Last updated: November 10, 2026
Any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thanks in advance – I really appreciate it!
Walk into any tack room and you’ll find saddle pads, blankets, half pads, and liners stacked on the racks. The names get used loosely, but they don’t all do the same job. If you’re trying to figure out whether your horse needs a pad, a blanket, or both, it helps to know the difference.
Below, I cover how the two differ, how pad materials compare, the main English and Western pad types, and how to choose and fit a pad.
Table of Contents
What Is a Saddle Pad?
A saddle pad sits between the saddle and your horse’s back. It keeps sweat and dirt off the underside of the saddle and cuts down on rubbing. Some pads are also designed to help spread pressure, but how well they do that depends on the pad, the saddle, and the horse’s back. It’s one of the basic pieces of horse tack you’ll need before you ride.
More padding isn’t always better, though. Extra thickness changes how the saddle sits and can make the fit worse, so choose a pad with the saddle and horse in mind instead of assuming a thicker pad will be more comfortable.
Saddle Blanket vs Saddle Pad
A traditional saddle blanket is a woven layer, often made of wool. A saddle pad may be felted, quilted, fleece-lined, or built in layers. Blankets show up mostly under Western saddles, and the two are often used together.
| Feature | Saddle pad | Saddle blanket |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Padded, felted, quilted, or layered | Usually woven, often wool |
| Thickness | Varies from thin English pads to thick Western pads | Usually thinner than a Western pad |
| Main purpose | Keep sweat and dirt off the saddle, reduce rubbing, and add cushioning where needed | A liner under a pad, an outer show layer, or a layer on its own |
| Where you see it | English and Western riding | Mostly Western riding |
| Used with the other? | Often used alone | Used alone in some setups; often combined with a Western pad |
So can you ride with just a saddle blanket? Sometimes, depending on the blanket, the saddle, the horse, and the work. A good, heavy wool blanket can serve as the layer under a Western saddle, but a thin decorative blanket isn’t built for that job.
When a blanket goes under a pad, it works as a liner that soaks up sweat and dander and helps the pad last longer. Over the pad, it’s often there for looks, especially in the show pen. When you use both, NRS recommends watching the combined thickness of the pad and blanket, since too much material between the saddle and the horse can change the fit.
Saddle Pad Materials: Felt, Fleece, and More
A saddle pad’s material affects how it handles sweat, heat, and pressure. Wool has been a popular choice for years. It can take up about 35% of its weight in moisture before it feels wet, and the USDF notes that wool’s natural crimp and spring help it spread pressure. Synthetic pads are often cheaper and easier to wash. The USDF guide explains that natural sheepskin can help reduce localized pressure points, while foam and gel pads vary a lot in how they absorb and spread force.
| Material | Good for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Wool felt | Long rides, wicking sweat, molding to the back | Costs more; compresses over time and needs replacing |
| Synthetic felt | A lower-priced felt pad | Some hold more heat than wool felt |
| Natural sheepskin (wool fleece) | Soft cushioning and wicking | Expensive; needs gentle washing |
| Cotton or cotton blend | Everyday English pads; soaking up sweat and keeping the saddle clean | Less cushioning than thick wool felt or sheepskin |
| Synthetic fleece | Easy, inexpensive washing | Mats down and picks up burrs and hair; some hold heat |
| Neoprene | Grip, and it hoses off easily | Doesn’t wick moisture like wool, so it can get hot |
| Gel or foam | Cushioning that varies by design | Some gel pads hold heat |
So which is better, felt or fleece? First, check what the fleece is made of, because real sheepskin and synthetic fleece aren’t the same material. Wool felt is a common choice under Western saddles, while fleece-lined pads are popular for everyday English riding. For cleaning, follow the pad’s label instead of assuming every fleece-lined pad is easy care.
Types of English Saddle Pads
English saddles already have padded panels, so English pads are thinner and smaller than Western pads. Full pads cover the area beneath the saddle, while half pads and correction pads add a smaller layer for cushioning or a specific fit adjustment.
Square pads
Square pads are common for everyday English riding. They come in all-purpose, close contact, and dressage cuts to match the saddle. Dressage pads have a deeper, straighter cut to suit a dressage saddle’s longer flaps, so you’ll want a pad cut for that saddle when you shop for dressage saddle pads. In Britain and Australia, square pads are often called saddle cloths.
