A Saddle Pad For All Occasions
No
such animal! Since I manufacture the equalizer saddle pad, I naturally
consider it the best pad on the market.
But will the equalizer pad solve
all the problems? No! What
are the problems? What are we
trying to accomplish
with a saddle pad or blanket?
Why am I using a saddle pad at all?
You be the judge. I will argue for the horse.
As a horse I would want a pad on my back that:
v
“absorbs
sweat which helps keep me cool”
v
“keeps
the saddle from pinching”
v
“keeps
the saddle from chafing”
v
“keeps
the saddle in place”
v
“evenly
distributes the riders weight”
v
“absorbs
shock”
v
“lets
the rider feel my movement”
v
“and
I want to look good!”
Aren’t
you glad you are not a horse? Seriously,
let’s look at saddle pads from an analytical perspective
starting with
sweat absorption.
Fabric or fleece against the back
must wick the moisture and do more than just hold the warm sweat
in
suspension as is the case with dense felts and all wool fleece.
Look for breathable fabrics or fleeces that
do not mat nor are so
thick they make you unstable. Remember that thick piles can aggravate heat
retention.
Multiple layers of
pads or blankets have the same effect on heat retention as winter layering
for the human body.
Pinching cannot be lessened by padding. Get a saddle that fits. Saddles are like shoes. Thick socks
in tight
shoes don’t help one whit. Imagine a narrow tree with a thick pad. The
rider will end up perching on
the pad and concentrating pressure where the
tree pinches.
Movement of the saddle relative to the animal
is conducive to chafing. Fishtailing of the hindquarters
under the
saddle appears to be most the common problem with additional padding
placed under the cantle as
a solution. Treat the problem, not the symptom.
The symptom is off-contact at the back of the saddle. The
problem,
probably, is the front of the saddle has slipped down into the pocket at
the base of the withers and
behind the scapula, a position problem not
apparent when the horse is standing still. Lift the front and center
of
the saddle but not by padding at the withers.
Saddle shift can be a result of any number of problems. I most
often encounter saddle movement when
there is a bridging condition, multiple pads in use, or general poor fit of
saddle to animal. Some pads can help,
but again are a treatment of the
symptom. Saddle fit is the key which takes us to weight distribution.
Treeless saddles and flexible trees have certainly
complicated the problem of weight distribution as
normally
addressed in tree design. This is too complex of a discussion to address
here, so lets just look at
your animals back and see where its
able to accept the load of the rider and saddle. If the saddle is
riding on
the ribcage, spine, withers
or loin, you probably have an unhappy animal. Look at your existing pad or
blanket
for a telltale sweat pattern and uniform compaction of fleece or
fabric. Look for the point dirt accumulates as
a probable area of minimal
contact. Full contact of the
tree or bars is the essence of good weight distribution.
Weight distribution means shock distribution. More surface area to
absorb shock means a more
comfortable ride for animal and rider. When
looking for a shock absorbing pad use the drop test of a weight
on the pad
and check for rebound. The weight should hit like a sack of potatoes, not
a tennis ball. Be careful
with thick pads that do absorb shock but might
put you a mile from the horse.
The
sense of oneness with your horse is not accomplished with thick or
multiple pads. The least
padding that accomplishes the job is the best,
much like government.
Style is last because it should be. There are a multitude of pads
in all colors but the consideration
for aesthetics should be only after
form fit and function.
There is no one formula to decide the best saddle pad. There are to
many variables, not the least of
which are baseless opinion. The analysis
of saddle pads, saddles or any item
for that matter, is essentially
the same process, an exercise in deductive
reasoning. Ask yourself what you expect from the item you will
purchase.
Will the design of the item meet your needs?
Will the materials perform as advertised? Do you
know what the materials are?
Imagine a content label on everything you buy. (I am not advocating
universal content labeling, only the
obligation of the consumer to educate themselves and free society
from the
victim syndrome.) Are you
relying on testimony, advertisement and hype, or do you actually
understand the product including design and materials?
When in doubt, don’t kid
yourself.
It only costs you money and a cranky horse.
Happy trails!
Tom
Phone: 208 448
4510
Fax line: 208 448 4610
P.O. BOX 908, Ponderay, Idaho 83852
Contact Information
Telephone 208
. 448 . 4510
Carousel Action Wear Inc. Order desk 800
. 327 . 9996
Skito Enterprises
Order desk 800 . 292 . 6442
- Postal address
P.O. Box 908, Ponderay, ID 83852
- Electronic mail
-
Carousel Action Wear Inc.
info@carouseltights.com
Skito Saddle Pads:
info@skito.net
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