When choosing a saddle blanket for your horse there are many things to consider: The style of saddle you will be using, the thickness of the saddle blanket and more.
A saddle blanket is commonly used under a saddle because it can absorb the horse’s sweat as well as help to cushion the saddle so that it does not hurt the animal’s back in the process of traveling. It is a relatively thin piece of cloth used to protect the horse. If you want something thicker that can also help to absorb shock and prevent the animal from feeling overly tired, you will need the western saddle pads. These pads are usually made from foam or felt which are of softer materials and can better protect the horse’s skin.
Since the western saddle pads are used for western riding, it is referring to the working horses. As such, the riding is usually rough so if the saddle is not fitted properly, great damage can be done to the horse. It is vital that you check the fitting of the saddles. Make sure the saddle is fitted snugly, otherwise the friction caused during riding will injure the horse back. As a protection, the western saddle pads will come in handy since they are placed directly under the saddles to ensure that they do not come into contact with the horse’s skin.
These western saddle pads come in various designs and colors to meet your taste and needs. If you want your horse to be very comfortable when you are riding it, the best advice is that you get the saddle and the saddle pads custom made. The one-size-fit-all types of products may not be able to fit your horse perfectly.
Thick Felt Wool Shock Western Saddle Pad Blanket Horse tack Grey | US $6.26 (4 Bids) End Date: Tuesday Nov-01-2011 19:58:22 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list |
BILLY COOK WOOL, WESTERN SADDLE HORSE CUTTER SHOW PAD
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WESTERN PLEASURE TRAIL BAREBACK HORSE SADDLE PAD TREELESS NEW
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However, these custom made saddle pads may be very costly. If you get the ready made ones, they usually cost less than a hundred unless you get something of very high quality, then you will have to be prepared to pay more. These thicker pads may consist of a few layers of materials for better protection.
Needless to say, the custom made ones will cost you a few hundreds. If cost is an issue but you really want to get something thicker and of better quality for your horse, then you may want to consider buying a second-hand one. If you are lucky, you may be able to get a reasonably good quality one from the want ads of your local newspapers, ebay, amazon, or your local feed store.
