Horse Tack-Purchasing a
Western Saddle Blanket
At first it can seems like such a simple task, all you have to
do is open that glossy horse supply and tack catalog that is laying
on the table and purchase a new Western saddle pad. No problem.
Just a few short seconds after opening the catalog you realize
exactly how big a project you are about to undertake. Instead of
opening the catalog and finding the one or two saddle pads you
expected you find your self facing page after page after page of
saddle pads. Each saddle pad has its own cut, material type, and
function. The magazine offers a brief blurb on each pad but nothing
that is really helpful. The only thing that the blankets seem to
have in common is the price...expensive.
The first thing you need to consider is your budget. The typical
horse person operates on a tight budget. Every day they are
confronted with a flood of bills that never seems to stop, feed
bills, veterinarian bills, board bills, lesson bills, and
miscellaneous bills. It is tempting to purchase the cheapest saddle
blanket the catalogue sells. Before you place that order you should
stop and think. When it comes to tack cheaper is typically not
better. Cheap saddle blankets tend to be so thin that they offer
next to no cushioning, the flimsy material often bunches and can
cause saddle sores if the owner is negligent when saddling. Cheap
blankets can slide while the owner is riding (this is especially
true if your horse is as round as a barrel). The advantage to cheap
saddle blankets is that they are typically washing machine
cleanable, but the downside is that they seldom last for more then
a few cleanings. The one time I recommend buying a really cheap
Western saddle pad is when you are first saddling a young horse. If
cost is a major issue consider looking in the clearance sections of
the catalogs and tack stores. I've found that I typically find the
best deals on saddle blankets when I'm not looking for one.
The second thing you need to take into consideration when you are
looking for a Western saddle blanket is what type of saddle do you
have. Not all Western saddles are designed the same, there are
saddles cut to fit specific breeds (Arabians and Quarter
Horses typically use a different saddle design), saddles that are
designed for different purposes (a barrel racing saddle looks
completely different from a saddle that a roper will be riding in).
The important thing to remember is that the when the saddle pad is
on, no part of the underside of the saddle should be touching the
horses back.
It is important to consider your horses body type when you are
purchasing a saddle blanket. If you own a horse whose mid section
resembles a barrel and their withers are nothing more then a
distant memory (this is the typical body type of ponies) you will
want to look for a saddle pad that is made of material that is
designed not to slip and slide all over the place. If you are a
rider that typically leans heavily on one side of your saddle you
will also want to consider a non-slip saddle blanket. If your horse
has prominent withers you will want to look for a saddle blanket
that will add extra protection and padding in the front. A
swaybacked horse requires a saddle pad that will offer extra
support everywhere, you'll also want to look for a saddle pad that
is thick enough you saddle will sit above the horses withers and
hips.
Western saddle pads are not easy to clean. They are typically to
stiff and cumbersome to fit in a washing machine and if you are
able to cram them into your washing machine you will quickly learn
that it can take several days before they are dry. Once a Western
saddle pad has been washed it typically doesn't look the same
again. Most Western riders try to keep their saddle pads clean by
placing a cheap Navajo rug under the think fluffy Western
Blanket.
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