Some riders, especially beginners, may think that using a saddle pad is unnecessary or optional.

Ask any professional rider, and they will tell you how much of a difference it makes.

In some cases, it can even make riding a horse easier and more comfortable, which is important for a new rider.

To make sure you have the best saddle pad the next time you go horse riding, we will be reviewing five top options currently on the market.

Best Saddle Pad Reviews

1. Kavallerie All-Purpose Saddle Pad

If you don’t mind spending more on a high-end saddle pad, we recommend checking out the Kavallerie All-Purpose Saddle Pad.

The brand is one of the most sought-after when it comes to saddle pads, so you can be sure you are spending your money wisely.

Product Highlights

The Kavallerie All-Purpose Saddle Pad is diamond-quilted, padded, and specially designed for optimum stability and comfort while riding.

The pad will fit your horse’s back like a glove, and this delicate fabric is also great for the horse.

It is lined with a breathable bamboo charcoal fabric inside, regulating airflow, heat, and humidity.

This will keep you and your horse comfortable and cool even after a long day of training.

As soft as this material is, it is also equally durable.

It is reinforced with an abrasion-resistant fabric that can stand even the most intense ride during hot days.

The elegant quilted design also comes with gold trim.

This means that the pad not only delivers optimum stability while riding but also looks exquisite, thanks to its fur finish.

The underside is made using anti-slip materials that gently hold on to the horse’s skin to prevent any slips and irritations.

What We Like

The entire saddle pad is crafted from premium quality materials, which makes your ride more comfortable.

At the same time, it gives your horse the freedom to move, jump, and run.

The pad is extremely comfortable and comes with anti-slip features. Most importantly, it is durable and long-lasting.

What We Do Not Like

With so many impressive features and high-quality materials used in this saddle pad, be prepared to shell out a hefty sum.

Pros:

• Made using premium quality materials
• Comes with anti-slip features
• Looks elegant
• Highly breathable

Con:

• Very pricey

2. ECP Correction Half Saddle Pad

Equine Comfort Products is known for its saddle pads, sheepskin products, and different kinds of equine accessories for horse enthusiasts, riders, and competitors.

The saddle pad from this brand is an excellent option for beginners as well as professional riders.

Product Highlights

This ECP saddle pad has a diamond-quilted and luxurious cotton top and a brushed cotton underside.

This provides a shock-absorbing and comfortable contact padding to protect your horse’s back.

In this cotton correction pad, you will find four additional pockets sewn into the top.

Each of these pockets contains three shims of memory foam secured by hook and loop straps.

What this does is give the rider a more customizable fit, which ensures significant pressure point relief.

Also, these contoured shims for back and front fitting provide exceptional saddle placement and fit.

For the rider’s comfort, the meticulously shaped top line optimizes airflow, promoting enhanced circulation and maximum breathability.

It does an excellent job at wicking away moisture, which, in turn, makes it an ideal choice for all types of horse riding.

Lastly, it comes in eight different and attractive color options.

What We Like

The ECP saddle pad offers phenomenal support and comfort, thanks to its customizable fit and shock-absorbing padding.

We also like the four pockets in the saddle.

What We Do Not Like

The fabric of the saddle is extremely sturdy, but we found it to be a bit too stiff.

Pros:

• Available in multiple color options
• Comes with pockets
• Exceptional fit
• Wicks moisture away

Con:

• The fabric is a bit too stiff

3. Tough 1 EquiRoyal English Saddle Pad

Tough 1 is an excellent brand for people looking for horse blankets, saddle pads, and horse grooming supplies at an affordable price.

All of its products are made of high-quality materials and are covered with the company’s 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Product Highlights

The Tough 1 EquiRoyal is a useful, simple, and affordable quilted saddle pad.

It is an excellent choice if you are in the market for an affordable cotton design.

It’s a 100% cotton twill pad that comes with shock-absorbing insulation between the layers.

What’s more, the mini quilted diamond pattern with nylon girth not only looks good but also adds another level of comfort.

This beautiful saddle pad is available in multiple colors, including blue, purple, red, pink, and black.

It is perfect for training and all other daily English riding activities.

What We Like

One of the best things about this saddle pad is how affordable and beginner-friendly it is.

We also appreciate that it is available in multiple colors.

What We Do Not Like

There are quite a few issues with this saddle pad. For starters, it is fairly thin and is shaped like a square.

It does not have a contoured back, and we found that the girth loops are not easily accessible.

Pros:

• Multiple color options
• Affordable
• Breathable
• Made of 100% cotton
• Difficult to keep clean

Cons:

• Has no back contour
• Quite thin

4. ECP Correction All-Purpose Saddle Pad

It’s hard not to include another saddle pad from Equine Comfort Products, considering how effective and high-quality its products are.

This all-purpose saddle pad ticks all the boxes necessary for a perfect pad for beginners or professionals alike.

Product Highlights

Whether you are an everyday rider or a pro, the ECP All-Purpose Saddle Pad is an ideal choice for you, thanks to its new contoured design for a closer and tighter ride.

The pad’s sleek shape allows for a more streamlined look without any unnecessary and bulky fabric that could end up interfering with your ride.

Four memory foam stuffed pockets do an excellent job at eliminating pressure points and sore areas.

You can replace the inserts and position them as per your needs for support, so you get a truly customizable ride.

With this design, you can customize the saddle when you use it on a different horse or if there are changes in your horse’s body.

We found the memory foam absorbs shocks pretty efficiently.

The pad follows the horse’s contours, too, which makes it more comfortable.

Lastly, it is highly durable and can withstand intense rides as well as regular washing. Moreover, it dries up pretty quickly, too.

