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.
Q. What do you call the blanket that goes under the saddle?
A numnah is a pad of sheepskin or wool that goes under the saddle to keep the saddle clean and to cushion the horse’s or pony’s back. In North America, we call a numnah a saddle pad or blanket.
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Q. What goes under a saddle to protect a horse?
Saddle cloths and numnahs are two pieces of equipment that serve a similar purpose. They are inserted beneath the saddle in order to absorb the horse’s sweat, cushion the saddle and protect the animal’s back.
Q. What are saddle pads filled with?
The primary materials used in saddle pads today are open and closed cell foams, synthetic felts, needled felts, pressed industrial felts, woven blankets, gel packs, synthetic cloth, and air bladders.
Q. What thickness saddle pad should I get?
If you and your gear together weigh more than 200 lbs., you should get at least a 7/8″ pad, but a 1″ would be better. What kind of terrain will you be riding on? If you regularly ride over mountainous or hilly areas, again, you want at least a 7/8″ thick pad, but 1″ would be better.
Q. Can you layer saddle pads?
Some pads fold over the withers for extra cushioning. Adding that second layer may still allow the saddle to sit level, but it can pinch the shoulders and create a bridge between the back and shoulders. Folding or layering several pads can create other problems.
Q. What is a standard saddle pad size?
The average western saddle pad will measures 32 inches by 32 inches or 30″ x 30, square, when unfolded. That means most western pads have a 15-16 inch drop (distance from the center fold to the bottom edge) and a 30-32 inch spine.
