HT saddle pad help please!

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 04:19 PM

I have a barrel saddle, with the rounded skirt of course. I am looking into new saddle pads.

I was thinking about this first option with a regular thin wool blanket under it. Is that too much bulk?
http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/1030/SAB25-S

Would this be better?

http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/1030/SC61

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 04:20 PM

Hmm I meant this to be in tack, but this is ok too I guess. Mods move it if need be!

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 04:31 PM

I would go with the second one long before I'd consider the first all neoprene one.

I'm not sure what your budget is but my favorite pad is one that is 100% all wool felt and contour shaped. The wool is much less likely to burn the horses back or slip/roll. Wool also absorbs quite a bit of shock naturally. I've had my pads for well over 5 years and they're still in great condition.

As far as the bulkiness goes that depends on how the saddle fits the horse. Too much pad can cause just as many problems as too little pad.

ETA: I moved this into the tack forum for you.

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

I would go with the second one long before I'd consider the first all neoprene one.

I'm not sure what your budget is but my favorite pad is one that is 100% all wool felt and contour shaped. The wool is much less likely to burn the horses back or slip/roll. Wool also absorbs quite a bit of shock naturally. I've had my pads for well over 5 years and they're still in great condition.

As far as the bulkiness goes that depends on how the saddle fits the horse. Too much pad can cause just as many problems as too little pad.

ETA: I moved this into the tack forum for you.

Thanks! But I am having trouble finding a wool pad, can you link me to any?

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 05:09 PM

I got mine from National Ropers Supply, I've also seen the same in Smith Brothers. Mine are the Tod Sloane contoured wool felt pads. They're not cheap. I've also seen similar pads both 100% wool and wool blend for less. I know Reinsman makes one but only in square. The Tod Sloanes do come in round pads. They also come in the smaller sized square pads for square skirted barrel saddles.

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 05:13 PM

Try this link, it should go to "wool felt barrel pad" on the National Ropers Supply website.

http://www.nrsworld.com/iStar.asp?a=29

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 08:54 PM

http://www.nrsworld.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=12102108!CACTS

This?

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Yeppers!

I sure wish they offered them back when we bought our Tod Sloane's from them.

They cost half of what the TS's do.

I saw that they're offering their wool pads in a cream color now also.

PaintedWonders · 05-13-2008, 09:08 PM

Great for the price, but you don't get to pick the color...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Saddle-P...713.m153.l1262

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

Yeppers!

I sure wish they offered them back when we bought our Tod Sloane's from them.

They cost half of what the TS's do.

I saw that they're offering their wool pads in a cream color now also.

Yuck, wouldn't creame get dirty and look gross?

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 10:35 PM

Probably, but I don't have a cream colored felt pad yet.

I have two greys and a black.

(Don't get a black one if you have a white horse)

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

Probably, but I don't have a cream colored felt pad yet.

I have two greys and a black.

(Don't get a black one if you have a white horse)

Bay horse...I was thinking black...grey better?

beth55051 · 05-13-2008, 11:07 PM

I love a fresh, clean, new black pad on my bay boy. But they show hair and dirt so dang much. Grey hides everything. But if you get a few single layer navajo's you can have any color you want.

That's the tack addict in me speaking.

Iwasbornonahorse · 05-13-2008, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beth55051

I love a fresh, clean, new black pad on my bay boy. But they show hair and dirt so dang much. Grey hides everything. But if you get a few single layer navajo's you can have any color you want.

That's the tack addict in me speaking.

You put the navajos over the wool pad?

beth55051 · 05-14-2008, 07:06 AM

For showing, yes.

For normal everyday riding sometimes but then I put them under as a liner. Depends on the horse. With Sam I can't because he has such dang high withers and the navajo will just bunch up in the dip behind his withers and cause major owies.

Slim Pikkens · 05-14-2008, 07:53 AM

Did a little info searching this a.m. and discovered good wool felt, 1/4" thick costs about $80 for a 60" wide yard. The same company makes synthetic felt (a bit of a misnomer) for about $12 for a 60" wide yard. Synthetic felt doesn't have the wicking properties of wool felt which results in a cooler back. If a "felt" pad is white it is probably synthetic as the natural fibers are often mixes of natural sheep wool colors.

