Interest in custom wool felt saddle pads?

[Grasshopper]

Hi all,

Posting here as I suspect us foxhunters are most likely to be interested in this kind of thing, due to shock absorption, breathability, and durability with long hours in the saddle. I might also post in eventing, since there are so many queries about saddle pads for extra-forward-flapped saddles!

I’ve been looking around for some wool felt pads that I can use on my own horses, and the options are pretty limited. Then I realized I could design and sew my own!

I love sheepskin, but with felt, I can control the thickness more, and make the pads more durable/washable. The initial search was prompted by my inability to use sheepskin on my young mare, as it does strange things to the saddle fit on her. Same thing if I try to use more than 1 pad.

Would anyone else be interested? Price range would probably be $50-$150 (wool felt quickly gets more expensive the thicker it is).

Here are the options I’m currently considering:

1. Shaped pad, white quilted cover over wool felt, with Sherpa around the edges for a very traditional look. I am thinking of making the cover 100% linen, for even better breathability and durability than cotton. (I just bought a bunch of linen for my own use after wearing 2 layers comfortably in the Florida summer!)

2. Shaped or square pads with cotton or linen quilted covers over wool felt, and bound edges. I wouldn’t want to go too crazy on the options, but could do some fun colors and prints.

The custom options could be:

1. Thickness of felt;
2. Color of cover/binding;
3. Spine and drop lengths;
4. Shape, if you have a hard-to-fit saddle.

I have to special order the wool felt, so I’m trying to gauge interest before ordering more than I need for myself.

Thanks for your thoughts/interest!

[buck22]

I don’t hunt, but I popped in to say I do love felt saddle pads very much. I’ve usually bought my own felt or bought from Diamond, but I LOVE the idea of a linen quilted cover.

Even if you only do for yourself, please share photos, sounds absolutely lovely!

[pluvinel]

I would be interested in a shaped pad for a dressage saddle in black. I actually have a roll of thick wool felt but no sewing machine to stitch it with.

I also like wool felt insoles for shoes.

[SLW]

I like the way you think OP!!! I use a Diamond wool shaped pad and love it. Once hunting starts it gets put away until spring.

Would it be possible to make a shaped wool pad with Sherpa around the edges but without the linen cover? Actually I would only want the Sherpa in front of the knee roll, over the pommel and down and from the lower rear flap up and around the cantel and back down. I wouldn’t want Sherpa under my leg.

[BruBoy]

I’ve been eyeing these pads for awhile http://5starequineproducts.com/saddle-pads/english-contoured-saddle-pads/, and the average price is around $240 for an English saddle pad. $150 for a quality wool felt pad would be a steal.

[Hippolyta]

would be interested in a shaped pad for a dressage saddle in black.

This is EXACTLY what I want. I looked all over for one that would fit my dressage saddle & not cost $$$$. Square would have worked, too. I can’t figure out why it was so hard to find: no one wants felt? We used to use shaped felt with Lane Fox saddles & they were great.

I wanted only real wool, no synthetic. I found two options that were too much cash (five star & diamond), ended up buying random piece of thick wool felt from ebay & plan on cutting it myself (into a square, b/c otherwise I would mess it up royally)

However, the person I got the felt from had inherited it somehow, so I have no idea how to get more. All the other pieces I saw weren’t dimensions that could work, or were industrial size. I may not know the proper search terms, but I did a lot of online searches.

So, I would be all over this. if you could punch holes or spaces along the spine that would be great.

[Grasshopper]

[QUOTE=pluvinel;7143407]

I also like wool felt insoles for shoes.[/QUOTE]

Aha, that sounds like a great way to use scraps!

[QUOTE=SLW;7143525]
Would it be possible to make a shaped wool pad with Sherpa around the edges but without the linen cover? Actually I would only want the Sherpa in front of the knee roll, over the pommel and down and from the lower rear flap up and around the cantel and back down. I wouldn’t want Sherpa under my leg.[/QUOTE]

I don’t see why not, SLW. Good point about not wanting extra bulk under the leg.

[QUOTE=Hippolyta;7143654]
So, I would be all over this. if you could punch holes or spaces along the spine that would be great.[/QUOTE]

I was thinking about trying to add ventilation along the spine–if I can stabilize it sufficiently, I think it could work. Something to experiment with.

