I know it’s been discussed, but most posts are pretty old. I’m coming back to western after 20 years and the pad options are boggling. What pads do you really like and why? I’m a heavier rider with a bad back and wanting to offer some extra protection to my mare’s back as well as my own. I’m loving the felt pads, but there’s such a wide range of prices! Is there really that much of a difference? And what about specialty pads like Impact Gel, Thinline, etc?
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My Western riding best friend swears by impact gel. She finds her 20 yo horse is much more comfortable when she uses it!
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I love my Total Saddle Fit shimmable pad.
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I really, really, really like my 5 Star felt pad. I’ve never used any other brand of felt pad, so I can’t say how they would compare. The 5 Star is pricey, but I think it will probably last forever. They also come in various styles, colors, and thicknesses; and you can order a custom pad. I didn’t go for all the bells and whistles. I just wanted a pad that fit my saddle and was comfortable for my horse.
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I got this pad a couple of weeks ago for around $140. It’s a Pro Choice pressed felt and my three boys all love it.
I have one horse that I tried an Impact Gel on. Not a picky horse by any stretch, and he absolutely hated it. I have heard nothing but good about them, however.
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At my show barn, we were all asked to get custom CSI pads for our horses. Every horse in the barn seems to go well in them, though they’re pricey. They form to the horse and, as a bonus, you can pull off the liner and use them under your show pad: https://csisaddlepads.com/
At a previous barn, we had a lot of these thinner reining pads: https://www.statelinetack.com/item/classic-equine-contourpedic-reiner-pad-31x32/E008168/
I love my 5 Star pads. It’s all I have in my trailer and have for the past 15 years.
However … I have been eyeballing a CSI pad. My new mare has been a more difficult saddle fit, dip behind the shoulder, naturally downhill, etc and I’m happy with the saddle I found her (as it’s the best fit I have found).
I am first going to try a shim from 5 Star and see how that works. If not, I may be ordering a CSI pad!
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If you’re on Instagram have a look at @winnjwendy account. She’s a saddle fitter for Burns Saddlery and she takes a holistic view of the horse and rider. She posts lots of videos and goes into a lot of depth about different pads. She reviews how they fit and what certain features, like wither cut outs, do to the fit and comfort of the horse.
I’m fairly certain she covers the impact that riders weight has and what pads she recommends to spread weight/pressure. The general rule is to be less than 20% of the horse’s weight when fully clothed in riding gear for horse welfare. She discusses what sort of pads help with distributing that pressure.
You might want to look at CSI pads to help with your comfort and your horse’s. Thin line may have something as well.
