I want to get my horse a real sheepskin saddle pad for summer use. I was reading they are better for hot weather and sweating. What are some suggestions for a pad for showing and schooling.
Mattes or Christ are top of the line. You can get Mattes in different sizes and custom colours if you want. I’ve been very happy with my Mattes and wash it in the machine with cool water and Melp sheepskin soap.
1 Like
Thanks. I was reading they were very good for absorbing sweat and being kind to the horses back.
I liked my Fleeceworks sheepsking pad —asked lots of questions from those who do distance riding, then bought this one. I alternated it with another Fleeceworks pad and rode my horse 250 miles in 14 days --we both did fine.https://fleeceworks.com/collections/sheepskin-pads/products/shaped-sheepskin-full-trim?variant=38266929871
I liked my Fleeceworks pad, too. I had this one: https://fleeceworks.com/collections/sheepskin-pads/products/classic-full?variant=38267102351 . To get excess dirt off between rides, I used a hand vac, and I didn’t need to wash it as often.
Of course a sheepskin saddle pad can alter the fit of the saddle somewhat. It might be a good idea to borrow one first for a fitting.
I ordered an equine comfort one and I can return it if I don’t like it.
I’ve liked both Fleeceworks and Engles, and agree that they’re great for dissipating heat and improving saddle fit.
Are you going for a full of half pad?
I’m getting a full pad.
Might not matter on a narrow sided horse, but my horse has a big rib cage, and I found a full sheepskin pad put my leg way off her side. I rode in a sheepskin half pad and cleaned the saddle flaps often. Then I got a combined pad for the dressage saddle, a cloth baby pad with a sheepskin half pad on the underside.
Then maresy grew into the saddle and now we just use an Ogilvy baby pad.
1 Like
You may love it, of course, but my experience has been like Scribbler’s. The full pad (Fleeceworks dressage) proved awfully bulky for a small person on a big horse, so I’ve been using half pads over baby pads (ideally Ogilvy baby pads) ever since.
On the other hand, I sold the Fleeceworks pad to a friend who does endurance riding, and she and her horse absolutely loved that thing.
In general, I ADORE fleece. There’s nothing else like it.
Well ok I will evaluate…thanks.
Fleece over baby pad takes a lot of the benefit away. I did that for a while then went to straight fleece and more frequent laundry 
and I could see maresy smile when the fleece touched her back. She also occasionally would get very interested snuffling it like it was a strange critter.
But I was also happy that we outgrew the fleece and the saddle fits fine with just a baby pad now.
1 Like
My new saddle pad came today and wow it is nice. I’m bringing it to the barn so it can be tried on my horse. This is so much nicer t by an synthetic sheepskin…I had no idea.
Yeah there’s no comparison to synthetic fleece IMHO!
Omg the saddle pad was great so I went and bought another one! I’m now a saddle pad and breeches addict.
2 Likes
Sheepskin slippers. Sheepskin insoles in gum boots. Sheepskin mittens. Sheepskin coats!
4 Likes
Yes!! My trainers wanted to sleep on my saddle pad.
2 Likes
