| When you ride English, choosing a saddle pad is | | | | you pull off the saddle pad after a ride. This means air |
| reduced to the basic task of choosing a color. It's that | | | | was flowing across the gullet as it is intended to do. |
| simple. But western saddle pads are a whole different | | | | This is how her back stays cool while you're working |
| story. There are orthopedic pads, pads with inserts, | | | | her out. |
| foam, wool felt, fleece, neoprene and more. Varying | | | | Before you buy an expensive saddle pad, try a |
| thicknesses and combination's of the various materials | | | | generic wool felt saddle blanket first. Those have been |
| used to make the pads only adds to the confusion. | | | | around for a long time for good reason. They work |
| You hate to waste money on an expensive pad, so | | | | great most of the time if your saddle fits properly. Get |
| here are some tips on how to choose the best one. | | | | your horse nice and sweaty on a fast trail ride and |
| When putting a saddle pad on your horse and then | | | | see how he acts. If he doesn't seem to be |
| going for a ride, the best thing that can happen is you | | | | uncomfortable and his back is completely wet when |
| pull it off and the whole back is wet with sweat | | | | you're done with no areas of dryness, then that wool |
| without any dry spots. This means the pressure is | | | | pad is sufficient. |
| being applied evenly and the sweat glands are being | | | | A saddle pad can never make a poorly-fitting saddle |
| allowed to work properly. If you see dry spots, then | | | | fit right, and that's where it gets confusing when trying |
| those areas are getting too much pressure and | | | | to choose a saddle pad. It is meant to diffuse heat and |
| eventually the tissue in those spots will die if you don't | | | | keep sweat away from your saddle so it will last |
| correct the problem. | | | | longer. That's all it was meant to do, so if you find it's |
| Try using a thinner pad, and if that doesn't work you | | | | not "fixing" a problem, then the real solution is to get a |
| may need a new saddle. | | | | better-fitting saddle. |
| Don't worry though, if your horse's spine is dry when | | | | |