Hey horsey people…I have been endurance riding for a little while now and have decided to take my english (jumping) saddle out for a spin. I plan on using it on several endurance rides. The saddle pad above is being sold for only $40, and I’m just wondering who else uses this exact pad. Is it good for endurance and do you have any big problems with it (slipping is my main concern). Thanks!
I think it would depend on how well your saddle fits. If your saddle fits very well, this pad might take up too much room. If your saddle is a bit large, it could be useful.
@Scribbler I haven’t tried the saddle on him yet. He is not mine. But thank you, I will definitely remember that when I go see how it fits!
The best general purpose saddle pad EVER is a wool blanket folded “Cavalry style.” Done correctly you get a nice thickness but, at least as importantly, you get a “laminate” fold that will absorb lateral rider movement and contribute to sound back health for your horse.
Here is a detailed discussion with pictures:
https://sreinhold.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/which-saddle-pad-is-best-is-there-a-right-answer/
Here is one way to do it. I like this guy’s attitude as he approaches the problem from the perspective of the horse’s back, not some arbitrary rule.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dITB6x4MZ0s
You can use any blanket that is roughly 60 x 80 inches. If you ride a large Western saddle a larger blanket might be better. The McClellan saddle, for which these blankets are designed, is not a big saddle.
Two sources for blankets I’ve used and trust:
The Blockade Runner, Wartrace, TN. I’ve done business with these people for almost 30 years and they are reliable.
http://www.blockaderunner.com/Catalog/catpg28.htm
Or What Price Glory, I’ve worked with these people for almost 25 years and they are reliable.
http://onlinemilitaria.net/products/3028-US-M1908-Saddle-Blanket-new/
I’ve also used blankets from Pendelton Woolens. They are a bit more pricey but come in bright colors! I always bought seconds but our local store went out of business a few years back so now you’re stuck trying to do it off the web if there’s no store near you.
This program was also used by the British Cavalry but they had a couple of folding patterns depending as they had some different sized blankets.
This works, it’s cheap, and your horse will thank you for your kindness!!! 
G.
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Well I am going to give the cavalry blanket a try – that link makes logical sense about friction and not just pressure – being an issue. More curious than not, thanks!
I would worry about heat build up on the Cavallo Tucker pad due to the memory foam. I find they generally do not breathe well.
Is this blanket much different from the current US GI wool blankets? It seems super expensive if they’re an equivalent product. Maybe the sizing is different for the old-style saddle blanket?
This is what I mean for a “current” style blanket: https://www.armynavysales.com/g-i-wool-blanket-near-new-me168near-1689.html (based on the discussion with photos, this should be a good size for it I think?)
Not sure as I’ve not had to sleep under a G.I. blanket since the 1980s!!!
The WPG offering is new and made to the standard of 1908 (weave, weight, size, marking, etc.). I’m not sure of the quality of the surplus offerings.
These might be good deals but maybe not. WPG is a sure thing!
G.
“The best general purpose saddle pad EVER is a wool blanket folded “Cavalry style.” Done correctly you get a nice thickness but, at least as importantly, you get a “laminate” fold that will absorb lateral rider movement and contribute to sound back health for your horse.”
This is about the coolest advice I’ve seen in ages! Thank you so much for sharing the links! I’ve got a gorgeous wool blanket and no use for it. I’ll be cutting it down to size very soon!
“The best general purpose saddle pad EVER is a wool blanket folded “Cavalry style.” Done correctly you get a nice thickness but, at least as importantly, you get a “laminate” fold that will absorb lateral rider movement and contribute to sound back health for your horse.”
I just happened to have a queen size 100% merino wool blanket in a gorgeous burgundy/forest green plaid that hasn’t had a job in 20 years. It turned into a saddle blanket today! And it is POSH!!! It feels like a cloud. I can’t wait to try it out tomorrow! I cut it a little large, can always make it smaller, but it looks great. Thanks again for this information!
I’ve ordered a new and an old, will see if buying surplus is worth it 
(man, we always had so many extra wool blankets in the med unit, I could have had tons of brand new ones for free lol)
I always thought is was just Jarheads and Snipes that got free stuff!!!
The WPG stuff IS good. Surplus? There is certainly a “range” of quality. The WPG blanket has held up very well for more than 10 years of regular use. I’m thinking of replacing it but right now they are out of stock.
I also have a USN blanket from the Korean Era (compliments of a Naval Aviator uncle; we like “free stuff,” too 
). It has shrunk just a bit and is just not quite big enough when folded for six layers. The Brits had a couple of different fold systems and I’ve got friend in England who’s going to try and get me their manual. Right now he’s busy putting together an event commemorating (not re-enacting) the 100 Days of Mons. That was the last, great cavalry offensive of the Great War and the last in the West. I wanted to go as ground crew (I’m not 22 anymore and riding 20 miles a day for 10 days might not be such a great idea). But events have prevented it.
One of the great benefits of the folded blanket is that you not only have a cushion for the saddle you have a “laminate” material that will also aborb lateral movement. IMO this helps reduce certain types of back sorness. And you’re not on top of an air mattress or a thick chunk of foam rubber or “gel pack” full of God knows what.
I hope whatever you select works out for you !!!
G.
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The joys of deployments, there is so much surplus stuff that just magically appears everywhere! Blankets, high-dollar serial-numbered medical electronics (cracking open dusty old shipping containers is fun sometimes XD )
Slightly shrunken blankets will probably be ok for me, pony and a 15.5" saddle gives me more wiggle room than most I suspect!
When I was looking online for a suitable wool blanket, I found that there are greatly varying degrees of synthetic fibers in them. The cheaper they are, the more synthetic. I know a blend helps the material retain its shape, but what’s great for a flat bed may not be so ideal for a curvy horse’s back! Sportsman’s Guide had some 100% wool Belgian military surplus blankets, but at the cost, I thought I may as well sacrifice my unused household blanket. I cut it a bit oversized and am pretty pleased with the results, although there may be more of a tendency to wrinkle because it has to fit more curves. I used it for the first time on a short trail ride (that’s all we’re fit for at the moment!) and I see no reason to ever go back to other kinds of blankets or pads! It didn’t shift at all, and it did its job of dissipating sweat. Again, I so appreciate this neat tip!
My wife, who has done some weaving, says that even in a “100% wool blanket” you can still have a small percentage of non-wool material in the warp of the material (the long strands that make up the material the weave goes through). This is because those materials are more suited to the stress of the weaving process and don’t materially affect the quality or function of the blanket. They functionally increase the durability of the product.
For some jobs it’s tough to beat natural materials. Equine saddle blankets appears to be such a job!!!
G.
I’d also be worried about the heat build up your link OP. I’m a big fan of Skito pads. I also have an Eco-Gold cooling pad which is definitely the most breathable pad I’ve ever used
Good to read this post. This is what is shown in my dad’s Field Artillery manual’s chapter on equitation.
Very intersting. Thanks for sharing G!
