The words or terms like saddle cloth, saddle pads or unmanned, and saddle blanket are used about fabrics, pads, or blankets inserted under a saddle. All these components are used to help the horseback safe from sweat and cushion the saddle.
The horse saddle pads are thicker mostly with a layer of felt or foam or any of the modern creative material between the hard outer cover on top with a soft cover that is on the side in contact with the horse. There are designs to absorb shock and lessen fatigue for the horse’s back muscles.
The 7 Essential Tips for Selecting the Perfect Horse Saddle Pad
To help you choose the right horse saddle pads for your house, below highlighted are some points for your better understanding-
Choose An Appropriate Saddle Pad Style
The three basic styles of horse saddle pads can be shaped, square, and half pads that are used as per their requirements. Riders of the show use square pads while hunters/jumpers show use shaped pads. Half pads are versatile and can be used in any restriction with any combination of shaped pads or square pads. Eventers can use style pads customized to their needs.
Choose The Right Size
The type of paddle should match the saddle. Generally, the dressage pads can have a straight cut and bear a longer flap. The close contact pad can have a forward cut with a shorter length. There can be all-purpose horse saddle pads that will get adjusted in between with more dimensions.
Select The Best Material
Saddle pads are available in a varied choice of materials in the market like fleece and cotton. These two materials are in high demand due to their wicking ability which can be a beneficial feature for opting for the material. Fleece can be actual sheepskin extracted or synthetic or sometimes wool as per the need or situation. The easy-to-handle property of cotton and fleece made it the most popular among all other options.
Correct Fitting Saddle Pads
When choosing saddle pads for your horse, you should select the correct fitting base as possible. There are situations where saddle pads enhance the saddle fit. The ill-fitting pads can put pressure or can be loose to get settled with the back of the horse. Any unevenly developed horse can be at an advantage with the custom fit pad to help protect the back pain of the horse.
The above-mentioned features will, no doubt, help you to select horse saddle pads that can be a healthy fit to the back of your horse with the right handling techniques during activities.
Five Advantages of Right Horse Saddle Pads
The benefits that are associated with effective saddle pads can be plenty but a few are very prominent that are mentioned below. Below highlighted are some tips to help you choose the correct horse saddle pads:
Protect Your Horse’s Back
Horses are strong but need essential care for their back and skin as they are very prone to injuries due to their high speed and handling pattern. In case you select the wrong match of saddle pads for your horse, it may effect by damaging the spine of your horse. A worthy saddle pad ensures the even distribution of weight on the horse’s back and also serves as the best cushion while jumping or doing other activities.
Enhance Performance
The feature of horse saddle pads to absorb the sweat restricts the slip of the saddle from the horse’s body. The sweat production can give discomfort to your horse and can have a diverse effect on performance.
Elongate The Life Span Of The Saddle And Protect Your Horse’s Skin
The saddle plays a vital role in reducing the friction between the horse’s skin and the saddle which results in preventing a sore back for him. Due to this reason lesser wear and tear happens and hence increases the self-life of the saddle pads.
Conclusion
The correct horse saddle pads help to protect the horse’s skin along with the functionality of the pads with plenty of features to get a hassle-free ride. So, before choosing your saddle pads for your horse, should ensure the suitable features attached to get the perfect match to your requirements.
