Saddle Pads

Western Saddle Pads for Sale

Some thoughts on selecting a saddle pad. Saddle pad choices can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of styles, shapes, sizes and colors and to make things even more complicated, the various therapeutic and protector pads offer abundant promises for better saddle fit and increased performance and comfort for you and your horse. We’d like to help demystify this process for you! Most importantly, if your saddle truly doesn’t fit, there is no pad that will completely fix the problem. A saddle that is too wide can often be helped by using a thicker pad or a pad with shims in the front to take up some of the extra width, but when a saddle is too narrow, extra padding will be much like adding a thick pair of socks into shoes that are already too tight. Sometimes you can move pressure points around a bit, but in the long run, you must start out with a saddle that is at least reasonably close to the correct size and shape of your horse. We like to start with the thinnest pad that you can use and add to it if necessary. Try to avoid stacks of pads and shims that are not encased within a pocket in the pad. These arrangements often tend to shift and slide and create instability. A poorly fitted pad can cause as many problems as a bad-fitting saddle. We recommend pads that have a “contoured top” or a curved shape along the withers to eliminate pressure across the spine. When you saddle your horse, pull the front of the pad well up into the gullet channel of the saddle.  Make sure that your pad is cut generously so the saddle’s panels do not hang over the edges of the pad. Be alert to keepers, piping and decorative trim that can create a lump under your panels. If your saddle fits correctly and the flocking or foam in the saddle is soft and smooth, generally, all you need is a simple thin quilt pad. These pads are easily washable and serve to protect your saddle from sweat and dirt. In a perfect world, we like to think that you might never need a protector pad, however, the fact is that some horses (or riders) really like the added thickness and protection of a fleece or foam filled pad. If you have a horse that has had a back injury, a very sensitive horse, or a horse that is in transition of a weight, growth or fitness change, there are pads that are designed to help with these factors. A protector pad can help the horse when the rider is heavy or unbalanced or when the saddle panels are a bit or lumpy or uneven.   Often these pads have inserts that can be layered or adjusted to correct minor fitting problems. There is a huge assortment of different textures and thicknesses of foams. Some are designed for shock absorption, some for shock deflection, and some just to fill in void spots and help smooth out pressure. We are happy to answer questions with regards to selecting the best pad for your needs. Please call us at 800-442-9672