I don’t know a lot about western saddle pads, we just have some that we’ve accumulated and use. I want to get something nicer to show my horse with. Should I get a thick one, or a thin one (like the one-color ones) and put something underneath? What brand what you suggest? I would like purple, or something with purple. This would be for western pleasure.
I use the Mayatex show blankets with a thinner pad underneath. They are cheap enough you can have every color of the rainbow too!
I bought a really nice pad last week. It has a thigh cutout so it is not bulky under the leg and Velcro strips on the side to keep the show pad in place. It was $90 but I expect to use it for many years.
I would buy a contoured pad. I can’t understand why they make pads that are not contoured since they so obviously do not conform to the back.
[QUOTE=Tee;7625225]
I use the Mayatex show blankets with a thinner pad underneath. They are cheap enough you can have every color of the rainbow too![/QUOTE]
I don’t really understand the two pad/layered thing. What type goes underneath, and what goes on top? Do you have pictures?
[QUOTE=huntseat3;7625878]
I don’t really understand the two pad/layered thing. What type goes underneath, and what goes on top? Do you have pictures?[/QUOTE]
Just place a thin wool pad, usually called a “blanket liner” down on the horse first then cover it with the thin Mayatex colored blanket, then the saddle. The liner keeps the pretty blanket clean for showing.
Maytex blanket on top, I use a 1/2 inch wool liner/ pad underneath.
I have several blankets that mach various show shirts I have. I pay about $20, maybe $15 each, and bought a wool liner for $25. The same wool liner has lasted me a few years, with infrequent washing. But I make sure groom well (the liner and the horse), and air dry if sweaty. I cant rationalize spending $100 on a saddle pad. But then again I’m usually pretty cheep.
Sometimes I’ll just use an 1" wool pad, works nice with my saddle and horse’s build.
Depending on saddle fit you may need a pad with shims or specialty pad.
[QUOTE=WSTRNPONY;7625981]
Maytex blanket on top, I use a 1/2 inch wool liner/ pad underneath.
I have several blankets that mach various show shirts I have. I pay about $20, maybe $15 each, and bought a wool liner for $25. The same wool liner has lasted me a few years, with infrequent washing. But I make sure groom well (the liner and the horse), and air dry if sweaty. I cant rationalize spending $100 on a saddle pad. But then again I’m usually pretty cheep.
Sometimes I’ll just use an 1" wool pad, works nice with my saddle and horse’s build.
Depending on saddle fit you may need a pad with shims or specialty pad.[/QUOTE]
Where do you find them so cheap? The one’s I’ve seen are $100, at least.
[QUOTE=WSTRNPONY;7625981]
Maytex blanket on top, I use a 1/2 inch wool liner/ pad underneath.
I have several blankets that mach various show shirts I have. I pay about $20, maybe $15 each, and bought a wool liner for $25. The same wool liner has lasted me a few years, with infrequent washing. But I make sure groom well (the liner and the horse), and air dry if sweaty. I cant rationalize spending $100 on a saddle pad. But then again I’m usually pretty cheep.
Sometimes I’ll just use an 1" wool pad, works nice with my saddle and horse’s build.
Depending on saddle fit you may need a pad with shims or specialty pad.[/QUOTE]
Where do you find them so cheap? The one’s I’ve seen are $100, at least.
Depending upon your saddle fit, you may need a thicker pad, or thinner pad. It is trial and error until you find the correct combination. I have a supracor pad that I found on crazy sale once, for $50. They retail for $350. 
I’m talking about the foldable blankets, not the thick pads. I get my stuff on ebay. I guess most of my pads aren’t Mayatex, they’re usually some very simmilar knock off. Like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Navajo-TOPEKA-Western-Saddle-Blanket-Pad-32-x-32-SAND-BLACK-CLEARANCE-/351096371284?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51bef97854
But I’m cheep so I go for free shipping when I can.
5 Star saddle pads. Hands down the best pads I have ever owned.
Expect to spend a bit of money on them but they are worth it. You can easily put a thin colored blanket over the top of them for showing, to aid in your presentation.
You can get them in just about any thickness. But if your saddle fits well (like it should) you should only need a 1/2" or a 3/4" pad.