Ok, would still love more input but I’ve ordered some felt samples and am going to start designing a test run. Updates will be posted here. Depending on what kind of felt I end up ordering, it may take 3-4 weeks to arrive. So, there won’t be instant results, but I really appreciate your interest and feedback!

[Bensmom]

I love this idea too!!

We are also working to try to create a virtual co-op of some equestrian entrepreneurs – I can keep you in the loop, if you’d be interested!! If we can share some marketing and web presence, I think we would all benefit.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

[Jumper_girl221]

I have been searching for a felt pad I could use in the hunters on super fussy mare without standing out…so would also be very interested

[SLW]

Typing from my phone so I can’t link easily but look up Diamond wool pads. My contour englidh pad is open over the spine.

[SomedaySoon]

Wow, if you go to the Diamond Wool Pads site you may find just what you’re looking for–I just did! [I have no connection with them, but wasn’t sure if it was OK to post the link] The English pads are at the end.

[2tempe]

Grandeur makes a very nice contour dressage pad for just under $100; wool felt underneath, cotton w/ no slip panel on top. I’ve had one for several months, it washes great, and does not slip on my mare’s back. Also has vents along the center seam. Hard to find in US but I got mine from Cheshire Horse in Vermont (or New Hampshire?) Somewhere up there. Just looked at the Diamond; that is a nice pad also!

[xeroxchick]

I am very interested. Having a hard time finding felt filled theideman shaped pads antmore and my old ones are getting frayed.

[Stushica]

Count me in as interested, I’m a part time endurance rider and have been thinking about a wool pad or sheepskin half pad but I’m a broke college student and $200 is just not going to happen

Also ditto on the no sherpa under the leg, I have a fleeceworks classic full (I think? I Bought it at a garage sale) and I hate how insanely bulky it is

[ehwaz]

I’m another endurance rider and I would love felt inserts for my woolback saddle pad. The foam ones wear out pretty fast and felt lasts alot longer, but I haven’t found a place to buy felt inserts. I cut up an older western felt pad, but I couldn’t quite get the lines as strait as I would like.

[Grasshopper]

Some of the sample felts I received this week look good, so I’ve put in my first special order and will post more updates after it arrives and I make a couple of trial pads. I’m starting with 1/4" and 1/2" 100% wool felt, and could add other options up to 1" (or down to 1/16"–shims?) if there is demand.

I’ll need to order trim and fabric also, so if you’re interested in something specific, please PM me this weekend and, without any commitment up front, I’ll let you know if I can make your requested pad as one of my test pads. That way, if it doesn’t work, you’re not out anything, and if it does, it will be ready to go without any wait time as I get this project off the ground!

[QUOTE=Bensmom;7144173]
I love this idea too!!

We are also working to try to create a virtual co-op of some equestrian entrepreneurs – I can keep you in the loop, if you’d be interested!! If we can share some marketing and web presence, I think we would all benefit.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with![/QUOTE]

Bensmom–yes please! I don’t know how much time I have to build this into a real business, but it could be a lot of fun and hopefully help a few people and horses.

[xeroxchick]

Can you post pictures? Looking for a fitted white pad with felt inside.

[Grasshopper]

Sorry for the long absence from this post, but I’m back on a roll! The felt arrived in the middle of my week-long back spasm session. :mad:

Spasms are gone, felt is here, I’m about to start on the test run this weekend. If you’ve contacted me via PM, your requested pad is in line to be done next week.

Question for those who are interested in traditional-looking pads for hunting or the show ring: would you prefer real sheepskin edging, or would you be fine with Sherpa? I have the Sherpa on hand for the first few pads, but have a possible source for real sheepskin trim if there is any interest. Please let me know.

Thanks for the encouragement and input, everyone. Happy hunting!

(Is Opening Day really only a month away??!)

[mountainbells]

How would you keep/get these clean, given that hunting horses tend to get sweaty and dirty, at least out here! Would we need to use an under pad that is washable?

[Grasshopper]

Hi mountainbells,

I am aiming for machine washable as you would wash a sheepskin pad (gentle cycle, wool or leather wash, no dryer). My goal is actually to eliminate the need for an under pad and get the full benefits of wool’s breathability and moisture management as well as the shock absorption. After I make and wash the first couple of pads this weekend, I will be certain to update here!

Thanks for the question.

PS–I can also make the linen underside of the pad in a color to match your horse (to make hair less noticeable)…or your surrounding environment (Virginia clay, anyone?).