Roping is a popular rodeo sport, drawing large crowds to catch a glimpse of the old western life in front of them. A demanding passion, it demands extensive practice and perseverance, besides some top-notch equipment. To help you with the equipment part, we have come up with tips and guidelines to assist you in choosing the best western saddle pad for roping.
Roping
Roping evolved from the lifestyle of the old west, where ranchers had to use a loop of rope to throw at and restrain an adult animal that was otherwise too huge to be handled by a single person. Over the years, it developed into a specialized sport where ropers swing their loop over their head and try to catch the animal and restrain it in the shortest time possible.
There are three types of roping sports:
- Calf Roping – the roper tries to rope a calf, throw it on the ground and tie its feet.
- Breakaway Roping – the roper only has to rope the calf and not immobilize it.
- Team Roping – two ropers, a header, and a heeler work as a team to rope the animal.
Saddle Pad
A saddle pad is the additional lining between the horse and the saddle for added protection. Its primary purpose is to protect the horse from friction and pressure. As you ride your equine and take it out for a good run, continuous rubbing of the saddle against its skin will result in chaffing, eventually developing sores on the horse’s back.
Often made of thick material, the pad evenly distributes the pressure, protecting the back from pain and injuries. It also acts as a shock absorber, making the riding experience easier for the animal. Other benefits include keeping the saddle secure in one place and protecting it from damage due to sweating and dirt, besides helping the horse stay cool. A good saddle pad can absorb sweat and is breathable, keeping the equine cool.
Criteria for Selecting a Saddle Pad
In this article, we will exclusively discuss the western saddle pads. A quick mention, the difference between English and western saddles is that of size and cushioning. The English saddle is comparatively smaller and heavily padded, whereas the western is relatively larger and not so much padded.
Material
- Wool: The material traditionally used for saddle pads, wool/wool felt is superb in terms of pressure distribution, shock absorption, and cooling off the horse. Firm yet pliable, they naturally mold to the horse’s back, absorbing three times the sweat of its weight—it serves as an excellent cooling agent. You can find compressed woolen saddle pads in 0.5 – 1 inch thickness.
- Synthetic: A product of the current age, synthetic pads are made using polyester, propylene, or even wool/synthetic material blends. It is much cheaper and manages pressure over the horse well, but it is not a good option for wicking the sweat. Also, it tends to trap heat. However, some synthetic products address the former issue by lining it with wicking material.
- Fleece: Cotton and fleece are two of the most popular materials for saddle pads. It may come in natural (woolen/sheepskin) and synthetic materials. While both materials work well for aeration, they do not offer much cushioning. Not so pliable initially, it does mold with time to the horse’s back.
- Neoprene: These are synthetic rubber saddle pads, which offer both cushioning to the saddle and keep it in its place. On the flip side, the rubbery material makes the horse sweat easily unless designed in the waffle pattern to facilitate airflow; also, it does not distribute pressure.
- Foam: Open or closed-cell foam saddle pads are plastics filled with bubbles. They are steady, durable, offer great cushioning and shock absorption, and keep the saddle secure. The closed-cell pads do not absorb moisture and are not breathable either. Even the open-cell foam pads are not too good with moisture absorption, consequently affecting the equine’s ability to cool off.
- Gel-Insert: These are vinyl or plastic saddle pads filled with gel to lessen the impact. These are beneficial for short-term riding where they effectively manage to slow down the impact. But since they comprise gel inserts, and gel tends to get compressed, they are not very good for offering support and cushioning for rides longer than 30 minutes. Also, the material used do not dissipate heat very well.
Shape
Square saddle pads are the most popular version for the western saddles; however, contoured pads are also in use. The former mimics the saddle shape and is mostly used for the show.
Size
Western saddle pads are typically larger since they cushion larger saddles. Generally, these pads should be an inch longer on all sides from the saddle. A median western saddle pad would be 30 X 30 inches, while a full-sized would typically have 32 X 32 inches dimensions.
Best Western Saddle Pad for Roping
Roping is an intense sport and needs lots of work. You want your horse to be comfortable while you two team up for the event. The suggested width for the purpose is one to 1 1/8th inches. Below we bring you brief reviews of some of the best western saddle pads.
1. Weaver Leather Synergy Contoured Performance Horse Saddle Pad
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Key Features
Product Details Name: Weaver Leather Synergy Contoured Performance Horse Saddle Pad
Material: Wool & Leather
Dimensions: 33 x 38 x 1
Special features: Leather contoured spine
Top of the list, we have the Weaver Leather Synergy Contoured Performance Horse Saddle Pad. Made with premium quality materials, it does an excellent job of keeping the horse cool and comfortable. The wool liner wicks away the sweat and does a good job with shock absorption, aided further by the EVA sport foam inserts. The leather contour offers an excellent fit to the horse, enabling a comfortable ride both for the animal and the owner, making it ideal for the strenuous sport of roping.
What Is Good?
- Premium quality wool offers great cushioning, sweat, and shock absorption.
- EVA sport foam inserts further assist with shock absorption. It manages to retain shape after use.
- Top-quality leather material is elegant and durable.
- Leather contour helps secure the pad and the saddle in place and offers spine relief and proper airflow to the horse.
- A durable product, thanks to the quality wool and leather.
What Is Not So Good?
- Some owners may find it pricey.
2. The Rancher 5 Star Saddle Pad
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Key Features
Product Details Name: The Rancher 5 Star Saddle Pad
Material: Wool felt & Leather
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 1 1/8
Special features: Leather contoured spine
Description:
The Rancher 5 Star Saddle Pad is another premium quality product cut for intensive rodeo sports such as roping. The pure wool felt contours perfectly to your equine’s back, wicking away all the extra moisture and the leather contour allows for a great fit for your horse, minimizing pressure on the back and facilitating an exciting yet comfortable ride.
