Western Saddle Pads – What Size Do You Need

Find out the answer to these simple questions.

1. What size is my saddle?
2. Does your horse have a long or short back?
3. What is my preference on the look of my tack on my horse?

Size of Saddle:

Take into consideration the size of your saddle in length. Is it a barrel, roping, cutting, etc saddle? Short saddle pads (32″ and below) does not work with large roping/cutting saddles. The pad will probably be too short for the saddle to fit on. For a barrel saddle don’t use a saddle pad longer than 32″ or 33″.

Does my horse have a long or short back?

A lot of people don’t take this into consideration when choosing a saddle pad. The long saddle pads (34″) probably will be too long for short backed horses. It will probably end somewhere in the middle of the horse’s rear. However things could be reversed as well. Using a short saddle pad on a long backed horse will allow part of his/her back to be exposed. It may look weird to you or other people. That is where this next section comes into play.

What is my personal preference of how my horse should look when tacked up?

Ultimately the decision comes down to your personal preference. What do you think looks good? Where do you think your saddle pad should end on your horse?

A lot of people like for their saddle pad, saddle, and horse to look a specific way. A shorter (28″ or 30″) saddle pad is good for a short backed horse with a barrel or youth saddle. On the same horse if a roping saddle is used they may get a little longer of a pad (33″) to compensate for the larger saddle. On a long backed horse if a roping saddle is used they may use a long (34″) pad. However if the same long backed horse is used and a barrel saddle they may use a long (32″ or 33″) pad to cover the horses back.

In reality it just comes down to your opinion, type and size of saddle, and the horse. There really isn’t a “correct” answer to this question. There are only opinions.

Here is a link with a variety of saddle pad to help you in your decision.

Tagged with: saddle blankets • saddle pad • saddle pads • western pad • western saddle pad • western saddle pads

Filed under: horse back riding • horse blankets • horse riding

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