The need for the utility was one of the primary reasons why the western saddle was created. It requires a horn and heavy pommel to dally rope off, covers a large area of the horse’s back, and adds weight to the rider.
What that means is that the horse always carries a load on its spine and withers irrespective of the activity. While you can get some saddles that use modern materials to reduce the weight, the pressure stays the same.
The core issue, irrespective of the type of saddle you choose, is that there’s a great deal of pressure that’s put on the horse’s spine, which is one of the most important areas of the horse. That’s why you need to start using the best saddle pad to ensure that your horse always stays comfortable.
High Withers and the Saddle Pad
A cut-out pad was once believed to be the best solution for high withers. Unfortunately, the cut-out pad exposes the top of the withers to the saddle’s candle. A bad landing in the saddle or a good tug on the horn by a calf meant that the cantle would smack into the horse’s most sensitive locations. Using a high-wither saddle pad to add protection would be a better solution than removing bulk.
The best saddle pad for high-wither horses improves upon the cut-out pad’s shape through the addition of a gusset that covers the withers and fills in the hollows that form to either side using high-density foam. Buy saddle cloths and numnahs. This offers protection from the pommel and helps relieve pressure in the winters while providing comfort.
Absorbing as many shocks as Is Possible
A good western saddle can add as much as 40 pounds to the rider’s weight. That means that there’s a great deal of pressure applied to the spine of the horse, whether it is holding livestock in place, doing a sliding stop, or loping around an arena.
A wool fleece saddle pad is the best product for reducing the shock to the horse. Wool fleece, either by itself or combined with gel foam or closed-cell foam provides a thick layer of padding between the saddle, horse, and rider. As a result, the horse bounces back faster and is less sore.
The best pads not only offer maximum shock absorption but also allow heat to flow. They also come in a variety of thicknesses to provide an excellent cushion between the horse’s back and the saddle bars.
Heat Dissipation
It is perfectly normal to see the sweat running off a horse from beneath the saddle while riding in an event or during training. The action of a horse generates a lot of heat. Furthermore, hot sun or arena lights can also help increase the temperature.
To ensure that your horse performs optimally and lower the time required to get its core body temperature back to normal you need to try to dissipate heat from the horse. A good pad should also draw heat away from the horse and reduce the risk of the horse overheating. It should not only wick sweat away but also allow heat to exit. Other pads have an optional fleece layer to ensure maximum comfort and extra heat-exhausting.
Selecting the best saddle for your horse is not always easy, but it can be done. All you need to do is commit yourself to get the best pad possible, which is one that provides solutions to heat and fitting issues, to ensure that the horse is always comfortable and performing optimally.
