Which brands of saddle pads for Bob Marshall Endurance saddle?

[chebeau]

Hey,

I pulled the trigger and purchased a Bob Marshall Endurance saddle. Now, I am in need of advice and recommendations on treeless saddle pad options as their are many out there. I know Skito pads are one possibility, but there seems to be more available on the market now. Reasonably priced and color options a plus. Thanks in advanced.

Happy riding!
Jessie and The Stinky Pony and The Wonky Pony

[chicamux]

I’ve owned 5-6 BMSS saddles over the years. Two big points to be made.

1. Your pad MUST have two pockets on either side of the spine channel to hold inserts.

2. It must be easily washable in the washing machine that you own NOW.

The BMSS has no internal panels to keep the riders weight off of the horse’s spine. Most newer treeless saddles now have panels built into them to provide some spine clearance. But most of them still require additional lift from an appropriate treeless saddle pad. The BMSS REALLY needs a good treeless saddle pad under it. SKITO pads have the best and widest range of inserts available. No other company will custom make inserts for your pad.

You want a pad that let’s you remove the inserts and leave you with a pad made of material that you can fit into your washer and really clean well. This means that the thick (stiffer) wool felt pads can only go into a large front loader machine and since they have to hang dry they will take quite a while to really dry. Of course you can spend money for 2-3 or those pads perhaps?

Pleeeeze do not base your pad choice on pretty colors or fabric choices. You and your horse may regret it!

Haf pads (Actionridertack.com) have removeable inserts and wash easily. Insert selection is pretty limited but you can always buy better inserts fron Skito and put them into your washable HAF pad. Equipedic, 5-Star and a few others are based on the wool felt. Yes, they may have foam inserts but that felt soaks up and hold the sweat and dirt and becomes nasty (for your horse) quickly.

So look for a pad that is a soft, foldable fabric that fits into a washer easily.

The new Toklat Matrix pads are very washable, some color selections available, different foam inserts available. No customized shims or inserts available from Toklat but Skito shims and inserts can be added to ANY pad that has insert pockets.

chicamuxen

[chebeau]

Thanks for the wealth of information. I tend to be a researcher before purchasing and appreciate this. What is best for the ponies is what wins out.

Happy riding,
Jessie

[cloudy18]

Love my saddle and Skito pad. They are not cheap, but mine has lasted several years and still going strong.

[chebeau]

Well, I scored a used Skito for right at 100.00 including shipping. I am thrilled to have happened upon such a good deal for one in great shape. Thank you all for the advice. Hopefully the Bob Marshall and Skito will be the answer for the Wonky Pony aka Spirit. Can’t wait for it all to arrive and to have some decent weather to try it.

Happy riding,
Jessie

[Heart_s_Journey]

I’ve been riding in my BM treeless since '96 and have 3 Skito pads. I’ve needed to replace the inserts, but the pads are still going strong as I alternate them. They are fantastic pads and well worth the money.

[sbwinde]

I agree, I used a Dixie Midnight pad and a Skito, but my DM rubbed my mare, so we stopped using that - my other mare doesn’t mind it, but she is not used for endurance.