Saddle Pads
- Frequently asked questions
- What is a saddle pad?
- How are saddle pads & numnahs properly cared for?
- How do you wash a saddle pad or numnah correctly?
- What is the difference between a saddle pad and a numnah?
What is a saddle pad?
A saddle pad is an umbrella term for many types of saddle pads, from saddle pads and numnahs to correction pads and Western pads Saddle pads and numnahs are primarily used to protect the saddle from the horse's sweat and dirt. But today, saddle pads have more diverse functions: Some types hold a slipping saddle in place, while other saddle pads compensate for muscular imbalances of the horse's back so that the saddle is in balance. Yet other saddle pad designs are part of a colour-coordinated horse outfit.
In our shop you can buy saddle pads for all your horse's needs:
- Fashionable saddle pads
- Saddle pads with sewn-on sponge rubber for an anti-slip effect
- Saddle pads with soft teddy fleece
- Correction pads with teddy fleece, edged sheepskin or memory foam
- Various gel pads to temporarily compensate for imbalances in the back muscles.
How are saddle pads & numnahs properly cared for?
After every ride, the saddle pad or numnah should be brushed off and cleaned of sweat, dirt and horse hair. Hang the saddle pad in an airy place to prevent mould and bacteria from spreading, which is crucial for the horse's skin health.
Once the saddle pad has become really wet or you have washed it, you can hang it up at room temperature. Do not place your saddle pad on a radiator or directly in the sun. Avoid the dryer. The heat can damage and change the shape of the saddle pad. As a rule, saddle pads and numnahs are dimensionally stable and anatomically cut. Nevertheless, they should always be pulled into shape during drying so that they do not later lie on the horse's withers and chafe them.
How do you wash a saddle pad or numnah correctly?
The saddle pad or numnah should be washed at the very latest when it no longer absorbs sweat. It is important for the horse's skin hygiene that the saddle pad does not chafe due to dirt in the saddle area. You can wash the saddle pad in the washing machine at approx. 30°C.
Use a mild detergent without fabric softener, which you can also buy in our shop along with other textile care products for equestrian products.
Hang the saddle pad out to dry in an airy place. Avoid using the dryer as much as possible, as this can change the shape of the saddle pad or numnah.
You can find more tips on how to care for saddle pads in our saddle pad care guide.
What is the difference between a saddle pad and a numnah?
The difference between saddle pads and numnahs lies much more in their cut than in their function. While numnahs are cut in the shape of the saddle so that less fabric is visible, saddle pads have a rectangular shape. This allows more fabric to be seen under the saddle, which leaves plenty of room for embellishments, decorative piping, logos and glitter. This is why saddle pads are now seen by many riders as a fashionable upgrade to their horse's outfit, which is made up of colour-coordinated fly veils, fleece bandages and saddle pads. In our shop you can buy trendy designer saddle pads from the latest horse collections in many different colours.