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Best Inexpensive Western Saddle Pad/Blanket?

11K views 18 replies 15 participants last post by  Wallaby 
#1 ·
I've recently inherited an old western saddle from my Aunt who no longer rides. I'd like to use it primarily for trail rides, or for the boyfriend to use while riding. Of course I'll have to see how it fits my guy, but he is built extremely similarly to my aunt's old horse, so hopefully should be a decent fit.

Anyway, my main thing now is to find a saddle pad or blanket to use with it and I'm not sure where to start to look (100% English rider here!). All I know is that the best pad would be a 100% wool pad. Any good recommendations?

I'd like to stay pretty inexpensive since it won't be used a ton, but I don't care much about color or style. I was looking on diamond wool since it was one of the first search results, at this:
http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/7
But it's straight across and I wasn't sure if that would be good?

Also, what is the difference between a western pad and a western blanket? And do I need both?

Thanks in advance, hope these questions aren't too dumb!
 
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#3 ·
Diamond Wool makes contoured western pads. The one you linked is a liner, not a pad. Basically, it's designed to go under your pad to keep the bottom clean.

I have their 1/2" contoured cowboy pad and I really like it. http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contour-cowboy-pad/E006941/

I'm considering getting this pad eventually: http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contour-relief-pad/E006939/

You don't need a blanket on top if you're not showing. Some people like them, others don't care. The difference between a pad and a blanket is the thickness. Pads are generally 1/2"-1.5", whereas blankets are very thin (closer to the thickness of an English pad). Western saddles are designed to be used with a pad, not just a blanket.
 
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#6 ·
Diamond Wool makes contoured western pads. The one you linked is a liner, not a pad. Basically, it's designed to go under your pad to keep the bottom clean.

I have their 1/2" contoured cowboy pad and I really like it. http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contour-cowboy-pad/E006941/

I'm considering getting this pad eventually: http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contour-relief-pad/E006939/

You don't need a blanket on top if you're not showing. Some people like them, others don't care. The difference between a pad and a blanket is the thickness. Pads are generally 1/2"-1.5", whereas blankets are very thin (closer to the thickness of an English pad). Western saddles are designed to be used with a pad, not just a blanket.
Both these pads are awesome! My daughter and all my friends use Diamond wool pads and love them. If I had known about their quality before I bought my 5-star I would have bought one or 2 of those instead.
 
#4 ·
A western pad is the thick one that provides padding, this is what you want. A saddle blanket is a thin blanket people put over the pad for looks or to protect the pad.

100% wool felt is the best way to go. 5 star has, IMO, the best western saddle pad on the market. It is a little pricey, but well worth it. Diamond Wool would be the next best thing.

Horse.com has a large variety of Diamond Wool pads that you can choose from. http://www.horse.com/Search.aspx?query=diamond%20wool

Having the back contoured comes down more to personal preference. I prefer to have it because I feel it forms better to the horse.

This one has many colors and also has free shipping. http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contoured-ranch-pad/E006936/

This one also has many colors and is a bit cheaper. http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-ranch-pad/E008294/

They also have just a plain working pad. http://www.horse.com/item/diamond-wool-contour-felt-ranch-pad/E006935/
 
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#7 ·
I like my contoured cowboy pad except that it's 32" x 32" and very lightweight. If it's breezy out and I'm trying to saddle my 17hh beast, that thing acts like a freaking sail and flops everywhere but on his back. :lol: I could probably get away with a 30" x 30" with the size of my saddle (16" Tex Tan Hereford...pretty sure it's got 28" skirts).
 
#15 ·
REALLY? why would you say such a thing Tiny, any ol' pad should not do! A horse deserves to be comfortable whenever it is ridden and a nice quality pad is to me essential every ride. I can understand not wanting to splash out on a 5 Star straight away for minimal use, but the OP is doing the right thing by researching her options and getting some pros and cons......
 
#9 ·
Ummm..just a thought....

How about before you look to buy a saddle pad you try the saddle first to make sure it even fits decently well and doesn't need a particular style of pad to make up for a so-so fit?
Comfort of the horse first and foremost....
:runninghorse2:....
jmo...
 
#11 ·
Ummm..just a thought....

