English Saddle pad choices are vast. When I began riding in the late sixties there were few saddle pad to choose from.  Most of us were riding in Stubben saddles and it was recommended to ride with out a saddle pad.  In horse shows we never even rode with a pad.  Years ago most saddles were flocked with wool.  This means that the panels that support the saddle, which rest on the horses back were filled with cleaned and carded sheep’s wool.  These saddles can be reflocked as the wool packs down.  The down side of not using a saddle pad occurs when the horse sweats.  The leather and wool absorb the moisture.  The caustic nature of horse sweat eventually will dry and corrode the leather and the panels.

Now a day we choose to use saddle pads for many reasons.  The sweat on the panels is one of the good reasons..  The panels on the saddles that are made more recently are filled with high tech foam.  These saddles are designed to be used with a saddle pad. Saddle pads can be as simple as a quilted baby pad or as complicated as an orthopedic saddle pad with shims.

Schooling saddle pads are usually square shaped and are available in many colors.  Some fun saddle square pads have embroidery on the back corners.  Many square can be customizes with your name. Square schooling pads are usually sized mini, pony, horse and dressage.

Fleece pads are available in synthetic fleece and real sheepskin. Horse shows require that English riders use a fleece saddle pad. These pads are fitted to your saddle and only a small amount of the pad is showing.  The fleece pads are thicker then the quilted pads.  Many English riders use a quilted pad under a fleece pad in order to keep their fleece pad clean. Fleece riding pads are stocked in sizes from 13” to 19”.  Some of the fitted fleece pads have cotton quilting on one side.  This makes the synthetic fleece saddle pad much more absorbent. Real sheepskin on the other hand is highly absorbent, but must be washed in Leather Laundry Solution by Leather Therapy.

Orthopedic saddle pads can help adjust saddles that do not fit your horse properly.  They can raise the front or back of a saddle, fill in where the horses back is too hollow, or protect the horses back from concussion.  Corrective saddle pads can help cure saddles from slipping rubbing and more.

Most equestrians own a huge stack of saddle pads and many like to color coordinate with their horse’s polo wraps and their own clothing.