Here are six of the best saddle pads for trail riding:
Q. Do you need a saddle pad?
A saddle pad protects your horse’s back from friction that could be caused by a saddle rubbing directly on your horse’s hair and skin. It also helps to protect the saddle by absorbing some of your horse’s sweat. If your saddle fits well, you’ll require only a simple saddle pad.
Table of Contents
Q. What is an English saddle pad called?
Another Name for a Saddle Pad is “Numnah” The word numnah is more familiar to horse riders in the U.K. is a word like gymkhana that was brought back to the U.K. from India.
- Diamond Wool Contoured Felt Ranch Pad.
- Classic Equine BioFit Correction Pad.
- Southwestern Equine OrthoRide Correction Pad.
- Professional’s Choice SMX Air Ride Anza Wool Pad.
- Weaver Leather Contour Pad.
- SaddleRight Western Square Pad.
Q. How thick should your saddle pad be?
7/8″
Q. What size saddle do I need?
A good rule of thumb is that an English saddle seat size will run around two inches larger than a Western saddle. So, if you ride a 15.5” Western saddle, you will likely need a 17.5” English saddle. This is not an exact calculation, and you should always measure and test it first to be sure you get the right fit.
Q. How do I know if my saddle fits?
CHECK YOUR SADDLE’S FIT
- With your saddle correctly positioned, put your hand underneath and slide your fingers along the panel.
- To check the fit of the saddle tree, position one crop or dressage whip against your horse’s wither and one along the line of the tree (which usually follows the seam of the saddle).
Q. How do I know if my saddle is too far back?
Below is a list of possible signs that your saddle is too far back:
- Pain in the back of both your knees (pain in one knee is a sign that your saddle is too high)
- Feet go numb (from “toeing” the pedals)
- Upper hamstring pain in both legs.
- Quads only feel like they are working on climbs as you sit more forward on the seat.