How about before you look to buy a saddle pad you try the saddle first to make sure it even fits decently well and doesn't need a particular style of pad to make up for a so-so fit?
Comfort of the horse first and foremost....
:runninghorse2:....
jmo...

Actually a Western saddle needs a pad under it to check fit. English saddles are fitted without the pad. The difference is that the Western pads are thicker so you have to allow for that when fitting the saddle.


Diamond wool are a decent less expensive pad, but for anyone needing a good working pad that's going to last and really protect the horse's back, go with 5 Star.
 
#10 ·
It does matter, if trail rides when it is used, are long, far as quality!
I like the AirRide pads-yes not exactly cheap, but if I ask my horse to go for a day trail ride, impact protection is huge!
I bought my first one when Smilie was two, She is now 14, and it is still going strong

Carmen, wearing one

 
#13 ·
Thanks all! First of all, I'm on mobile, and not sure how to quote, so I'll address what I can and may come back later this evening.

To those of you who have added suggestions, I'll look into them. I'm not in the market to spend a ton on something that will be used infrequently, but I do want Nav to be comfortable and will pay a little more for better quality if I need to. I'll probably limit myself to about $100 though, but less would be better (poor grad student here). No worries, I'm not going to jump in and buy anything without seeing how the saddle sits on him first. Just because if it is obviously way off in size then I won't be buying a pad at all, I'll be selling the saddle.

I may be able to get out there tomorrow and see how the saddle alone fits his back, and perhaps try a pad from the barn along with it if the initial fit looks good. I'll see if I can get some pictures too. I care a lot about his comfort, and am not planning to buy just any cheap pad I can find, just to be able to ride in the saddle sooner.
 
#14 ·
I have two pads for my western saddle. They are used separately, depending on what horse I'm riding.

My personal horse, and most of the others, only need a western blanket. The type one folds in half. I have put in long days in rough country with that set up and never sored a horse.

I also have a cheap, store brand (Shipton's, I believe) 3/4" wool felt pad. It is the dark color, so not even all wool. I use it when riding younger, less well-developed horses. I don't put long, long days on the younger horses, if I can help it, but even with 6 hours, I've not sored one with this set up.

Others I know buy whatever inexpensive felt pad their local store has. TSC, Murdocks, etc. A couple guys who sometimes work with us, say they go through their generic felt pads every two years. Still pretty cheap and they don't sore up horses.

I do know a woman who works at a feedlot who sored a horse with a cheap pad. In her work, she is opening and closing gates all. day. long. Putting all her weight on one side or the other. She went with higher quality felt and added a Thin Line pad to it.
 
#16 ·
Fitting for bar angle is best done without a pad as a pad can make the angles hard to see and compare. However, if a gullet width is "fitted" without a pad, frequently it will be too narrow with a decent pad under it. My saddles fit as close to perfect as possible but if I were to take my 1" pad out from under it and try it on, most folks would take one look and say "it's too wide" because it was close to their withers....but add the pad and it's a great fit.


That said, I also like diamond pads. I have a couple different ones and really have been happy with both. I have one like the first one Drafty linked that I use on my big horse who is almost too big for my saddle (hence the thin pad) and I have this one for my normal sized horses.
CR- Diamond Wool Contoured Tough Saddle Pad


I do a lot of high impact riding (roping and working cattle) and have yet to have a horse get pinched or sored in one of these pads.

The most important thing is that it is actual felt and not wholly synthetic materials. The one I linked does have some synthetic filler mixed in, but it is still mostly real wool. I made the mistake of buying a billy cook "felt" pad on sale. When I got it it was fully synthetic material but I decided to try it anyway. One long day and it scalded my horse's entire back. I was so ticked. Now I use it as a pad to sit/stand on when I'm working leather in the tack room.
 
#18 ·
I will say that the dimond wool pad with the shims is a really nice pad. I have one I bought for my mare who is a bit swayed back. Last fall I was working with a rescue to help train some horses. I was working with seveal horses of all different builds from thin TB's to some stocky quarter horses. The pad was a life saver. Take all the shims out and it's a regular 1" pad, but you could also add shims for the horses that needed them.
 
#19 ·
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