, with new foam inserts. I’m getting another for the next 10 years.

[ponygrl25]

Toklats are very nice pads. They hold up well, stay put, and wash easily. I like the idea of the inserts for them also. I’ve used a wintec back relief foam pad under my dressage saddle for years now. It is around $30 and fits my 17 1/2 seat County perfectly. I use it with a folded wool blend western blanket or a toklat. It may not be the best for competition but it might get you through until you can buy what you really want.

[ride2endure]

Bank of Dad - I guess what I’m not understanding is: do the Skitos with inserts affect the fit of the saddle? My saddle fits my horse very well, and I’m concerned with inserts altering the fit and creating pressure points. They seem to last a very long time and everyone raves about them. I guess if I’m really curious I should just contact the company.

[sublimequine]

I can’t imagine a Skito fitting under an already fitting Dressage saddle. They seem like such BULKY pads. I guess that’s okay for treeless where you need the bulk to kinda take the place of a tree, but in treed saddles, I don’t get how they don’t mess up the fit of the saddle.

[pj1]

[QUOTE=sublimequine;4067481]
I can’t imagine a Skito fitting under an already fitting Dressage saddle. They seem like such BULKY pads. I guess that’s okay for treeless where you need the bulk to kinda take the place of a tree, but in treed saddles, I don’t get how they don’t mess up the fit of the saddle.[/QUOTE]

A bulky pad WILL mess up the fit of a well fitted saddle. If the saddle truely fits you want as thin a pad as you can have.

[sublimequine]

[QUOTE=pj;4067557]
A bulky pad WILL mess up the fit of a well fitted saddle. If the saddle truely fits you want as thin a pad as you can have.[/QUOTE]

That’s what I was trying to say. I don’t understand why Skitos are so popular even amongst treed saddle users, as like you said, if the saddle fits, you shouldn’t need a big thick pad.

[citydog]

If you like the PolyPad, you could add a Thinline between it and the saddle. I really like the Toklat Woolback (the larger one with the contoured topline from Sportack) I have for hunting, although the Mattes pad (full, contoured but the wool on the flaps is shorter than under the panels, which is nice and I wish Toklat had the same option) doesn’t mess with saddle fit as much as the Toklat. I love PolyPads + Thinline for ring work and XC, but prefer a wool pad for hunting and trail.

[GallopingGrape]

Skitos come in a variety of thickness… everything from 1/4" and up. They are not bulky at all, if you order the thin ones. The newest Grandure Future pad rivals the Thinline and is DREAMY…

[lizathenag]

I own every pad on the planet I think–at least it feels that way. my shark finned OT gains and loses weight so I need to change pads now and then.

I always go back to the Skito.

remember they are heat sensitive so they may feel thick and bulky in the tack room but when they get on the horse they mold to fit.

yummy.

[JackSprats_Mom]

Ride2endure- Skito pads won’t mess up the fit of your saddle as they aren’t ‘inserts’ in the typical dressage meaning (ie to adjust a saddle fit). The inserts are memory foam.

The reason why folks love them is they dissapate heat well AND create a larger surface area on the horse for weight which help on longer rides, I would trust that numerous long distance riders aren’t wrong

That said, I have a skito and it simply doesn’t work for me for some reason. So they’re not for everyone.

[ride2endure]

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. Please feel free to keep them coming!

My saddle fits my horse pretty well, I’ve been waiting on having it professionally fitted until he muscles up some more. I know that typically you want a thin pad underneath a well-fitting saddle, which is where I hit my dilemma. For long distance riding, I really would want something a little thicker with some shock absorbency. So perhaps the Poly Pad + Thinline would be a good fit? I am leaning towards this idea, because then I could have multiple Poly Pads (eventually! they’re a little expensive to get a bunch at once) to use on different legs of the ride when we eventually get to the 50-mile+ lengths.

Speaking of Thinlines, should the be used next to the horse’s back or between the saddle and pad? Is one way better than the other? My friend/trainer and I have this conversation all the time since we’re both just trying out the Thinline, but I noticed when I use it on a longer training ride (versus 30 min-1 hr lesson/ring work) it molded better to the horse’s back. It was also a hot day and I used it between the saddle and pad.

[Icecapade]

The biggest problem with distance and multiple pads which arena folks or short distance riders don’t find is a friction issue.

Two pads are more likely to geneate more heat… I have always always steered as far away from double pads as possible.

I had to revert to a memory foam when I purchased my thornhill vienna because my horse was having worm and winter issues and his withers sunk quiet a bit for him and we compensated for two months with it. now his back is filled up I don’t use it any more…

just be aware. =)

I love wool pads by the way. period… hands down my favorite, even if they pill

[KarenC]

In addition to shock absorbancy, you have to think of heat dissipation and sweat absorption. I’m interested in the thinline pads, but I worry about them holding in heat (regardless of what their website says) - would like to hear from some endurance riders who are using them. I’ve had success with the Skito pads - I especially like the ones with real wool on the underside. You can get them custom-made for any saddle. My favorite pad, however, is the Fleeceworks full fleece pad. Yes, they are bulkier than just a plain cotton pad, but they provide some cushioning and do a great job of absorbing sweat. As much as possible, I like to stay with natural fibers (that’s why I prefer the wool-backed Skito). I have tried other pads and keep returning to the fleeceworks. They aren’t cheap but they wear like iron and are easy to maintain - a good wire dog brush and a very rare trip in the washing machine on the delicate cycle with some Melp and they are like new.

[ride2endure]

Interesting note about friction between two pads, I hadn’t given that consideration. I have thought some about heat dissipation, but thanks for reminding me.

My good friend (who mainly events) swears up and down by her Fleeceworks pads, that was her suggestion for me.

Thanks everyone, feel free to offer more suggestions and thoughts!

[TBPNW]

For simple, inexpensive, and durable I like my Toklat double fleece medallion pads, shaped fits my dressage saddles very well. Fwiw, this is only coming from TB trail rider, not endurance. I like that they don’t stay wet, air circulates, it doesn’t shift with the saddle or rub, and that it is shaped, no need to hold any more heat than necessary. But they aren’t a fancy pad, cost about $50, does the job very well for what I need.