Saddle pads

[meaty_ogre]

What kind of saddle pad do you prefer and why?

I’ve been using this pad for over a year:
http://www.sstack.com/Western_Saddle-Pads_WorkProtective/Dura-Tech--All-Around-Work-Pad/

While there isn’t anything terribly wrong with it, I’m wondering if there is something better. I always “tent” it (pull the wither area up into the gullet of the saddle so it’s not sitting tight across his withers) but at the end of the ride it always seems to have flattened back out across the withers. He gets chiro done by the vet and she says he doesn’t show any signs of soreness, but as a primarily English rider, it bothers me. For what it’s worth, my western riding friends don’t “tent” their saddle pads and some even thought it was strange that I do.

My other complaint about this pad is that it is very long. It goes from his withers nearly to the point of his hip. I ride him in a roughout training saddle that has somewhat long skirts, but it’s a good 2-3 inches long in front of and behind the saddle. On a good note, even with frequent use it has not compressed (although it does not seem to have conformed to his back either).

So what do you like to use?

[Palm_Beach]

I use a 3/8" wool felt pad as the bottom layer, and a simple saddle blanket over that. I won’t use anything that cannot be washed easily. I’m not a large person, and my saddle fits really good, so I see no reason to use a big fat stinky pad.

[meaty_ogre]

How do you wash the wool felt pad Palm Beach? I’ve tried washing my show liner and it shrunk.

I am leaning towards the idea of just using a contoured liner and a blanket over top, mostly so I can add some color!

[Aces_N_Eights]

I have used wool pads for years. 5 Star or Diamond Wool. They breathe, one of my main concerns with as many hours I put in on a horse is heat and I believe that natural fibers are the best. I also think that having a clean pad that is not caked with hair, dirt and sweat is important to the comfort of the horse regardless the material used for the pad.

I always tent my pads. As a forever western rider I think it’s weird that people don’t do it. Even my contoured pads pull down eventually but I get off often through the day to air my horses back, when I reset my saddle I tent my pad.

[Bluey]

We also have always tented and reset pads again when riding for many hours.

With western pads, we used plain navajo blankets doubled, but those were harder to keep clean.
When those with hospital sheepskin white fleece and blanket top came on the market, decades ago, they were a better mousetrap for us.

They did get hot, although not as much as the double fleece sheepskin ones.
They also aired and cooled off so much quicker than wool pads and when dry you could brush them clean with a dog wire brush, those for poodles with millions of little metal wire fingers.
They also could be hosed off on the underside and they would be dry to brush for next day, if you didn’t get the middle wet.
You do have to watch they don’t catch any stickers on the fleece edges, or if laying them down or on hay, on the bottom fleece.

Today there are so many choices, I expect it depends on how you ride and the horse what works best for them.

Many trainers use Impact Gel felt pads for every day training and roping, but some in colder climates report theirs get stiffer when very cold.
Don’t know, we get cold and have not had any problem, they seem to warm up to the horse right away, maybe that is why?
We still use the old white artificial sheepskin pad ones here also, they are holding well after all those decades.
Those are cheaper than the fancy new ones.
I don’t think it is because they are of inferior quality, just cheaper to make than with those new materials, but that would be something to watch for, that whatever you get, will be good quality.

[beau159]

@meaty ogre;8678329

What kind of saddle pad do you prefer and why?

I’ve been using this pad for over a year:
http://www.sstack.com/Western_Saddle-Pads_WorkProtective/Dura-Tech--All-Around-Work-Pad/

I am personally not a fan of the pad you are using, for a couple reasons.

1. No contour. (Horses backs aren’t flat. )
2. No wither cut-out relief.
3. Made of manufactured product (synthetic fleece) with a “stiff” canvas on the top side.

Myself personally, I am 100% sold on 5 Star saddle pads. I got my first one about 5 years ago and I’m never going back. The quality of the wool is fantastic (doesn’t pill) and it stands up to hard wear and tear. It’s also so SOFT when compared to other saddle pads.

You can also get them in just about every thickness and size you could possibly need.

