With so many saddle pad options out there, it’s easy to think they’re all pretty much the same. But we’ve learned over the years—that couldn’t be further from the truth. The right pad doesn’t just make your horse more comfortable; it can change how they feel under saddle and how long they stay sound, happy, and ready to work.
Why It Matters
At Coolhorse, we’ve seen firsthand what a difference Classic Equine pads make. For more than 20 years, Classic Equine has been crafting high-performance saddle pads designed with the horse in mind. They don’t just build gear—they work alongside professional riders, veterinarians, and horsemen who know what’s needed day in and day out.
And we get it—we ride too. We’ve felt how the wrong pad can lead to sore backs and expensive vet visits. But with a pad that truly works, you’re not just protecting your horse—you’re giving them a better chance to enjoy their job and their life.
What Your Saddle Pad Should Actually Do
A high-quality saddle pad has three very important roles:
- Help distribute the saddle and rider weight from their withers to their loin
- Mitigate and dissipate the rider’s percussion
- Protect and overall support for the horse’s back
Without the right pad, your horse can suffer from a range of issues, such as:
- Galling, rubbing raw sores
- Expensive chiropractic sessions trying to fix damage
- Muscle atrophy
- Sore-backed horses becoming irritable, dreading being caught and saddled
Prioritize Proper Fit and Regular Pad Replacement
Some helpful reminders:
- Poor saddle fit is the #1 culprit. If the saddle doesn’t fit, no saddle pad can completely fix the issue. Always begin by ensuring your saddle provides flat, even coverage across your horse’s back. Better yet—consult someone who knows how to fit a horse properly. Most reputable top saddle brands provide guidance on saddle fit. Keep in mind that a saddle pad is designed to complement a saddle that already fits well and cannot completely correct an ill-fitting one.
- It's getting old, but it’s good enough. Squeezing out “a few more rides” from an already worn-out saddle pad can be detrimental to your horse. As pads age, they can wear unevenly depending on the amount of pressure applied under the saddle and its location. This can lead to painful soreness, after just one ride. Throw out those old pads and replace them for your horse’s sake.
Pads wear out first in the areas the rides just towards the front and center of the pad panels on both sides.
- Using a pad that’s too thick. Contrary to age-old beliefs, using a thick pad to “fix” a tight-fitting saddle can only make things worse.
Think about it this way: Do you own a pair of boots or sneakers that fit pretty good, or maybe supportively snug? What if you added two thick athletic socks to those same pair of shoes? Ouch! The same applies to your horse’s back when you use a pad that’s too thick. It becomes extremely tight and amplifies existing pressure in the wrong places.
Picking the Right Pad
Classic Equine believes that every horse deserves gear built for their needs—not just something off the rack. That’s why they design saddle pads with one goal in mind: to keep horses comfortable, protected, and performing their best, no matter the job.
They’ve shared this simple guide to help riders choose the right pad for their situation. These aren’t hard rules—just a helpful starting point to match your horse’s needs with the pad that will keep them happy under saddle.
Elite Equine Athletes
Try: Zone™ Pad or ESP™ Pad
Classic Equine calls the Zone™ Series their most groundbreaking design yet—and for good reason. It’s built with Zoombang® Technology, the same impact-dispersing material trusted in football helmets and military gear. The capsules flex softly as your horse moves, but firm up instantly on impact, absorbing shock and easing pressure. With an added layer of orthopedic-grade felt, the Zone™ pad offers next-level protection for the horses who give it their all, every single ride.
The Zone Series Pad Line is now available in Micro Suede.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA7EkDbFpO8
The Zone™ Series Pad is the only saddle pad that features a polymer protective material that changes its properties on impact to offer your horse the most comfortable fit while ensuring his protection, no matter how hard you ride.
The ESP™ (“Extra Sensory Protection”) pad line utilizes a special open-cell foam that is breathable, lightweight, yet extremely dense and highly shock-absorbing. It provides a high level of protection with its self-adjusting profile to help conform to your equine athlete’s back. The orthopedic grade felt bottom soaks up moisture and provides incredible support.
Horse Trainers Who Ride All Day
Try: SensorFlex® or Performance Trainer
The SensorFlex® pad line is designed to absorb shock and mold to your horse’s back for a custom, contoured fit. These pads are lined with 100% merino fleece, which helps wick away sweat. Horses greatly appreciate the benefits of a fleece liner!
The Performance Trainer pad is popular amongst horse trainers and horsemen of all disciplines. This pad is designed with added breakover lines to help mold the pad to your horse’s back. It is also lined with 100% merino fleece, and the heavy-duty canvas top makes it highly durable, so it lasts a long time.
Competitive Weekend Warriors and Everyday Exercisers
Try: 100% Wool Felt or Alpaca Felt Pads
The 100% Wool Felt pads are a great choice for those who prefer a natural feel for their horse. Classic Equine’s 100% Wool Felt pad is “pressed” for better compression resistance and a much longer life. It has a superior ability to disperse pressure, wick away sweat, and diffuse heat. Pressed felt is also less susceptible to premature breakdown. This pad is contour cut unlike any other on the market and has an option for a fleece bottom.
The Alpaca Felt pad is similar to the 100% Wool Felt but with a few differences. Alpaca is exceptionally soft to the touch and features a rich, natural brown tone. These pads are “needle-punched” felt, therefore less expensive at check-out, but not as long-lasting as “pressed” felt.
Recreational Rider
Try: Classic Wool Top
Available in a multitude of wool blanket tops with vibrant color combinations. The orthopedic grade felt bottom soaks up moisture, conforms to your horse’s back. This universal pad comes in a 1” thickness, and in two different sizes.
Make It Last
To get the most out of your Classic Equine saddle pad:
- Clean it regularly using just water, a little mild horse shampoo, and your fingertips.
- Use small circular motions to remove sweat and hair buildup.
- Hang it over a fence to let the water run out evenly (and be sure to use it only when it’s completely dry).
Classic Equine is always pushing forward—constantly working to create new products and make the ones you already trust even better. As time moves on and technology advances, they’re committed to finding smarter, stronger, and more innovative ways to help riders and horses achieve their goals.
They listen, too. Feedback from riders matters because Classic Equine is made up of horse people—they understand just how much value an equine partner brings to our lives. And that’s why they work so hard to protect those four-legged teammates.
At Coolhorse, we’re proud to stand behind Classic Equine because they stand behind the horse. They hope their name is one you can trust for every equine need—and they only offer what they use and believe in for their own horses.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gjkD5a_N3o