Teddy Fleece & Sheepskin Articles for Horses

When can a sheepskin pad be useful for my horse?

Sheepskin products are very popular in equestrian sports and are used for many different products. The products are either completely or only partially covered with sheepskin. Sheepskin is not only found on half pads, but also on the following items:

• Saddle girth
• Saddle pad
• Bell boots
• Boots
• Seat saver
• Bridle or headcollar

Sheepskin is a natural product that offers excellent breathability and temperature balance, as it can absorb a lot of moisture. It is therefore very popular for saddle pads and half pads. It prevents heat build-up under the saddle, which is particularly pleasant for the horse and helps to avoid chafing. This is a significant advantage over half pads and saddle pads without sheepskin padding: they do not create any space between the horse's back and the saddle leather and thus minimise the air circulation, which causes the horse to sweat massively. Excessive sweating can therefore be reduced with a sheepskin pad.
Thanks to its softness, a sheepskin half pad is suitable for very sensitive horses. The saddle pressure is additionally distributed by the thick padding of the fur. This advantage is also noticeable in show jumping, especially in the landing phase. However, keep in mind that the sheepskin should be clean and should not have any lumps. These not only reduce the functional properties of the skin, but can also be uncomfortable for the horse.

What is the difference between sheepskin and teddy fleece?

While sheepskin is a natural product of animal origin, teddy fleece is made from synthetic fibres. So if you want to avoid animal products, you can go for teddy fleece. However, you should remember the advantages of real fur, which far outweigh those of synthetic fur. Synthetic fur does not have the moisture-absorbing, temperature-regulating and pressure-absorbing properties of genuine sheepskin. Especially in the case of a half pad, this can lead to heat accumulation, as the moisture is only poorly absorbed and dissipated to the outside.

What are the alternatives to real sheepskin pads?

If you do not want to use real sheepskin in your riding equipment, you can use teddy fleece. When looking for alternatives to real sheepskin, you should ask yourself what goals you want to achieve by using it? When it comes to shock absorption, temperature regulation or moisture absorption, many alternatives fall far short of the original. However, if you want to provide your horse with a higher level of comfort by using soft materials in areas that do not sweat heavily and produce moisture, you can fall back on synthetic fibres such as teddy fleece.
At Kramer Equestrian you can buy boots, girths, wicking rugs, saddle pads and headcollars with teddy fleece.

What is the correct care for sheepskin?

In order to maintain the unique properties of sheepskin, it is necessary to care for it appropriately. However, sheepskin as a natural product requires special care. For this you need a soft brush, a comb and suitable sheepskin products. You can wash the sheepskin products either by hand or in the washing machine.

• Do not overload the washing machine, because sheepskin has a high absorption capacity.
• Only use a wool approved detergent, traditional detergents are a no-no!
• Avoid bleach or fabric softener.
• Avoid hot temperatures and high spin cycles.
• Air dry the sheepskin for 2-3 days.
• However, avoid direct sunlight or the radiator.

You can also put sheepskin in the dryer, which makes it really fluffy again. But here too, you should use cold air with a maximum temperature of 30°C. You can find detailed instructions on how to care for sheepskin in our guide on the subject.