Shaped pads and numnahs
Shaped or contour pads are cut to follow the outline of the saddle, so less pad shows around it. In British riding, the word numnah is commonly used for a saddle pad, often a shaped one, and fleece or sheepskin numnahs are common. We bought my granddaughter a Challenger quilted contour pad with a fleece lining as a gift, and she was thrilled with it.
Half pads and correction pads
Half pads sit right under the saddle panels, usually on top of a regular pad. They add cushioning or help with a specific fit adjustment, and some have pockets for removable shims. Other correction pads add lift at the front, back, or both. A half pad isn’t automatically an improvement, though. In a 2021 study of 12 horses ridden in saddles fitted to industry guidelines, the gel half pad tested increased pressure under the front of the saddle at sitting trot and canter. The wool half pad lowered average pressure under the back of the saddle at sitting trot, and the medical-grade foam half pad did the same at canter. If you’re thinking about a half pad or shims, have a qualified saddle fitter look at the setup first. The memory foam half pad shown here wasn’t part of that study, so it’s worth running past your fitter, too.
Types of Western Saddle Pads
Western saddles don’t have the padded panels you find on English saddles, so the pad does more of the work between the saddle’s tree and the horse’s back. That’s why most Western saddle pads are thicker than English pads, and larger to cover the saddle’s bigger footprint.
Western pads vary in two ways: their outline and how they’re shaped over the horse’s back. A pad can have square or rounded corners and still have a contoured top.
- Square pads: The traditional outline, giving full coverage under a standard Western skirt.
- Round or barrel pads: Rounded corners keep the pad from sticking out behind a short or round-skirted saddle. You see them a lot on short-backed horses and in barrel racing.
- Contoured pads: Shaped along the top to follow the horse’s topline, so the pad doesn’t pull tight over the withers and spine.
- Cut-back pads: These have an opening over the withers to give a high-withered horse more room. They still need to work with the saddle’s fit.
- Built-up and shim pads: Extra padding near the withers or pockets for removable shims can make limited adjustments to the saddle’s balance, but they can’t make up for a saddle that doesn’t fit.
How to Choose a Saddle Pad
The best pad for your horse is the one that works with your saddle, not the thickest or most expensive one on the rack. When I’m picking a pad, I think about four things:
- Your saddle and your horse’s back. The pad should match the saddle’s shape and leave room over the withers and spine. A high-withered horse may need a contoured or cut-back pad.
- Size. The pad should extend a little past the saddle all the way around. Guidelines from the makers of Impact Gel pads, published by AQHA, call for a pad about 3 to 4 inches longer than the saddle, with about 1 to 1 1/2 inches showing at the front and back.
- Thickness. Choose thickness around the saddle’s fit, not just how long you’ll ride. The same guidelines describe a 3/4-inch Western pad as the most universal starting point, but a thicker pad isn’t automatically more comfortable. These are general guidelines, not measurements that suit every saddle and horse.
- Your riding and your climate. Wool’s ability to breathe and handle moisture makes it a good option for long rides, though the pad’s thickness, construction, and fit still matter. If easy washing matters most, look for a machine-washable cotton or synthetic pad that suits your saddle. Some disciplines also have pad rules, so check yours before you show.
If your horse’s back is sore, find the cause instead of trying pad after pad. A qualified saddle fitter can check the setup, and your vet may need to look at the soreness.
How a Saddle Pad Should Sit on a Horse
However good the pad is, it has to go on right. A few things to check every time you saddle up:
- Set it a little forward, then slide it back. That way the hair lies flat under the pad instead of being pushed the wrong way.
- Lift it into the gullet. Before you cinch or girth up, lift the front of the pad slightly into the saddle’s gullet so it isn’t pulled tight over the withers. Keep the rest of the pad smooth, without bunching it at the back.
- Keep it even. You want the same amount of pad showing on both sides, with no wrinkles or folded edges underneath.
- Check it after you ride. Look for rubbed hair and notice whether your horse seems sore when you brush or touch the back. Uneven sweat marks are worth checking, but they don’t tell you on their own whether the saddle fits.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
30 of their last 90 starts
Equibase Profile.
Connect with Miles: