Dressage is a popular form of English riding that requires a lot of control and discipline from both horse and rider. As well as looking elegant, a dressage saddle pad will provide a high level of comfort for your horse. This, in turn, will enhance your performance and optimize your safety as a rider. When it comes to choosing the best dressage saddle pads, there are a lot of things to consider. By following our guide below, you’ll be sure to find the best saddle pad for your needs.
Quick Summary: Top 3 Products
Prime Dressage Saddle Pad by Weatherbeeta
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LeMieux Prosport Suede Dressage Saddle Pad
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ECP Correction Dressage Saddle Pads
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What is a Dressage Saddle?
The saddles used in dressage are different from other types of English saddles as they're designed to give the rider a more centralized balanced which is required for dressage riding. They have distinctively long, unpadded flaps, lengthy billet straps and a drop girth, to allow the horse plenty of freedom with shoulder movements. Because of their special design features, dressage saddles need to be used with a pad designed for dressage riding.
What is a Dressage Saddle Pad?
Dressage saddle pads are elegant in their appearance and are designed to enhance performance, ensure the comfort of your dressage horse, and to protect it's back when it's performing. They’re usually thinner than other English saddle pads to allow lots of contact and to maximize the riders leg length. The pads used for dressage are traditionally white for showing and they’re square or rectangular shaped to match the straight long cut flap of a dressage saddle.
Finding the Best Size and Fit
A saddle pad that doesn't fit well can potentially injure your horse's back, this is why you should pay close attention to the size and fitting of a new one.
Size
When it comes to sizing a dressage saddle pad, you should make sure that the pad clears your saddle by at least an inch all the way around. Make sure that no seams fall under the saddle, as these can cause unwanted pressure points and friction on the horses' back.
Fitting
For the fitting, place the saddle blanket on the horses back, over the withers and then slide it down back into place. This makes sure that the horse hair and pad are smoothed out underneath the saddle, preventing friction on the back.
You should be able to pull the pad up into the gullet so that it’s not pressed tight and causing pressure on the withers. If it's too tight it can cause discomfort which will lead to the horse rolling in the dirt or mud for relief.
Tips
A good way to check that the pad and saddle fit your horse is by looking at the sweat marks left behind on the pad after riding. If the sweat marks are unevenly distributed around the pad then it could mean you need to replace it with a new one, or that your saddle fit needs to be adjusted.
Saddle Pad Cleaning and Care Tips
If a dressage saddle pad is well maintained then it can last for several years. Take a look at our tips below about how to take care of your new pad.
Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning your saddle pad, it’s best to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions. A dirty saddle pad will cause friction and rubbing on the back of the horse, this is why it’s important to clean and check blankets regularly.
Different pads have different cleaning requirements and most synthetic ones can be put in the washing machine. Be cautious when you're cleaning blankets that are made from natural materials, they may need specialist cleaning.
Care Tips
An easy way to remove hairs, dirt and debris, is by brushing the pad gently with a dandy brush. It’s also good practice to air your saddle pad regularly. The best way to do this is to lay the pad over your saddle, damp side up after you’ve been riding. When it comes to drying your saddle pad after washing, ideally, you should hang it out in the sunshine. Using the UV rays of the sun is the best way to kill off any bacteria.
How to Choose a Dressage Saddle Pad
When it comes to choosing a dressage saddle pad for your horse, there are a few things that you should take into consideration before buying one. By using our guide below, you’ll be sure to find the best one for your needs.
Thickness
Unless your horse has conformation problems of the back and needs a thicker saddle pad, then you should always choose a thin pad for dressage. Thin saddle blankets are generally more breathable and allow the maximum amount of contact with the horse. Thicker isn't always better, if your saddle fits well, you don't want to set the balance off with a thick pad.
Material
Dressage saddles need to be thin and breathable so you’ll often find them made from cotton, polyester, or a mix of both. Polyester is highly durable whereas cotton is super breathable, so together they make a good combination. It's best to avoid buying thicker materials such as neoprene and sheepskin.
Color
A white dressage saddle pad is the traditional choice when it comes to competitions. This is because it looks elegant in the show ring and it’s also easier to match it with white leg bandages. These days, however, you’ll find a whole range of fancy dressage saddle pads on the market, with manufacturers often offering colored leg bandages to match.
Special Features
A good feature to look out for on a dressage pad is “drop girth protection”. Because the girth on a dressage saddle is shorter, it can sometimes pinch the pad or horses skin. A pad with drop girth protection can prevent this from happening.
Adjustability
If using a thin pad on your horse isn’t an option, then choose an adjustable dressage pad that allows you to add shims. Adjustable dressage pads are great for horses with conformation problems of the back. If you're planning on using your dressage pad with different saddles then look for Velcro or elastic billet straps.
Dressage Saddle Pad Reviews
To help you in your search to find the perfect dressage saddle pad for your horse, we’ve reviewed our top five below.
1. LeMieux Prosport Suede Dressage Saddle Pad
This is a high-quality, quilted dressage pad from LeMieux that provides the ultimate in comfort and safety for your horse. The elasticated d ring tabs and special girth protection area make this pad suitable to use on a wide range of different dressage saddles.
The natural bamboo underling makes this pad one of the most sweat absorbing and breathable ones available on the market. It has a high wicking capability, eliminating the problem of friction caused by sweating.
This pad feels luxurious, looks elegant and is sure to enhance your riding performance.
This is a great budget pad from TuffRider that’s perfect for dressage schooling. It’s made from a cotton/ micro-polyester mix and has traditional diamond quilted finishing with an absorbent flannel underside.
This is a durable pad that offers a lot of protection for your horse and it’s available in 12 different colors. The red dressage saddle pad in this range is particularly attractive.
This is a beautiful quilted, dressage saddle pad from Roma Ecole that is sure to turn heads in the dressage show ring. It’s made from a cotton/polyester mixed material and has special Wick-Dry lining to keep your horse dry and comfortable when it’s performing.
This is a well made, highly durable pad that’s sure to last you a long time and it’s available in 7 different colors.
This is a durable cotton pad from Weatherbeeta that’s made with a breathable mesh spine and moisture wick lining to help keep your horse cool and dry when exercising. The high withered design allows for flexibility and it has a PVC girth patch to help protect against rubbing.
This is a comfortable, high-quality saddle pad that’s sure to enhance your performance both in and out of the show ring.
This quilted dressage pad from ECP lets you create a custom level of support for your horse as it comes with memory foam inserts. These inserts are great for horses with poor back conformation or to suite the natural changes in your horse's shape that may occur over time.
The pad is designed to optimize airflow under the saddle. It’s breathable with a high wicking capability so it’s sure to keep your hose dry and comfortable during exercise.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a high quality, dressage saddle pad for your horse then we highly recommend the LeMieux Prosport. This pad is durable, comfortable and is sure to enhance the performance of any dressage rider. Though it may seem like a bit of an investment, you definitely get your money's worth with this dressage saddle pad.
As you can see, dressage saddle pads are different from other saddle pads so it’s important that you can tell the difference between them. Always opt for a thinner pad for dressage riding and look for breathable materials such as cotton. By following this guide, you’ll be sure to find the best dressage saddle pads for the needs of you and your horse.