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05-13-2008, 04:19 PM
Iwasbornonahorse Started Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GB, WI Posts: 2,558	HT saddle pad help please! I have a barrel saddle, with the rounded skirt of course. I am looking into new saddle pads. I was thinking about this first option with a regular thin wool blanket under it. Is that too much bulk? http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/1030/SAB25-S Would this be better? http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/1030/SC61 __________________ Perhaps we with EDS are like race horses - one of the old traditions was to 'handicap' the greatest horses so that they would not run away from the pack. They would pile on lead weights, whatever was needed to get up to the amount of weight the handicapper said they should carry. We're handicapped because otherwise the world could not keep up with us

05-13-2008, 04:20 PM
Iwasbornonahorse Started Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GB, WI Posts: 2,558	Hmm I meant this to be in tack, but this is ok too I guess. Mods move it if need be! __________________ Perhaps we with EDS are like race horses - one of the old traditions was to 'handicap' the greatest horses so that they would not run away from the pack. They would pile on lead weights, whatever was needed to get up to the amount of weight the handicapper said they should carry. We're handicapped because otherwise the world could not keep up with us

05-13-2008, 04:31 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	I would go with the second one long before I'd consider the first all neoprene one. I'm not sure what your budget is but my favorite pad is one that is 100% all wool felt and contour shaped. The wool is much less likely to burn the horses back or slip/roll. Wool also absorbs quite a bit of shock naturally. I've had my pads for well over 5 years and they're still in great condition. As far as the bulkiness goes that depends on how the saddle fits the horse. Too much pad can cause just as many problems as too little pad. ETA: I moved this into the tack forum for you. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-13-2008, 05:09 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	I got mine from National Ropers Supply, I've also seen the same in Smith Brothers. Mine are the Tod Sloane contoured wool felt pads. They're not cheap. I've also seen similar pads both 100% wool and wool blend for less. I know Reinsman makes one but only in square. The Tod Sloanes do come in round pads. They also come in the smaller sized square pads for square skirted barrel saddles. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-13-2008, 05:13 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	Try this link, it should go to "wool felt barrel pad" on the National Ropers Supply website. http://www.nrsworld.com/iStar.asp?a=29 __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-13-2008, 08:54 PM
Iwasbornonahorse Started Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: GB, WI Posts: 2,558	http://www.nrsworld.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=12102108!CACTS This? __________________ Perhaps we with EDS are like race horses - one of the old traditions was to 'handicap' the greatest horses so that they would not run away from the pack. They would pile on lead weights, whatever was needed to get up to the amount of weight the handicapper said they should carry. We're handicapped because otherwise the world could not keep up with us

05-13-2008, 09:07 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	Yeppers! I sure wish they offered them back when we bought our Tod Sloane's from them. They cost half of what the TS's do. I saw that they're offering their wool pads in a cream color now also. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-13-2008, 09:08 PM
PaintedWonders Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hillsboro, Ohio Posts: 1,419	Great for the price, but you don't get to pick the color... http://cgi.ebay.com/Western-Saddle-P...713.m153.l1262 __________________ Help Support The Elizabeth Theofilos Equine Dream Fund Visit us at Cedar Hills Equines! "I'm so busy I don't know if I just lost a horse or found a lead rope."

05-13-2008, 10:35 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	Probably, but I don't have a cream colored felt pad yet. I have two greys and a black. (Don't get a black one if you have a white horse) __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-13-2008, 11:07 PM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	I love a fresh, clean, new black pad on my bay boy. But they show hair and dirt so dang much. Grey hides everything. But if you get a few single layer navajo's you can have any color you want. That's the tack addict in me speaking. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-14-2008, 07:06 AM
beth55051 Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 7,977	For showing, yes. For normal everyday riding sometimes but then I put them under as a liner. Depends on the horse. With Sam I can't because he has such dang high withers and the navajo will just bunch up in the dip behind his withers and cause major owies. __________________ *Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened.*

05-14-2008, 07:53 AM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Did a little info searching this a.m. and discovered good wool felt, 1/4" thick costs about $80 for a 60" wide yard. The same company makes synthetic felt (a bit of a misnomer) for about $12 for a 60" wide yard. Synthetic felt doesn't have the wicking properties of wool felt which results in a cooler back. If a "felt" pad is white it is probably synthetic as the natural fibers are often mixes of natural sheep wool colors.