Back to Basics
By Y . Gorely
Cleaning Western and English Saddle Pads
Both western and English saddle pads need to be cleaned regularly in order to keep them at optimal performance . Your horse will appreciate it greatly , and you ’ d be amazed at how easy it actually is to keep them clean if you do it regularly .
English saddle pads can easily be laundered in a washing machine . Always use a cold water cycle and mild detergent . Never use fabric softener ! Tumble dry on low heat , again with no dryer sheets , as they will make the pads slippery .
Be sure to read the manufacturer ’ s instructions before tossing in a washing machine , in case they don ’ t recommend it . Additionally , if you have a pad which is made to wick moisture away from the horse , it can ’ t go in the dryer . It has to hang on a line to dry , and be careful about drying in full sun too . Sunlight can fade the color and shrink the pad , so line-dry indoors or in the shade .
You can always wash your dressage saddle pads by hand in a sink of cold water . Use a little bit of detergent that is specially for hand-washing , like Woolite , and let it soak for a long time . Rinse carefully as you don ’ t want any soap left in the pad . Line dry indoor over the shower rod and it will be good as new .
When cleaning western saddle pads , you might want to take the easy route and haul them to a car wash . Drop a few quarters in the machine and spray the heck out of them with the high-pressure rinse setting . Don ’ t use soap -- the high pressure water is more than sufficient to power out packed in grime , sweat and debris . Press out as much water as you can then haul them home and throw them over a stump to dry in the sun . If you want to get really fancy , you can invert them over a saddle rack to dry , but a stump or a large rock is fine too .
Wool saddle pads can be either hosed off with a gentle spray from the garden hose , or brushed daily with a brush that has fairly stiff bristles . If it gets so bad that you simply have to wash it , it ’ s not advisable to use soap , as it never seems to fully rinse out . Just soak it in cold water and rinse until the water runs clear . Lay flat to dry somewhere shady or in the barn as sunlight will cause it to shrink a little .
You can also trying using a shop vac on any of your western saddle pads . This usually works great , especially if it somehow got a whole bunch of hay stuck into the fleece . Try laying the pad out flat on the floor with the underside up , then kneeling on one edge to hold it down and scrubbing it with the vacuum hose nozzle in a circular motion .
Hopefully these tips have helped you figure out a way to clean your saddle pads that works for you . Enjoy your horse and remember that taking care of your horse equipment regularly is the secret to making it last a long time .
Y . Gorely is an avid horsewoman and trail rider . When she ’ s not at the barn , on the trail or in the arena , she ’ s writing articles about equestrian equipment [
http :// www . the-horse . net ], horse training , horse riding and more .
8 • Walking On