Tack tips

Don’t over-pad.

This can actually hurt saddle fit and cause slipping and rolling, which can be unsafe and sore the horse. If your horse needs a thicker pad, try some of the new thicker wool styles that still allow close contact by the rider’s legs and the sides of the saddle.

Keep your pads clean.

Dried mud, sweat or caked hair will eventually rub sores on your horse’s back. Use a currycomb to loosen debris, or consider taking your blankets to the high-pressure car wash a few times a year, then allow them to hang dry.

Saddle blanket savvy

What’s hot and what’s not in saddle blanket technology

As with most horse gear these days, saddle blankets are available in almost any color, thickness, size, texture or combination that the competitor could want. And, it seems a “newer, better” variety hits the market every month or so. Choosing and discerning between them all can get confusing, but as usual it comes down to what meshes best with the events that you compete in. Similar to saddles, saddle pads are often structured more toward one event than another. However, unlike saddles, they can often be combined or substituted in a pinch and work just fine.
Here are a few of the basic types and their differences.

1. Wool.

Wool is probably still the best overall and possibly the safest choice. It breathes and consequently pulls heat away from the horse. For that same reason, it doesn’t usually sore or gall a horse under normal use and circumstances. It can be used alone or in combination with a neoprene-style pad on top if thicker padding is required—such as in roping or ranch events. Woven wool and cotton blends are also commonly used in these classes (see photo). Show blanket models are available that have gel or memory foam inside, and many models are cut out or thin down under the rider’s legs to allow for close contact.

2. Neoprene.

Although fairly popular for shock absorption and being easy to clean and sterilize, neoprene can get really hot and may sore a horse in some circumstances. According to some trainers, it can also have more “roll” to it if the horse gets really sweaty. However, breathable models and models that are encased in felt or other materials are also available and may help a sore-backed horse or slight saddle-fit issues.

3. Felt.

Available in several varieties including a one-half- or three-quarter-inch pad liner to provide extra padding or keep show pads clean, or in a thicker one-inch variety that can be used alone. A thicker felt pad such as this can be a less expensive alternative to orthopedic-style pads. Felt is known for cushion and durability, and for its ability to conform to the horse’s back. It’s often used in combination with a mohair pad underneath to pad using horses.

4. Specialty pads.

Who knew that horse gear would become so “scientific”? Aside from the old standards listed above and the countless combinations they come in, we now have such pads as “Impact Gel,” “SMx Air Ride” and “Memory Foam.” Impact Gel pads reportedly “absorb and dissipate more shock than anything on the market” thereby providing “maximum equine protection” for speed, roping and ranch events, or simply for a horse requiring more protection and comfort. Air Ride pads are advertised to be breathable, shock absorbent, compression resistant, and able to evenly distribute pressure. They also come in an OrthoSport version specifically for older or higher-withered horses. Memory foam pads reportedly help to relieve uneven pressure points, as they mold to the horse’s back and then return to their original shape. All pads are available in popular show colors and designs.

COMPILED BY DOREEN SHUMPERT

Printed in the March 2007 issue of Appaloosa Journal.

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