recommendations for "cooler" saddle pads...

[RunForIt]

...for this now sweltering summer heat. :confused: :cool:

[bornfreenowexpensive]

The Ecogold pads are pricey....but damn nice and worth it. They really wick away the moisture...breath well....and dry fast. They also really seem to hold up well and last a long time. (and with fabrics...I do think you get what you pay for!)

http://www.ecogold.ca/

I was very impressed with them. They have a xc style that isn't on their web site yet....I ordered one. I'm going to get myself a one of the dressage ones as a birthday gift to myself soon too.

After seeing and using these...I could see myself slowly replacing my other pads over time. Sort of like how I don't buy cotton shirts any more..but stick to the wicking materials now (but buy fewer of them because of the cost).

[scubed]

Roma waffle, such as http://www.victorycanter.com/product.php?productid=20562

Lettia coolmax pads
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001PB3MSA/ref=asc_df_B001PB3MSA827014?smid=ASD7U43V0PE7D&tag=shopzilla_rev_1227-20&linkCode=asn

Dover says they have one (I've never tried this one - I prefer the waffle)
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-19128&tid=shopz&CATALOG_CODE=1X844&EID=X1844001&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=X1-19128&bhcd2=1245188687

Or, you can always go sheepskin such as Mattes, Ovation or Fleeceworks.

Using a shaped, rather than a square pad is also cooler, such as http://www.equusunlimited.com/index1.html (these have fleece edges, but I've seen without)

[3dazey]

Gads, the HEAT! Unreal! I have been using the Roma Ecole pads with the wicking stuff on the horse side for a couple years now. They work as advertised...the underside will be dry even when just taken off a sweaty horse, but the outside will be really wet. Which is sort of gross, but better for the horse, I'd say. Not nearly as nice as the Ecogold, but a heck of a lot cheaper!

[BarbB]

I have a couple of the Lettia coolmax pads and they really do make a difference. They should - for the price!

[Horserich Cashpoor]

I don't like the wick easy at all. My horses get a white, frothy sweat under these. I've been using my Pessoa's instead. The horses still sweat but it's just wet, not frothy.

[luise]

I also like the Roma Wick-easy--they really do work!

[eventrider]

I swear by the Moxie Cavalor pads!
www.moxieequestrian.com

[Carolinadreamin']

Our chiropractor said that the thinline pads are a good choice in this sweltering heat.

[deltawave]

I have a really old one that's a puffy, synthetic fleece advertised as "Cool Back" or "Cool Comfort" or something along those lines. I just used it tonight and Bonnie came back with a dry back. Very, very old-fashioned and nothing technical about it, I bought it probably 15 years ago, but it's a very airy, puffy fleece. And it has obviously stood the test of time, too. ;)

[flea]

I have decided to go back to a shaped pad for summer. My little mare is covered a lot by the square ones. I imagine I can find most of the ones of which yall are speaking in a shaped pad also, right?

[deltawave]

I definitely prefer shaped pads for that reason: less surface area covered. I have some square ones, too, only because it's hard to find shaped ones that really fit specific saddles. But if it's hot, I always try to use a shaped one. :yes:

[wildlifer]

I got a lovely one on sale for about $20 and it is nothing short of awesome. I think it is called something like the Roma AirWick? Dries quick and wicks wonderfully -- no more sopping wet rag after summer rides.

[Maya01]

The Ecogold pads are pricey....but damn nice and worth it. They really wick away the moisture...breath well....and dry fast. They also really seem to hold up well and last a long time. (and with fabrics...I do think you get what you pay for!)

http://www.ecogold.ca/

I was very impressed with them. They have a xc style that isn't on their web site yet....I ordered one. I'm going to get myself a one of the dressage ones as a birthday gift to myself soon too.

After seeing and using these...I could see myself slowly replacing my other pads over time. Sort of like how I don't buy cotton shirts any more..but stick to the wicking materials now (but buy fewer of them because of the cost).

I second the ecogold saddle pads, though they don't seem to hold up very well in the wash...

The dressage ones, in my experience, wrinkle quite a bit on the horse. But otherwise they are great, cool saddlepads!