Horseback riders in both English and Western disciplines commonly use some type of pad or blanket underneath the horse's saddle as both protection for the mount and a guard against dirty saddle leather. Regardless of your riding sport, you need to find a pad that fits both your horse and saddle, and allows your animal to move freely and comfortably without causing the saddle to pinch or rest too low on your horse's back, writes veterinarian Joyce Harman in "The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book."
Benefits
The design of both English and Western pads provides a thick material under all sides of the saddle to buffer the horse's skin and hair from chafing and rubbing. At the same time, pads cushion the animal's back against the weight of the saddle and the rider. Therapeutic pads, made for horses with particularly high withers or for animals suffering with back or spine issues, typically come equipped with special inserts that conform to the horse's body allowing for better saddle fit and even weight distribution. Pads and blankets also protect expensive saddle leather from dirt, horsehair and sweat.
English Pads
Saddle pads made for the English disciplines of jumping, dressage, saddleseat and racing come in two distinct styles. The "numnah" mirrors the shape of the English saddle, showing approximately two inches of material around the saddle's cantle, pommel and two side flaps. Commonly made of white fleece, numnahs attach to the saddle's billets with tabs to keep them in place during riding. The English "square" pad fits under the saddle with billet tabs, and hangs down lower on the horse's sides than the numnah. Square pads come in all colors and are typically made of quilted cotton. They may be used under a numnah depending on the fit of the saddle. Manufacturers make both numnahs and square pads in therapeutic styles with gel, polyurethane and fleece inserts.
Western Blankets
The square-shaped Western pad or blanket sits completely under the saddle's skirts and fenders, protecting both the back and sides of the horse. Typically made with a canvas or wool backing, the pads cushion the weight of the heavy Western saddle with an inch-thick inner pillow of heavy fleece, wool or pressed felt divided by a gullet that runs down the horse's spine. Therapeutic pads come with the similar gel and polyurethane inserts seen in English pads. The pads come in various colors, but many Western equestrians prefer to cover them with thin, brightly colored wool blankets decorated with American Indian designs. These blankets become an integral part of the criteria judging the overall look of the horse and rider used in certain Western classes, including Western Pleasure and Western Riding, writes Audrey Pavia and Shannon Sand in "Horseback Riding for Dummies."
Care and Cleaning
Most English pads, both numnahs and square pads, can be cleaned in a washer and dryer. If you choose to machine-wash your pads, Heather Smith Thomas of My Horse.com recommends using cold water and no heat cycle in the dryer to prevent shrinkage. Thick Western pads need to be completely dried and the hair brushed off before you attempt to clean them. A high-pressure hose rinses away any dirt or mud and you can hang them on a fence to dry. Woolen blankets need to be hand-washed or hosed down, and left to air-dry once the hair is brushed away. Any therapeutic inserts on both English and Western pads should be removed before cleaning.
References
- "The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book"; Joyce Harman, DVM; 2004
- "Horseback Riding for Dummies"; Audrey Pavia; Shannon Sand; 2007
- MyHorse.com: Saddle Pad Care: No Sweat
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