What We Like

We like the foam on this pad, as it reduces pressure and shoulder strain to ensure your horse’s comfort.

On top of that, it is made very well and is highly durable, too.

What We Do Not Like

We feel that it could have had more memory foam for even more comfort.

Pros:

• Contoured pad
• Customizable fit
• Durable and long-lasting
• Dries quickly

Con:

• Needs better and more memory foam

5. Weaver Leather All-Purpose Saddle Pad

Weaver Leather saddle pads are specially crafted products made from premium materials.

Each one boasts precision stitching and spot-on placement of inserts and wear leathers.

This all-purpose saddle pad, in particular, offers exceptional performance and can withstand the rigors of daily riding.

Product Highlights

The Weaver Leather saddle pad has a fantastic design with some serious premium quality craftsmanship involved.

It features an incredibly strong Herculon fabric, which, combined with the leather and beautiful merino wool, takes it on to a whole new level.

It also gives the saddle pad moisture-wicking property so that it can stand up to several hours on the trail.

Aside from the premium materials, you will notice the precision stitching.

The placements of the leathers and inserts are also done in great detail.

It does have a very handmade feel, which may be great for those looking for a more traditional vibe.

What We Like

The saddle pad is built well and with premium materials. Indeed, the makers have paid close attention to every minute detail.

We also like how durable it is, as well as appreciate its moisture-wicking properties.

What We Do Not Like

The downside of this saddle pad is that it is pretty heavy at five pounds, which can be problematic for some.

Like the Kavallerie saddle pad, it is also on the pricier side.

Pros:

• Crafted with premium materials
• Comes with moisture-wicking properties
• Traditional feel
• Great craftsmanship

Cons:

• More expensive than others on this list
• Heavy

Buyer’s Guide

Finding the perfect saddle pad can be a daunting experience, especially if you have never had one before.

If this is the first time you are buying one, we recommend checking our buyer’s guide below.

1. Safety

Safety should always be an essential factor in mind when looking for saddle pads.

A cheap, poorly made one can easily fall apart and hurt your horse, which, in turn, can cause negative behaviors that put you and another rider at risk.

Always look for a saddle pad made from premium quality materials, coming from a well-known brand, and fits in your budget.

2. Materials

The materials used in a saddle pad significantly influence its efficiency—how well it gives support and wicks away moisture.

Typically, fleece is the most common material used, as it offers fantastic breathability.

Other than this, you can also consider trying out neoprene. This is a rubber-like material that can absorb shock more effectively.

It keeps the horse more comfortable and its core temperature cooler. Neoprene can be cleaned with ease, too.

Foam pads are another common material used in saddle pads.

However, we recommend looking for a breathable one so that your horse does not feel excessively hot.

Foam saddle pads are also a suitable option if your horse participates in challenging sports.

3. Comfort

A saddle pad is something you will be sitting on, so you must pay close attention to its comfort level.

Proper shape, fit, and materials are all factors that can significantly impact this.

After all, whether your horse hits the trail feeling fantastic or grumpy depends on his comfort level.

4. Thickness

The thickness should also be considered to protect your horse from getting too much pressure on its back.

If your horse works very hard, we recommend looking for a thicker saddle pad.

5. Weight

Always check the weight of the saddle pad before you settle on one.

If you need a portable one, then you might prefer buying a lightweight pad.

However, if you are looking for a saddle pad made only with the best materials, the weight will not become such an important factor.

The other ones will play a more significant role in your final buying decision.

6. Price

How much you should spend on a saddle pad depends on a few factors.

For starters, think about your budget. If you can afford it, we recommend going for a high-end saddle pad with extensive features.

These also make sense if you only use them regularly.

However, if you intend to go out on trails once every few months, it’s unnecessary to buy the most expensive one.

We suggest going for something slightly more affordable, instead.

Saddle Pad FAQs

1. Are gel saddle pads good?

Gel saddle pads are good, especially for the horse because it keeps them comfortable.

These pads are ideal if you are in a trail riding establishment or riding school. However, know that they are rather costly.

2. What’s the difference between a saddle blanket and a saddle pad?

Saddle pads are typically English, while blankets are Western.

Saddle pads tend to offer more protection to the horse’s back compared to blankets.

3. What saddle pad keeps a horse coolest?

A woolen saddle pad is the best option to maintain your horse’s core temperature cool and not let it overheat.

It helps prevent the horse from collapsing because of exhaustion.

4. How long do saddle pads last?

On average, a regular saddle pad will last roughly about two to three years. However, multiple factors can affect this.

For instance, the overall quality of the pad and how often and how intensely you use it.

5. How do you disinfect a saddle pad?

Disinfecting your saddle pad should begin by you removing as much dirt, debris, and hair as you can. You can use a vacuum or a hairbrush for this.

If the pad is machine-washable, toss it in the machine on a gentle wash setting with some detergent and disinfectant.

If it isn’t machine-washable, wash it by hand with the same amount of detergent and disinfectant in warm water.

What Is the Best Saddle Pad?

Using the best saddle pad not only makes your ride more comfortable but does the same for your horse, too.

There’s a clear winner here, and that is the Kavallerie All-Purpose Saddle Pad.

From the breathable bamboo fabric to the gold trims, there’s a lot to like about this saddle pad.

It’s highly comfortable, breathable, and most importantly, durable, so you can be assured that it will last a long time.

Still, we understand this can be too expensive for some folks.

Hence, for those looking for a good saddle pad on a tight budget, we recommend the ECP Correction Half Saddle Pad.

It has excellent breathability, completely customizable, and is made from high-quality materials, too.