Archaeologists believe that pads, cloths, and blankets were the first saddle-like pieces of equestrian tack used by ancient riders more than 4,000 years ago. The first cavalry saddles were probably made by Assyrian warriors, but they were still mostly padding; we know this because even Roman cavalry saddles were not rigid. In North America, the Navajo people teach young riders to start off bareback before sitting on pads and later saddles; in fact, horse padding is all that many Native American riders will use for short and casual rides. What we know from Andalusian and Native American horsemanship is that saddle padding is one of the most important pieces of horse tack all riders should pay attention to. The way we should think about pads is that they are largely for the benefit of horses. When you see rodeo cowboys riding bareback, they are the ones more likely to be injured, but this is only because the rider will only be atop the bronco for a few seconds, so we don't have to worry about the animal too much. Horse riding is a different activity that exposes the animals to pressure points, friction, and rubbing for prolonged periods, hence the need for adequate padding. Horse Padding Should Always be Used The only reason a horse would not be fitted with padding is if there is a specific intention for a brief bareback encounter; this would mostly happen at riding academies and ranches where young riders are getting acquainted with animals, so it should be seen as a bonding exercise. All other riding situations call for padding, particularly when saddles are involved. Many Australian, English, and Western saddles incorporate padding, but these will rarely be sufficient on their own. Expert saddle makers can produce saddles that provide a perfect fit for both rider and animal, but we must keep in mind that the future may bring weight and muscle tone changes, which should be addressed with proper padding and adjustment. Unless you are riding competitively in English show-jumping events, there should be no reason to go without a pad; remember that we are looking for the comfort and well-being of the horse. Types of Horse Padding Let's review the most common kinds of horse pads used in the two main equestrian disciplines in North America: In the English riding discipline, all-purpose pads are extensively used in academies. Their Western equivalents are the saddle pads, but the difference is quite noticeable because of the size.Jumping pads are only for English riding, and they are designed to fit smaller and lighter saddles. As you can imagine, these pads are terrible for longer rides.Contrary to what some people believe, bareback pads are not exclusive to Western riding, but they are more likely to be known as silhouette pads in the English style. There is no question that Navajo bareback pads are the most attractive because of their designs. Half pads are complementary pieces of padding that are rarely used on their own; they are mostly used to protect jumping horses that have low withers. English dressage pads are the equivalent of Western saddle pads, but they tend to be more elaborate and used for exhibitions purposes.Grip pads are also complementary, and they are used in English riding to address the issue of very low withers. In essence, grip pads are half pads that have additional rubber material to make the saddle stickier.Swayback pads are almost orthopedic in the sense that they provide additional support and cushioning. They are recommended for horse keepers whose animals are getting older or have special needs; for example, a mare that has developed a swayback anatomy after giving birth.Specialty pads are used in all disciplines to correct poor saddle fitting and other issues such as sore spots and saddles that tilt. Pony pads are simply smaller versions of all the pads listed above. Not all horses will require more than one kind of padding; in fact, many Western saddle pads will provide adequate cushioning right off the bat. You will find a greater variety of horse pads in the English style because this riding discipline has a greater diversity of saddles. What to Look For When Evaluating Horse Pads Be sure to always remember that horse padding is all about providing comfort and protection to the horse. The rest of the tack, particularly rigid saddles, are for the benefit of riders. You want to get the padding that is right for your animals, and this will sometimes involve getting more than one kind to suit your needs. What you should be looking for includes: Proper cushioning of pressure points.How much the fabric will be able to breathe.Anatomical contour.Size relative to saddle and wither. Pad appearance and design are largely secondary to the factors listed above. With regard to pressure points, they can only be determined once the saddle is in place; you want to pay attention to where the saddle comes into contact with the skin, and how far these points may shift while riding and rubbing the skin. The idea is to provide enough cushioning from the center of the pressure point to its farthest travel point. With all the above in mind, which do you think you should measure and fit first, the pad or the saddle? The former will always be the right answer because it only makes sense to determine the width of the saddle when the pad is in place. In other words, padding can make saddles feel narrower for the horse, but not for the rider. Now we can discuss the fabric, which can range from wool to hemp and from fleece to lambskin. Most of the horse padding manufactured these days features synthetic fabrics, and this is actually good news as long as you choose the right ones. Some horse keepers insist on always keeping at least one lambskin pad because of its superior natural properties. Lambskin padding tends to be more expensive, which is why it is more common to use it as part of a specialty and compensating pad. The effect of lambskin pads is almost therapeutic; if you have an older horse that is losing muscle tone, a full lambskin saddle pad is what veterinarians would recommend. As for modern horse pads, fleece with gel-filled compartments has lost favor in recent years because it has been determined that they do not breathe efficiently; moreover, the liquid gel tends to move out of the way of the pressure point, thus creating a risk of rubbing. The best synthetic material on the market right now is memory foam, which is the same kind used to make orthopedic mattresses. Memory foam is made with a combination of microfibers that allow sweat molecules to evaporate, thus allowing the pad to breathe. The friction reduction and weight distribution are improved with memory foam horse pads; even their texture resembles natural padding. Speaking of natural materials: They should be your first choice. You will need to read the description of the pad materials in order to ascertain how much of it is natural. Felt, for example, is a form of wool sheared from sheep, but it has been combined with polyester threading for decades. Product labels and online item description will let you know the percentage of natural and synthetic materials used. If a pad fully made with lambskin is out of the question, try to get one that features a nice blend of natural fibers for the liner, and memory foam for the filling. In the end, the most important aspect of horse pads is that they always be used whenever the animal is either going to be mounted or loaded with considerable weight. Doing this will make the lives of your horses easier and healthier.
