Just one step!
Please confirm your registration using the link we sent you by email.
New
Horse
rider
Care & stable & feed
Dog
Collections
The saddle cloth or saddle cloth or the saddle pad are part of the basic equipment of the equestrian sport articles. They are available for dressage saddles, jumping saddles or western saddles. Most saddle pads are anatomically cut to prevent them from slipping and chafing. An easy-care and functional material with high breathability should be in the foreground, because the saddle pad is primarily used to protect the saddle from sweat and moisture. In addition to the bridle, saddle and grooming kit, the saddle pad is an important part of horse accessories. In addition to the functional aspect, the design is of course also very important nowadays. Trendy colors and matching gaiters make the saddle pad an eye-catcher.
Saddle pads are available in many shapes and colors today. They belong to the saddle accessories, such as stirrups or the saddle girth. Depending on which equestrian discipline you are in, you need a different shape of saddle pad for your saddle. You also have the choice between materials such as cotton, lambskin or polyester. Some manufacturers also use bamboo fibers or merino wool. Choosing your new favorite saddle pad from all these different types can be difficult. We will try to make your choice easier here.
The Dressage saddle pad is rectangular in shape and, 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 glitter piping or colored borders. 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 has a round cut 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 rather 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 saddle pads.
Of course, equestrian sport does not only consist of dressage or eventing or jumping. There is a suitable saddle pad for every discipline. Same for Baroque or trail riding. Baroque saddle pads have a very special shape, which curves downwards and tapers to a point. These saddle pads often consist of a velvet upper and are decorated with golden or silver cords. When it comes to trail riding, the padding and storage options are particularly important. Hiking saddle pads are almost always thickly padded and have small pockets at the back. Sometimes there are even attachment points for light luggage.
Tournament sport is another special case. For a dressage tournament, you should choose a white saddle pad. It may of course be provided with accents. You can also attach your head numbers or start numbers to the side of the saddle pad. Some manufacturers even offer starting numbers with Velcro, which can be attached to the corresponding opposite on the saddle pad. In jumping competitions 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 provide good protection against pressure points and also ensure that the saddle pad does not slip so quickly.
If you don't have any other saddle pad at hand and your horse is relatively insensitive, you can also put the dressage saddle pad under a VS saddle once. However, since the all-purpose saddle is cut forward, the DR saddle pad will disappear under the saddle flap. Under certain circumstances, this can create friction and lead to chafing. It is therefore better to use a suitable jumping saddle pad.
When you buy a saddle pad for the first time, you ask yourself exactly this question. 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 especially the saddle from dirt and sweat. The materials used must dissipate 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. For example, there are saddle pads with an extra raised, ergonomically shaped withers to minimize friction and increase comfort. The underside consists today mostly 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 chervil. These usually have the simple diamond quilting that one is used to from equestrian sports 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 large quilting, which costs around €30. The collection items with a glossy or velvety surface are then already at 60 € upwards. Also saddle pads with lambskin, like those from Mattes or Eskadron Faux fur is usually significantly more expensive. How much money you want to spend on a saddle pad is up to your taste.
The difference between saddle pad and saddlecloth is quickly explained. While a saddle pad is rectangular in shape and protrudes quite a bit behind the saddle, the saddlecloth is based on the shape of the saddle. That's why you can't see much of the saddle cloth anymore, because many riders prefer the saddle cloth. This can be embroidered, for example, and of course also looks optically better. For example, you can have the saddle pad embroidered with the name of your horse or its brand to personalize it. Which form 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 saddle pads with a checked pattern or ones that glitter completely. The color of the saddle pad is also not subject to any specifications. You can rather go for plain dark blue, black or grey. But also to pink, orange or light green. Only at the tournament should you definitely use a white saddle pad in dressage. Some color is also allowed in show jumping, but again, don't overdo it.
This really shouldn't be happening. 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 go under the saddle flap around the girth straps. If the loops are too long, the saddle pad can slip and thus cause pressure points or chafing. The girth is fed through the lower loops on the saddle pad. So there is another attachment point that should prevent slipping. If this happens to you, pay attention to the fit of the saddle. This is often the reason why a saddle pad slips. If the saddle fits perfectly and the loops are not too long, the pad should not slip either.
Who doesn't know it: Anyone who only has a washing machine at home faces the same problem! Do I wash my riding clothes together with my normal clothes and how exactly do I wash my saddle pad properly so that it stays as beautiful as it is. We 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. Actually, you can wash every saddle pad at 30 degrees in the machine, don't spin it hard (low rotation) and don't put it in the dryer. When saddle pads are put in the dryer, they quickly shrink and beautiful decorations fray. We often notice that customers with black borders on the saddle pads have to struggle, especially with light ones. This is due to the coloring of the saddles and boots, which comes off when the horse's sweat comes into contact with them. So always make sure that the leather items are of high quality.
