| Both western and English saddle pads need to be | | | | Don't use soap -- the high pressure water is more than |
| cleaned regularly in order to keep them at optimal | | | | sufficient to power out packed in grime, sweat and |
| performance. Your horse will appreciate it greatly, and | | | | debris. Press out as much water as you can then haul |
| you'd be amazed at how easy it actually is to keep | | | | them home and throw them over a stump to dry in |
| them clean if you do it regularly. | | | | the sun. If you want to get really fancy, you can invert |
| English saddle pads can easily be laundered in a | | | | them over a saddle rack to dry, but a stump or a large |
| washing machine. Always use a cold water cycle and | | | | rock is fine too. |
| mild detergent. Never use fabric softener! Tumble dry | | | | Wool saddle pads can be either hosed off with a |
| on low heat, again with no dryer sheets, as they will | | | | gentle spray from the garden hose, or brushed daily |
| make the pads slippery. | | | | with a brush that has fairly stiff bristles. If it gets so bad |
| Be sure to read the manufacturer's instructions before | | | | that you simply have to wash it, it's not advisable to |
| tossing in a washing machine, in case they don't | | | | use soap, as it never seems to fully rinse out. Just |
| recommend it. Additionally, if you have a pad which is | | | | soak it in cold water and rinse until the water runs |
| made to wick moisture away from the horse, it can't | | | | clear. Lay flat to dry somewhere shady or in the barn |
| go in the dryer. It has to hang on a line to dry, and be | | | | as sunlight will cause it to shrink a little. |
| careful about drying in full sun too. Sunlight can fade | | | | You can also trying using a shop vac on any of your |
| the color and shrink the pad, so line-dry indoors or in | | | | western saddle pads. This usually works great, |
| the shade. | | | | especially if it somehow got a whole bunch of hay |
| You can always wash your dressage saddle pads by | | | | stuck into the fleece. Try laying the pad out flat on the |
| hand in a sink of cold water. Use a little bit of detergent | | | | floor with the underside up, then kneeling on one edge |
| that is specially for hand-washing, like Woolite, and let it | | | | to hold it down and scrubbing it with the vacuum hose |
| soak for a long time. Rinse carefully as you don't want | | | | nozzle in a circular motion. |
| any soap left in the pad. Line dry indoor over the | | | | Hopefully these tips have helped you figure out a way |
| shower rod and it will be good as new. | | | | to clean your saddle pads that works for you. Enjoy |
| When cleaning western saddle pads, you might want | | | | your horse and remember that taking care of your |
| to take the easy route and haul them to a car wash. | | | | horse equipment regularly is the secret to making it last |
| Drop a few quarters in the machine and spray the | | | | a long time. |
| heck out of them with the high-pressure rinse setting. | | | | |