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Saddle Pads | Dressage & Jump Saddle Pads | Emmers Equestrian
A saddle pad is the piece of kit that works hardest for the least attention. It sits between your saddle and your horse's back on every single ride, protecting the skin from friction, absorbing sweat, and keeping an expensive saddle clean. Get it right and you never think about it. At Emmers Equestrian you'll find saddle pads from many brands like Kentucky Horsewear, Cavalleria Toscana, Equiline, Erreplus, Trolle and our own Emmers range for example.
Shape is the first decision, and it follows your saddle rather than your discipline. Dressage saddle pads are cut long and straight to match the vertical flap of a dressage saddle. Jump saddle pads are shorter and more forward-cut to follow the angled flap of a jumping saddle, and they're also the right choice for a general purpose saddle, since a GP flap is cut forward too. Using the wrong shape leaves fabric bunching in front of your leg and the flap edge sitting hard against the pad, which looks untidy and wears both.
Size comes next, and it's driven by your saddle and your horse's build rather than by height. The pad should extend a couple of centimetres beyond the saddle on all sides, enough that the saddle never sits on the edge, not so much that it flaps. Before you girth up, pull the pad well up into the gullet so there's real clearance over the withers and no pressure on the spine. If your horse falls between two sizes, take the larger one: a slightly generous pad is a much smaller problem than one the saddle overhangs.
Then there are half pads, which do a different job entirely. A half pad sits on top of the saddle pad and under the saddle, adding cushioning and, on many models, taking removable shims that adjust the balance front to back. Riders reach for them for a sensitive back, for a horse coming back into work, or to fine-tune a saddle that sits fractionally off. They're worn with a saddle pad, not instead of one.
Beyond fit, the thing that separates a good pad from a cheap one is how it washes. Dried sweat and hair are what stiffen the underside, and a stiff pad is what rubs, so a pad that survives a hundred cool cycles without hardening is worth more than one that looks good in the box. Most riders keep two or three in rotation and wash after every few rides. It's also, of course, the piece of kit riders most enjoy choosing, with seasonal colours to match fly veils, bandages and browbands.
Frequently asked questions about Saddle Pads
What's the difference between a dressage and a jump saddle pad?
A dressage saddle pad is cut long and straight to follow the vertical flap of a dressage saddle. A jump saddle pad is shorter and more forward-cut to match the angled flap of a jumping saddle. Choosing the shape that matches your saddle keeps the pad in place, stops the flap edge rubbing against it and gives a far tidier look.
Which saddle pad do I need for a general purpose saddle?
A jump saddle pad. A GP saddle sits somewhere between dressage and jumping, but its flap is cut forward, so a jump square follows the line much better than a dressage square does.
Can I use a dressage pad with a jumping saddle?
You can, but it won't sit well. The flap of a jumping saddle falls short of the pad's edge, leaving excess fabric in front of your leg and behind the saddle. Fine at home in a pinch, less so anywhere you want to look turned out.
How should a saddle pad fit?
It should extend slightly beyond the edge of the saddle on all sides, roughly two to three centimetres, without hanging so far that it flaps or bunches. At the front it needs to be pulled well up into the gullet before girthing, so there's clearance over the withers and no pressure sitting on the spine.
What size saddle pad should I choose?
Sizing follows the size of your saddle and the build of your horse rather than height alone, a larger saddle needs a larger pad to keep an even margin all the way round. If your horse falls between two sizes, take the larger. Sizing also varies between brands, so check the guidance on the individual product page.
How do you wash a saddle pad?
Brush off dried hair and mud first, or it turns to felt in the machine. Then wash cool on a gentle cycle without fabric softener, which coats the fibres and reduces how well the pad absorbs sweat. Air dry rather than tumble drying. Always check the care label on your own pad, as materials differ and sheepskin needs its own approach.
How many saddle pads should I own?
Two or three in rotation is the usual answer. It means you can wash properly and often without ever being caught out with nothing clean, and it spreads the wear so each pad lasts longer.