As a budget equestrian, who spends as little money as possible on everything as possible, I was very excited to be gifted a new saddle pad for Pickle as a late birthday present from my friend. Prior to this, I had only ever owned the cheapest pads out there; requisite and hand-me-downs.
Therefore, I was inexplicably excited to receive a top quality saddle pad developed by HorzeHoods. The brand came to prominence with the rise of the Matchy-Matchy trend back in 2015. I owned a whole matching set from HorzeHoods for my previous pony, but it was too small for Pickle.
HorzeHoods boast that the pad is “designed with a specific technical inner lining added to the outer layer to provide a moisture-wicking action. The fabric has been specially-engineered using polyester fibres to improve breathability compared to natural fibres like cotton. The advanced inner fabric has also been blended to provide an ‘anti-slip’ action. The binding of our saddle pads has been manufactured to give a soft outer texture which helps avoid friction against sensitive areas.” As an ALevel Textiles student, i was intrigued to test how polyester, a synthetic and typically non-breathable fibre could be engineered to be breathable. breathability is important in sportswear for both the horse and rider to ensure comfort and usability.
My first impression of the pad was its high quality; it has been finished to a high standard, with no loose threads and neat stitching around the tartan edging. This level of quality has defenitley making me consider ordering a hood from them ready for next show season! I also really liked the design itself; it is unique and unlike other pads on the market. It first my saddle reasonably well. Pickle is 14.2 hands, and she wears the cob sized dressage pad. Most saddle pads don’t fit my saddle particularly well because of its cut; I have a show saddle which is straight cut. There is a bit of space at either end of the saddle, so it is a little big, but I wouldn’t say that that effects its use. One feature often overlooked in saddle pads is the velcro straps for the girth. This makes changing pads over and doing up the girth much easier.
I decided to put it to the test by using this pad on an endurance ride organised by the North and East Yorkshire Endurance GB. It was our first go at endurance and I knew that it would test our stamina, as well as my map reading skills!
Mid-way though our 8 mile ride I checked Pickle to make sure she wasn’t too warm or tired. When lifting up the corners of the saddle pad, I was pleasantly surprised to see minimal sweat, as most of it has been wicked away by the material. I had been sceptical whether using a pad that wasn’t cut to the shape of the saddle was a good idea because it could add unwanted warmth, but this was not an issue. Similarly, by the end of the ride, there was minimal imprint of the pad on her coat. When using several of my other saddle pads, the imprint of the quilting on the pad can appear on the horse when the pad is removed due to the sweat being more prominent in the squares of the pad that touch the horse. Although there were some marks on Pickle, there were not as many as I had expected. This suggests that the pad was effective in being breathable.
I have never had problems with my saddles slipping because Pickle has a well fitting saddle, and so I don’t feel that I can truly discuss whether the “anti-slip action” was effective. But, it didn’t slip, which is a good thing! Pickle seemed comfortable in it, especially as it is more padded than other pads we own.
The final verdict: I like it. It uses high quality fabric and is made to a high standard. I can’t tell you how durable or long-lasting it is for the moment, but it feels like it is built to last. These positive points are reflected in the high price of the product. I do feel it is a little on the expensive side, especially as you can get a top quality LeMieux pad for a similar price or less. This could just be because I’m a cheap skate! Buying it directly from the HorzeHoods page means that, in theory, they are selling it to you for the lowest price, because it is not being sold through a retailer like Ride Away who will likely add extra cost on top to make a profit. At the moment it is on sale, I presume to clear stock for the new spring/summer 2018 ranges.
I hope this was helpful for you! Any other products you would like me to review? Let me know!
You can buy this pad and a variety of other items on their website, http://www.horzehoods.com. The HH Unique Tartannia Range is on sale as of 4/3/18, retailing at £19.99, down from £44.99.
***as with all the posts on this blog, all comments and judgements made in this post are my own***
Showing Central 