Having purchased your saddle pad, the next step is to fit it. Here are our six simple steps for fitting a saddle pad to a horse.
There are thousands of different saddle pads to choose from, in a bewildering array of styles, colours, designs, materials and price points, but whatever the pad you decide upon, the process of how to fit a saddle pad to your horse is broadly the same.
There are six basic steps to ensure your saddle pad is seated correctly on your horse’s back.
Saddle pad fitting isn’t a one-off job, this is especially true if you are trying a pad for the first time. You should check your saddle pad regularly once it has been used to make sure the sweat areas are even on both sides of the pad. Similar to humans, who get fitter, lose weight and need to buy smaller clothes, as a horse gets fitter the muscles change shape. A good quality saddle pad with a correction system will allow you to add shims, to ensure your saddle pad and saddle remains a good fit for your horse.
Whilst this is a fairly simple guide on how to fit a saddle pad to a horse, it is an important point to note that it doesn’t matter how good your saddle pad is if you have an ill-fitting saddle. Just as you would regularly check your saddle pad, you should be carrying out the same procedure for your saddle. A qualified Master saddle fitter can tell you if your saddle fits correctly and if not make any adjustments to the flocking or tree width. A properly fitted saddle and saddle pad can improve your horse’s performance, provide maximum comfort and benefit the overall health of your horse. Don’t go for the cheapest option. Invest in a good quality saddle pad, that will do a proper job for your horse and if cared for will last you many years.
Pink Equine established in 2007, only recommends Mattes saddle pads, because of the high-quality materials used in the manufacturing process, the bespoke nature of the design and the considerable effort that has been put into the functional saddle pad composition ensuring the best saddle pad fit.
Mattes pads are made with a quilt, manufactured using a superior cotton twill fabric, the kind used in heavy-duty work clothing. Inside the quilt where flexibility and durability are important is a double layer of Polyester non-woven felt fabric which is far superior to other materials because it retains its shape under continuous pressure. The result is a naturally breathable quilt, firm enough to keep its shape over time and one that does not create pressure points for the horse. If you are looking for a replacement saddle pad, you won’t find better. You can view the Mattes saddle pad range here.
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