What Is Good?
- Pure woolen felt provides fantastic cushioning and pressure distribution.
- Leather contours facilitate a perfect fit for the horse.
- Ideal quality and thickness for intensive rodeo sports and trail riding
- Pure wool and wear leather affords durability and additional safety.
What Is Not So Good?
- Since padded, it might be slippery, needing careful cinching.
- Adjusting the contours may be tricky, failing which more pressure may add to your horse’s withers.
- Some owners may find it pricey.
3. Diamond Wool Contour Felt Ranch Pad
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Key Features
Product Details Name: Diamond Wool Contour Felt Ranch Pad
Material: Wool felt & Leather
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 1
Special features: Contoured tough pad
Description:
The Diamond Wool Contour Felt Ranch Pad is a cost-effective product with value for money. Made with good quality wool felt, the saddle comes with wither relief reinforced with distressed leather. The saddle pad, initially stiff, becomes more flexible with use, offering a good fit.
What Is Good?
- One of the best saddle pads for the price.
- One-inch thickness is perfect for roping.
- Wool felt offers amazing cushioning and pressure distribution.
- Breathable woolen material wicks away moisture.
- Excellent shock absorption facilitates longer, more demanding rides with less pressure on the horse.
- Contoured wither relief for better fit on the horse.
- Available in two size options – 30 x 30 and 32 x 32.
- Quality material and durable product.
What Is Not So Good?
- Wool can be slippery, especially on tough terrains.
- The wither relief is stiff initially, so it may need some breaking in before it molds to the horse’s back.
- You may want to watch carefully in the summers for breathability.
4. Classic Equine BioFit Wool Felt Saddle Pad
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Key Features
Product Details Name: Classic Equine BioFit Wool Felt Saddle Pad
Material: Wool + Polyester Felt & Leather
Dimensions: 31 x 32 x 1
Special features: Wither cut & contour relief
Description:
Another one of the budget-friendly, good-quality products, the Classic Equine BioFit Wool Felt Saddle Pad appears on the recommendation list of quite a few equine enthusiasts. The defining feature of this product is the split design, where a cutout over the withers combined with the contour relief tends to support the horses with conformation issues. The soft polyester blended wool offers nice cushioning and may be used with another blanket.
What Is Good?
- Quality product with an economical price point.
- The soft pad offers outstanding cushioning and even pressure distribution.
- Wither cutout and contour relief facilitate the movement of the saddle pad with the horse.
- The wool and polyester blend is sturdy and durable.
- The butterfly cut of the saddle is nice on the eyes and comfortable for intensive riding.
What Is Not So Good?
- The polyester blend may cause heating and affect the breathability of the saddle pad.
- The topper and wear leather color may vary from the images.
- Designed to be used with another blanket, it may not seem sufficient on its own
5. ECP All Purpose Diamond Quilted Therapeutic Contoured Correction Support Western Saddle Pad
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Key Features
Product Details Name: Weaver Leather Synergy Contoured Performance Horse Saddle Pad
Material: Ultra plush top, Flannel bottom, Four sets of three memory foam shims
Dimensions: 30 x 16 x 1
Special features: Memory foam shims
Description:
The ECP All Purpose Diamond Quilted Therapeutic Contoured Correction Support Western Saddle Pad is a first-class product for therapy. Wonderful for the horses needing a contour correction owing to an ailment or aging. Ideal for the smaller horses, it is lined with breathable material to compensate for the heat accumulation because of the foam shimmies. Another good feature is the removable foam lining, which can be adjusted in the two compartments on each side.
What Is Good?
- It is an economical product with therapeutic abilities.
- Adjustable/removable memory foams make it dynamic.
- The hypoallergenic material of the saddle pad works well for horses with sensitive skin.
- The flannel underside promotes breathability and removes moisture.
- Ideal product for horses suffering from back sores or saddle fit issues.
What Is Not So Good?
- The saddle pad is designed more like a close contact saddle pad and may need an additional blanket to do the job.
- It offers far less breathability than wool.
6. Tough 1 Sierra Square Saddle Pad/Felt Bottom
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Key Features
Product Details Name: Tough 1 Sierra Square Saddle Pad/Felt Bottom
Material: Felt, Acrylic blend blanket top, Fleece lining, leather wears
Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 1
Special features: Good for the price.
Description:
The Tough 1 Sierra Square Saddle Pad/Felt Bottom is an inexpensive option for frugal horse enthusiasts. Made with a fleece bottom and a blended acrylic top, this is a good product for the price. Available in several colors and bright hues, it can withstand rough usage and intense sports.
What Is Good?
- Good product for the price.
- Sufficient cushioning for a comfortable, intensive sport.
- Thick and breathable, it offers a good fit for the horse.
- Leatherwear promotes longevity.
- Attractive Sierra blanket pattern.
What Is Not So Good?
- Expect some trade-offs in the product quality like breathability, ability to mold, and sturdiness.
- It takes time to become more pliable.
- It may fold up on the edges.
- The color looks different, brighter than the images.
Final Word
Horses are fascinating animals, energetic yet docile, powerful but humble; they take us on exciting new adventures. Roping is one intensive sport, and the horse engaged for this deserves all the care you can offer. We scanned all the resources to bring you a good mix of the best Western saddle pads for roping. Hopefully, the deliberate attempt to inculcate all price points and varying qualities is useful, helping you make the right choices.
The best and foremost tip for finding any saddle pad is to first get a trial for proper fitting on your horse’s back. Consulting an experienced person and trying different products before making the final call is a good way to get the product with optimal results. If you aim to find something for a sore back or conformation adjustment, do catch up with your vet and discuss your options before pressing the purchase button.