What size of a saddle pad do I need?
Related Links
- Saddle Pads - Discount Horse Tack
Has a variety of saddle pads and horse tack. Also has country western home decorations. Save money on this site with multiple item purchases. - Different Types of Saddle Pads
There are so many different types/styles of saddle pads out there. How do you know which one would fit your situation the best? Well hopefully this short explaination will help you in deciding which type you need. - Equibrand
Classic Equine manufacturer website. See all Classic Equine Saddle Pads here. - Professional's Choice
See all Professional's Choice saddle pads here. You can also purchase here as well.
What size of saddle pad do I need? Where do I start?
You can start off by asking yourself some simple questions.
- What size is my saddle?
- Does my horse have a short or long back?
- What is my preference on the look of my tack on my horse?
Size of Saddle:
Take into consideration the size of your saddle. Is it a barrel, roping, cutting, etc saddle? If you have a larger saddle such as a roping or cutting saddle then you will probably not want a saddle pad that is 30" in length. Nine chances out of ten that pad will probably just barely be long enough for the saddle to fit on. On the flip side if you have a barrel saddle then you probably want to stay away from the long (38") saddle pads.
Does my horse have a long or short back?
A lot of people don't take this into consideration when choosing a saddle pad. If you have a short backed horse and decide to go with a saddle pad that is 38" long - it may be too long for your horse. It will probably end somewhere in the middle of the horse's rear. However things could be reversed as well. If you have a long backed horse and decide to go with a 30" saddle pad - there may be a lot of the horses back that is still exposed after the saddle pad and saddle are on the horse. It may look weird to you or other people. That is where this next section comes into play.
What is my personal preference of how my horse should look when tacked up?
Ultimately the decision comes down to your personal preference. What do you think looks good? Do you think that your saddle pad should cover the whole back of the horse and come right before his hindquarters start?
A lot of people like for their saddle pad, saddle, and horse to look a specific way. Some people may use a shorter (32") saddle pad on a short backed horse with a barrel saddle. On the same horse if a roping saddle is used they may get a little longer of a pad (36") to compensate for the larger saddle. On a long backed horse if a roping saddle is used they may use a long (38") pad. However if the same long backed horse is used and a barrel saddle they may use a long (36") pad to cover the horses back.
What it really comes down to is what is your personal opinion, your type and size of saddle, and your horse all as a combination. There really isn't a "correct" answer to this question. There are only opinions.
