Here are six of the best saddle pads for trail riding:
Diamond Wool Contoured Felt Ranch Pad.
Classic Equine BioFit Correction Pad.
Southwestern Equine OrthoRide Correction Pad.
Professional's Choice SMX Air Ride Anza Wool Pad.
Weaver Leather Contour Pad.
SaddleRight Western Square Pad.
One way or the other, how thick should my western saddle pad be?
If you and your gear together weigh more than 200 lbs., you should get at least a 7/8" pad, but a 1" would be better. What kind of terrain will you be riding on? If you regularly ride over mountainous or hilly areas, again, you want at least a 7/8" thick pad, but 1" would be better.
In any way, how do I choose a Western saddle pad? Pad thickness affects how your saddle sits on your horse's back while you ride. A thick pad on a horse with a round back or mutton withers will allow the saddle to move during your ride because there's no space for your saddle to rest against his withers. Instead, choose a thinner pad that'll form to his back.
All the same, what is the best half pad?
Eskadron's Climatex Trapez Half Pad.
WeatherBeeta Memory Foam Comfort Half Pad.
Premier Equine Airtechnology Shockproof Wool Half Pad.
Felix Bühler Sheepskin Sydney Saddle Pad.
LeMieux X-Grip Twin Sided Half Pad.
Caldene Sheepskin half pad.
Can a saddle pad be too long?
If it's too long, it'll likely rub and press against your horse's hips. And, if it's a heavy or stiff saddle pad, your horse's hind legs will push pad and saddle forward.
BESTSELLER NO. 1 in 2023
Diamond Wool Contour Felt Ranch Pad 32X32
1 thick wool felt
Contoured
Wither Relief Notch
Reinforced with Distressed Leather
32 x 32
BESTSELLER NO. 2 in 2023
Tahoe Tack Contoured Canvas Western Saddle Pad Available in Mini Pony and Horse Sizing
DURABLE - this pad is made of a rugged canvas cover with genuine leather wears over a 7/8" fleece lining that is backed with soft felt padding, and has genuine leather wears to promote longevity.
MULTIPLE COLORS AVAILABLE - our saddle pads are available in nine attractive colors: Brown, Pink, Royal Blue, Red, Tan, Purple, Turquoise, Sea Green, and Black, all with tan wear leathers.
COMFORTABLE FIT - this pad is contoured to your horse's back and is roomy around the withers, and has a soft fleece lining that prevents rubs, sores, and damage to your horse's coat.
SHOCK ABSORBING - this pad features concentric stitching throughout the back which keeps the felt lining in place, maintaining even coverage and optimal shock absorption.
CONTOURED SPINE - this pad features a contoured back design that fits your horse's withers and curves better than a traditional saddle pad, which makes rides more comfortable for your horse.
BESTSELLER NO. 3 in 2023
Weaver Leather Contoured Wool Blend Felt Saddle Pad - Moisture-Wicking Blend for Comfort - All Purpose Equine Saddle Cushion, Tan, 30" L x 30" W (35-2712-3/4)
Horse saddle pad for western style saddles contoured for a great fit
Moisture-wicking wool blend keeps horse cool as it wicks away sweat
Top grain wear leathers and pad spine for increased durability
Exceptional quality and durability for many years of use
Single weave topper design inspired by beautiful southwest-style rugs
Contoured for a great fit
3/4" wool blend felt liner for cushioning and moisture wicking
Measures 31" x 32"
BESTSELLER NO. 5 in 2023
Weaver Leather Fleece Lined Acrylic Pony Saddle Pad
Single weave Acrylic woven top
Synthetic fleece liner and 3/4 inch thick felt filler
Black wear leathers
Felt filler adds extra cushioning for optimum comfort
BESTSELLER NO. 6 in 2023
Professionals Choice Contour Work Pad Black
The Contoured Work pad is made out of durable 600 denier fabric top and a layered felt core that provides natural shock absorption.
Smooth wear leathers increase durability while a fleece bottom ensures that your horse stays comfortable.
