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The saddle pad or saddle blanket or saddle pad are part of the basic equipment of equestrian articles. They are available for dressage saddles, jumping saddles or western saddles. Most saddle pads have an anatomical cut so that they cannot slip and chafe. An easy-care and functional material with high breathability should be in the foreground, because the saddlecloth primarily serves to protect the saddle from sweat and moisture. In addition to the bridle, saddle and cleaning kit, the saddle pad is an important part of horse accessories. In addition to the functional aspect, the design is of course very important nowadays. Trendy colors and matching gaiters make the saddle pad an eye-catcher.
Today saddle pads come in many shapes and colors. They belong to the saddle accessories, such as stirrups or the saddle girth. Depending on which equestrian discipline you are in, you also need a different saddle pad shape for your saddle. You also have the choice between deserving materials such as cotton, lambskin or polyester. Some manufacturers also use bamboo fibers or merino wool. Picking your new favorite saddle pad from all of these different types can be difficult. We will try to make your choice easier for you.
The Dressage saddle pad is rectangular in shape and of course, as the name suggests, fits under saddles for dressage. You can recognize them by the straight cut in the front area. In addition, saddle pads for dressage are often provided with piping made of glitter or with colored edging. Matching the dressage saddle pad there are fleece bandages and fly hoods to complete the saddle pad set.
For the General purpose saddle or for show jumping you use the versatility saddle pad. It is round in the front area and follows the contour of the saddle flap. VS saddle pads are of course also suitable for the jumping saddle. Many riders use simple saddle pads for this type of equestrian sport. But of course they are available in all colors and with decorations, just like the DR saddlecloths.
Of course, equestrian sport does not only consist of dressage or versatility or jumping. There is a suitable saddle pad for every discipline. So also for Baroque or trail riding. Baroque saddle pads have a very special shape that curves downwards and tapers to a point. Often these saddle pads consist of a velvet upper material and are decorated with gold or silver cords. When it comes to trail riding, the most important thing is the upholstery and storage options. Hiking saddle pads are almost always thickly padded and have small pockets at the back. Sometimes there are even fastening eyes for light luggage.
Tournament sport is another special case. At a dressage tournament you should choose a white saddle pad. It can of course be accented. You can also attach your head numbers or start numbers to the side of the saddle pad. Some manufacturers even offer start numbers with Velcro, which can be attached to the corresponding opposite on the saddle pad. In jumping tests you can choose a white or a colored saddlecloth or saddle pad. So you can coordinate your outfit with that of your horse and make a special appearance.
If you want to protect the horse's back a little more or if your horse is sensitive, you can use lambskin saddle pads or gel pads. Lambskin takes the pressure off and protects against chafing. Gel pads also protect well against pressure points and also ensure that the saddle pad does not slip so quickly.
If you don't have another saddle pad at hand and your horse is relatively insensitive, you can also put the dressage saddle pad under a VS saddle once. Since the general purpose saddle is cut forward, the DR saddle pad will disappear under the saddle flap. Under certain circumstances this can cause friction and chafing. So better use a suitable jumping saddle pad.
This is exactly the question you are asking yourself when you buy a saddle pad for the first time. The answer depends on your horse's needs. The purchase makes sense in any case, because the saddle pad protects the horse's back and above all the saddle from dirt and sweat. The materials used must wick away moisture well and dry off well after training. In addition, the saddle pad must not slip. Therefore, you should pay close attention to the fit. There are, for example, saddle pads with an extra raised, ergonomically shaped withers to minimize friction and increase comfort. The bottom now mostly consists of one Mesh- Fabric, which has particularly good breathable properties. If you have a horse that tends to chafe, use lambskin saddle pads or lambskin pads. This can be necessary especially when changing fur. As a rule, however, all horses get along well with saddle pads made of a cotton blend.
This question is easy to answer. If you have a large horse, i.e. the classic warmblood such as Holsteiner, Hanoverian, Westphalian or Oldenburg, you use the saddle pad in size WB or Full. Is the size written on the saddle pad? Cob or VB the saddle pad is suitable for all typical thoroughbred breeds. This includes, for example, English thoroughbreds, Arabs or French trotters. There are also saddle pads for ponies, which are then marked with a P. All sizes are available in the classic forms such as dressage or VS / show jumping.
Inexpensive cotton saddle pads are available for less than € 20, for example from Waldhausen, Busse or Kerbl. These usually have the simple diamond quilting that one is used to from equestrian sport and not many accents. Popular brands like Eskadron, PS of Sweden or Equestrian Stockholm, on the other hand, are more expensive. Of course offers Eskadron also the simple cotton saddle pad with a large quilting, which costs around 30 €. The collection items with a glossy or velvety surface are then already at € 60 upwards. Also saddlecloths with lambskin, like those from Mattes or Eskadron Faux fur are usually significantly more expensive. How much money you want to spend on a saddle pad is up to your taste.
The difference between a saddle pad and a saddlecloth is quickly explained. While a saddle pad is rectangular in shape and still protrudes quite a bit behind the saddle, the saddle cover is based on the shape of the saddle. Therefore there is not much to see of the saddlecloth, because many riders prefer the saddle pad. This can be embroidered, for example, and of course looks more otpic. For example, you can have the saddle pad embroidered with the name of your horse or its brand in order to personalize it. Which shape you choose is entirely up to your taste. Both types protect the saddle from sweat and dirt.
The answer is simple: anything you can imagine is allowed. There are saddle pads with various decorations, such as embroidery, lettering or glittering accents. There are also saddlecloths with a checked pattern or those that are completely glittering. The saddlecloth color is also not subject to any specifications. You can go for plain dark blue, black or gray. But also to pink, orange or light green. Only at the tournament you should definitely wear a white saddle pad in dressage. Some color is also allowed in show jumping, but you shouldn't overdo it here either.
This shouldn't really happen. In order to prevent slipping, loops with Velcro fasteners are usually attached to the saddle pad. With these you attach the saddle pad to the saddle pad. The upper loops belong under the saddle flap around the girth straps. If the loops are too long, the saddle pad can slip and thus also pressure points or chafing points. The saddle girth is passed through the lower loops on the saddle pad. So there is another attachment point that should prevent it from slipping. Should this ever happen to you, pay attention to the fit of the saddle. Often this is the reason why a saddle pad slips. If the saddle fits perfectly and the straps are not too long, the pad should not slip.
Who does not know it: Anyone who only has a washing machine at home faces the same problem! Do I wash my riding gear with my normal things and how exactly do I wash my saddlecloth properly so that it stays as beautiful as it is. We'll give you a few tips: First of all, wash as often as necessary, but also as little as possible, because of course every saddle pad loses some color with every wash. Sometimes it can help if you simply brush off the saddle pad after riding. You can actually wash every saddle pad at 30 degrees in the machine, not spin strongly (low rotation) and not put in the dryer. When saddlecloths go into the dryer, they shrink quickly and beautiful decorations fray. We often hear that customers have to struggle with black edges on their saddle pads, especially when they are light. This is due to the color of the saddles and boots, which come off when the horse's sweat comes into contact with them. So always make sure the leather things are of high quality.
