Horse Tack
At first it can seems like such a simple task, all you have to do is open that glossy pony give and tack catalog that is laying on the table and buy a new Western saddle pad. No problem.
Just a few small seconds after opening the catalog you realize exactly how huge a project you are about to undertake. Instead of opening the catalog and finding the one or two saddle pads you expected you find your self facing page after page after page of saddle pads. Each saddle pad has its own cut, material type, and function. The magazine offers a brief blurb on each pad but not anything that is really helpful. The only thing that the blankets seem to have in common is the fee…expensive.
The first thing you need to consider is your budget. The typical pony person operates on a tight budget. Each day they are confronted with a flood of bills that by no means seems to stop, feed bills, veterinarian bills, board bills, lesson bills, and miscellaneous bills. It is tempting to buy the cheapest saddle blanket the catalogue sells. Before you place that order you should stop and reckon. When it comes to tack cheaper is typically not better. Cheap saddle blankets tend to be so thin that they offer next to no cushioning, the flimsy material often bunches and can cause saddle sores if the owner is negligent when saddling. Cheap blankets can slide while the owner is riding (this is especially right if your pony is as round as a barrel). The benefit to cheap saddle blankets is that they are typically washing machine cleanable, but the downside is that they seldom last for more then a few cleanings. The one time I recommend buying a really cheap Western saddle pad is when you are first saddling a young pony. If cost is a major issue consider looking in the clearance sections of the catalogs and tack stores. I’ve found that I typically find the best deals on saddle blankets when I’m not looking for one.
The second thing you need to take into consideration when you are looking for a Western saddle blanket is what type of saddle do you have. Not all Western saddles are designed the same, there are saddles cut to fit specific breeds (Arabians and Quarter Horses typically use a different saddle design), saddles that are designed for different purposes (a barrel racing saddle looks completely different from a saddle that a roper will be riding in). The vital thing to remember is that the when the saddle pad is on, no part of the underside of the saddle should be touching the horses back.
It is vital to consider your horses body type when you are purchasing a saddle blanket. If you own a pony whose mid section resembles a barrel and their withers are not anything more then a distant memory (this is the typical body type of ponies) you will want to look for a saddle pad that is made of material that is designed not to slip and slide all over the place. If you are a rider that typically leans heavily on one side of your saddle you will also want to consider a non-slip saddle blanket. If your pony has prominent withers you will want to look for a saddle blanket that will add extra protection and padding in the front. A swaybacked pony requires a saddle pad that will offer extra support everywhere, you’ll also want to look for a saddle pad that is thick enough you saddle will sit above the horses withers and hips.
Western saddle pads are not simple to clean. They are typically to stiff and cumbersome to fit in a washing machine and if you are able to cram them into your washing machine you will quickly learn that it can take several days before they are dry. Once a Western saddle pad has been washed it typically doesn’t look the same again. Most Western riders try to keep their saddle pads clean by introduction a cheap Navajo rug under the reckon fluffy Western Blanket.
Fredrick Ahler likes to write for UniformHaven.com which offers dickies scrubs, discount cherokee scrubs and lab coats as well as a host of other products.
