| The purpose of a good pad is to add comfort for your | | | | showed the neoprene and the synthetic fleece hold |
| horse and keep dirt and sweat off of your saddle. | | | | heat much longer than wool or cotton when removing |
| Although most people will purchase a pad based on | | | | them from the horses back after a long ride. |
| colors and design. I admit I have a few myself in an | | | | The foam pad, which may be one of the better |
| array of bright colors and patterns, but there are the | | | | choices, comes in a closed and open cell design, the |
| ones you want to consider owning to give better fit | | | | closed cell, it looks like, is the one to go with. Studies |
| and performance. | | | | showed that it performed better in moisture test and |
| One of the latest ones out there is the gel pad, these | | | | impact resistant test. A good one to consider is closed |
| can be used more effectively on a hard to fit horse, or | | | | cell composite with a wool felt lining or sheepskin lining |
| if you have to use one saddle on different horses with | | | | to again wick away moisture. The wool or sheepskin |
| different conformations. Some information that I have | | | | pads rank at the top of the list. When you have a |
| collected indicate a poor rating concerning the | | | | properly fitted saddle these are the best ones to |
| cushioning and impact reduction. I think this pad like | | | | consider. The idea of it all is, to use the pad as a |
| others has a specific purpose and is recommended | | | | comfort solution rather that a fitted one, the saddle |
| for short term use by other analyst. Another type of | | | | itself should be the fitted solution. Therefore the thinner |
| pad is the rubber or keyhole pad, although it was | | | | ones and the natural fiber pads are recommended |
| probably designed to help create a better fit for your | | | | most highly in extended and long term use. All saddle |
| saddle to your horse's back, it may not be the one to | | | | pads have their intended uses and a person should |
| go with. In using any three that are mentioned they can | | | | consider those options before using them on their |
| cause overheating of the horses back and thus | | | | horse. |
| developing sores and soreness over time. The idea of | | | | With any pad you own be sure to keep it clean and |
| a better ride is closer contact with your horse and | | | | dirt free. Some can be tossed right in the washing |
| some pads do just the opposite. | | | | machine while others require a wash using a stiff |
| A synthetic fleece pad is another type out there but | | | | brush. This I hope gives some insightful information |
| keep in mind over time and use the cushioning and | | | | when deciding which kind of pad to buy. I wanted to |
| wicking of moisture from the horses back begin to | | | | get a better understanding myself on the purposes |
| decrease, possibly caused from matting and dirt that | | | | and uses of the saddle pad and thought I would share |
| develops and builds up on them. I also read that a test | | | | some of the information with my fellow riders. |