I have been in commensurations about the fact that I need to purchase a new saddle pad or two for the last couple of months and procrastinating in one way or another over actually just spending the money and getting something. It isn’t about the money, let’s face it, buying a quilted dressage pad is not the most pricey thing we as horse owners are faced with. At first I told myself that I wanted something ‘unique’… meaning not just white with black piping. Then when I started to see the cool unique pads out there, I told myself that they weren’t cut just right, meaning the withers weren’t high enough. Well, when I finally started to find some that were just right – unique and high wither shaped, then the excuse moved to something new entirely, the thought that maybe the pads I was looking at weren’t the best for my horse’s back?! *roll eyes*
Perhaps in my diluted thoughts there was some truth to pull out and be thankful for. The fact that I have not yet bought a pad has nothing to do now with not knowing what to get, simply not having had the time to place the order for what I have decided on.
For the longest time I rode in the Professional’s Choice line of saddle pads, which use a combination of high-tech fabrics and composites to create the what-I-thought-to-be-the-greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread saddle pad. It worked, certainly serving it’s purpose, of keeping the underside of my saddle from getting dirty and sweaty. The problem was that my horse’s back was *always* really sweaty, and over time he developed white hairs despite a comfortably fitted saddle that didn’t cause uneven sweat marks or otherwise sore areas on his back. Hmm, well he is now happily retired and become quite the chunk I might mention.
Following that area I moved to using simple cotton dressage pads. They have worked without complaint for much time. I had over that time added a few additional ‘therapeutic’ pads on top from the recommendation and at one time requirement of various trainers, instructors and ‘knowledgeable’ horsemen. When I began my search for a new saddle pad as described in the beginning of this post, my pad ensemble included the base cotton dressage pad, with a Cashel foam pad and a Traumatech Therapeutic Pad.
Well, here I am thinking these are covering the bases, helping keep my horse’s backs from injury, but perhaps in my own happy congruence of ignorance I was causing more harm than help. So as I started researching the Mattes line of pads, I had the question occur to me… which is better – wool or cotton? Much to my surprise, others had wondered the same thing in relation to saddle pads, and had discovered some very interesting facts.
So, I figured I would put together a list of some of the best links that I found, and let you roam them yourself if you find yourself looking for another saddle pad anytime soon.
And anyone wondering what I settled on, this is where I will be directing my purchase :
Fleeceworks FXK Technology Half Pad (and a separate, simple, cotton Dressage pad 
)
Saddle Pad Research Links
Behind The Bit – What To Look For In A Saddle Pad
Saddle pads and what the manufacturers don’t tell you by Michael Easton with Dr. Joyce Harman
Saddle Pad Construction: Different Materials from the Horse Saddle Shop
Advantages of Wool for Horse Tack from infohorse.com
Evaluation of performance saddle pads (Kansas State University Study)
Sustainable dressage Web site discussion of saddles and pads
Saddle pads from the Horsechannel.com