Before every ride, I use a rubby curry to brush off dirt and hair. About 2 or 3 times a year, I pressure wash it with mild soap. Always cleans up just like new.

On a side note, I always tent my saddle pads too.

[Pocket_Pony]

I’ve tried 5 Star pads a couple times and I just can’t convince myself to like them. I know I’m not in the norm, but for my horse I find they are 1) too bulky around the withers, 2) the wither cutout is not in the right place, 3) it isn’t “shaped” enough at the withers to provide meaningful relief, and 4) the back edge is “sharp.” But that’s just me, I know others love them.

Here’s what I use - it seems to be the only thing my horse really likes.

http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Toklat_CoolBack_Round_Barrel_UltraCell_Saddle_Pad/descpage-TCRBUCS.html

The fleece is soft, the shape of it makes it easy to tent up into the gullet (and it stays there), the edges are rounded, and he seems to like the ultra cell inserts.

[imaginique]

I always use a contoured pad. I just bought a Diamond Wool pad with shims. I have only ridden in it once, but I think I like it.

[Tee]

Another fan of the contoured pads. I’ve always used and had great luck with the Pro-Choice pads (the work ones, not the big, thick ones). They work great for the shorter backed horses and aren’t so thick they bother me.

I always pull my pad up into the gullet, and it amazes me how many people do not. Just seems like it has to be far more comfortable for the horse.

[meaty_ogre]

Thanks everyone. So many saddle pads to look at… Some cost as much as my saddle!

I was scrolling through some websites and was amazed to see how many pro riders don’t tent their saddle pads. I guess it works for them and their horses. I still like to tent though. Definitely going to try a contoured pad next. I think I want to get one with cut outs where the fenders lay, to see if it gives a more close contact feel. Any thoughts on those?

[Palm_Beach]

I think this is what I use in 3/8", and you can probably find a better deal:

http://www.carouselhorsetack.com/products/dura-tech-miracle-black-felt-liner?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=4689587841&gclid=CMP9vre1-MwCFYE9gQodCKYI2Q

Toss them right in the washing machine. I tent my pad too, but it doesn’t stay put. I think that unless you are a heavy weight person, or doing some high impact riding (jumping, roping, barrels, etc) you really don’t need a high impact absorbing saddle pad. Most Western riders have butts in the saddle and aren’t doing anything that would make them plop down in the saddle. My saddle fits great without a pad, so I prefer not to put much bulk underneath.

I also don’t ride longer than 2 hours, and I think that after 2 hours I’m personally stiff enough I’d appreciate getting off and walking 10-15 minutes.

[Golden_Pony]

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=7aa6bf7f-2ba5-49e4-aa94-89b96f78646e

Best pad out there for the money!

[Aces_N_Eights]

[QUOTE=meaty ogre;8679065]
Thanks everyone. So many saddle pads to look at… Some cost as much as my saddle!

I was scrolling through some websites and was amazed to see how many pro riders don’t tent their saddle pads. I guess it works for them and their horses. I still like to tent though. Definitely going to try a contoured pad next. I think I want to get one with cut outs where the fenders lay, to see if it gives a more close contact feel. Any thoughts on those?[/QUOTE]

In my experience it doesn’t take long for my pad to pull back down after I pulled it up into my gullet and cinch up but I still do it. As for pro riders/trainers are concerned, most the trainers I worked for never saddled their own horses and didn’t spend more than a half hour training on them after they had been warmed up so i think its a big concern. Also for pictures if they are endorsing a pad they aren’t going to show it pulled clear up into the gullet.

Fender cutouts- I can’t use pads with them because my rigging is dropped and set back and it half way falls into the cutout and it’ll sore a horse. If you don’t have a dropped rigging they work fine.

[Aces_N_Eights]

Bluey had mentioned the Impact Gel pads. I am one of those that tried one and had an issue of it freezing. I also thought it was too hot so I got rid of it. I’m sure they’re fine if your warming up, doing a little training then cool out.
I gave up on trying to use gimmick pads and went back to wool pads. Another option if you like fleece is the Toklat Woolback or Coolbacks. Good pads.