BESTSELLER NO. 7 in 2023
Diamond Wool Contoured Tough Barrel Saddle Pad
BESTSELLER NO. 8 in 2023
5 Star - 1 1/8" Extra Thick Rancher Western Saddle Pad - The Rancher Performer Full Skirt 32" x 32" This Horse Saddle Pad is Great for Ropers and Ranchers. Free Sponge Saddle Pad Cleaner Included
NO MORE HARD & UNCOMFORTABLE PADDING This saddle pad is soft, durable and comfortable for you & your horse
PERFECTLY CONTOURED PAD made to fit you & your horse comfortably
100% VIRGIN WOOL made to last!
LESS CINCHING REQUIRED and reduced slippage. No extra padding or blanket needed!
3X MORE COMPRESSION protection than synthetics
BESTSELLER NO. 9 in 2023
Western Home Cotton Mattress Pad Cover Queen Size, Thick Mattress Topper Pillow top with Soft Fluffy Down Alternative Fill, Breathable Quilted Fitted Bed Cover with Deep Pocket(Up to 18 inches)
🌙【GOOD SUPPORT】Available in Western Home Queen 60"x 80" Mattress Pad. The thick mattress pad contains 450 GSM combed cotton padding, a cloud-like mattress topper that provides soft support for your body. We keep it cool in summer and warm in winter, so you can always enjoy a luxurious sleep as if in the cloud
🌙【CLOUD STITCH DESIGN】This mattress pad adopts a slit cloud sewing design to prevent the filling from shifting or agglomerating. When turning over at night, the filling will not make noise. After washing and drying, the filling is still fixed in its original position and is stable durable.
🌙【DEEP POCKET】The non-slip skirt design allows the mattress to accommodate a maximum depth of 18-inch mattress, the fabric side is easy to stretch, thick elastic deep pockets can tightly wrap the mattress, sleep in any posture, you don't need to worry about the mattress pad moving.
🌙【Easy TO CARE】 The mattress pad is machine washable. After wash several times, it will not cause agglomeration or pilling. After low-temperature drying, the mattress topper will still maintain its high degree of softness and bulkiness, but please do not iron.
🌙【BREATHABLE AND COZY】This mattress pad uses cloud-like down cotton as the filler, which can increase the air circulation on the surface, achieve the best breathable and cooling effect, make you comfortable all night, and embrace a good sleep.
BESTSELLER NO. 10 in 2023
Weaver Leather All Purpose 32" x 32" Contoured Saddle Pad with Felt Insert and Merino Wool Fleece Bottom, Red/Turquoise
Herculon fabric top for easy removal of burrs and multiflora rose thorns
Contoured saddle pad for better fit and less saddle roll
The saddle pad or blanket provides a bit of extra cushioning between the saddle and the horse and helps the saddle stay clean. Without a pad or blanket, a saddle will sit directly on the horse, where it will absorb sweat and pick up dirt from the horse's back. ... No pad is a substitute for a properly fitted saddle.
Stand back and look at your horse from the side to be sure the saddle is not too long for his back. A too-long saddle will put pressure on the withers and loin area. ... The saddle should never make contact with the horse's spine or withers at any point. Look at the gullet.
Solid gel pads can be a great option if your saddle fits well, as they absorb shock and conform to your horse's back. ... Most gel half pads don't maintain a contoured shape either, which can make them difficult for use with horses that have a prominent spine or withers.
Half Pad Cautions No pad, including the half pad, should replace the need for an properly fitting saddle. Don't be tempted to use a half pad so you can ride several horses in one saddle that only fits only one horse -- you can cause permanent, career-ending damage to the horse.
Kotschwar also gave reindeer fur rave reviews at the trot in a 2009 study of pads under saddles that were too wide for the horses. However, in that study, gel proved just as useful at the trot, and gel and foam were superior to reindeer fur at the walk.
How to Pick the Best Saddle Pad for Your Horse's Needs
Match the Horse's Contours. Matching the contours of the horse's back as well as the contours of the underside of the saddle is vital to having a saddle pad that won't apply pressure to the horse's spine or withers. ...
Though specific measurements will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, most horse size saddle pads have a 17-19 inch drop (the drop is the distance from the center seam to the bottom hem) and a 24-26 inch spine (the spine is the center seam of a pad, where the pad is folded).
Saddle positioning The saddle needs to sit 2-3 fingers behind the shoulderblade and its muscles (see picture below). Notice that the shoulderblade rotates backwards during every step and the saddle must not interfere with this movement. The saddle must nowhere touch the spinal processes, or the dorsal ligament system.