Tough1 Ultimate Foundation Shim Pad

We spend thousands of dollars on our horses: custom saddles, chiropractic work, massage therapy, proper shoeing and regular dental care. We take the time to think about matching the color of our saddle blanket to our show clothes, but how many of us think about what’s going on between our horse’s back and the saddle? How can you be sure you’re making the right choice when it comes to your saddle pad?

Your horse’s body can change from week to week, or even day to day. Your horse can lose weight around his barrel and topline from heavy work sessions, causing gaps between the saddle pad, saddle and the horse. Or, if he’s been off, fat can create a tighter fit, which can make the saddle uncomfortable. The build of growing horse’s body is always changing as they grow and slowly start to fill out where the saddle rests. Horses with changing toplines can be difficult to find the perfect saddle pad.