I’m going to do a bit of showing this year, and the last time I was in the show pen was a few years ago (and my first time showing Western). I have 3 nice pads left over from the kids when they showed, but I feel like they are too long for my saddle and my gelding’s back. They all measure 34.5 - 35 inches. My saddle is 15" and the kids rode in a 16" saddle, so maybe that is it. I just am not finding any shorter length pads, and I like the colors on all 3 pads I have. I just feel like there is lots of pad in front of and behind my saddle. Is that normal? How much is too much?
I’ve noticed my show pad is pretty long too. My mare is a touch long so it fits her well (15.1 hands and about 1300 lbs). I ride a 15.5 inch saddle and there is quite a bit sticking out around it. Unfortunately, it won’t let me upload the only photo I have of it.
Most show pads are longer now due to size of
show saddles and the skirts being large. If it fits your horse I wouldn’t worry about it
Seems that the past years saddle blankets have been getting larger around than the saddles.
I don’t like that look, but it is what it is.
You will be in good company, everyone is using overly large pads.
It really depends on how long and how much drop your skirts have.
I am not an expert, as we are still only going to schooling and open shows…BUT at our barn, you use a saddle pad, and then the Navajo goes over that. So for our big Paint horses, the Navajo has to be like 35x36 to cover the entire saddle pad with nothing showing. BUT if your horse is smaller obviously you’d want a smaller saddle pad and smaller navajo. Smartpak is now carrying more western gear, and I loved their red and black Navajo which was on sale this week. 
…We don’t call them “show pads” we call what we use every day “saddle pads” (a regular ProChoice or Fivestar) and what we put on top for shows we call “Navajos”…show pad is what we’d call a bright white English saddle pad…
