Close Contact Saddle Pads

Close Contact Saddle Cloths & Pads from Top Brands

Who doesn’t want to look fancy and fun while experiencing the thrill of jumping over colorful obstacles with your horse? A saddle pad is important to protect your horse from impact, chafing, and rubs which may occur during riding. Close contact saddle pads are typically the correct choice for riders with show jumping saddles because of their shorter flaps, accommodating for the shorter stirrups that show jumping riders use. Close contact numnahs, pads and saddlecloths are designed to offer a versatile yet economical solution for those in search of a jumping saddle pad to fit a GP saddle. The nature of the cut of a close contact saddlecloth allows it to fit securely to both jumping and GP saddles without compromising on the heightened levels of comfort offered by a show jump saddle pad.

There are three important factors to consider when choosing the right close contact saddle cloth for you and your horse.

Size and Design

Although shopping for saddle pads in fun colors is quite exciting, it is important to remember about sizing primarily. You wouldn’t want to accidentally buy the Lemieux mini range of close contact saddle cloths for your 17hh gelding to find out that you bought the mini version (which is specially made for ponies from 11.2hh to 13hh)! The right saddle pad should be around twenty centimeters longer than the back of your saddle and have about five centimeters on each side. A saddle pad which is too small will cause pressure points and thus discomfort on your horse’s back. Thus, it is better to go slightly too big than too small. Your saddle pad should also be of adequate thickness, as a too thick saddle pad can throw off your saddle’s fit. The saddle pad should also have good wither clearance to allow air flow under the saddle.

Material

The best material to look for is one that has a grip and that aids in wicking sweat. Grip or anti-slip material may be included either under or on top of the saddle pad (which helps keep the saddle pad slipping from under the saddle). The Premier Equine Capella close contact saddle pad design, for example, includes grip and anti-rub features.
Sweat-wicking material is vital for a close contact saddle pad so that your horse remains dry even during the sweatiest work. Lemieux produces the loire close contact saddle pad lined with bamboo which helps the horse feel cool and dry. For that extra bit of customization, make sure you pay attention to fastenings. Adjustable or Velcro fastenings are best because they allow you to tailor your close contact saddle cloth right on the spot.

Personal Style

Now for the fun part, once you have made sure your close contact saddle pad fits your horse in terms of size, design, and material, there is a wide range of colors to choose from. You may choose to color coordinate your outfit with the pad like LeMieux close contact Orchid saddle pad with an Orchid color base layer. Or you may want something more traditional like a Navy close contact saddle pad or a White close contact saddle pad.

Shop Close Contact Jumping Saddle Pads at Discounted Prices

There are now an abundance of brands manufacturing close contact pads as well as Numnahs, GP Saddlepads and Riser Pads, offering more choice than ever. LeMieux close contact pads always seems to be one of the best-sellers no matter the discipline, with the LeMieux Loire Classic Close Contact Square Pad being a popular choice. LeMieux close contact saddle cloths can be found at a reduced price with many colour options such as the timeless olive or a more vibrant Chili. The Kentucky range of saddle pads provide something that is a little extra special and the Premier Equine pads always come with high quality at a fair price.
Whatever style you are looking for, it is certain that you can find the best close contact jumping saddle pad at Discount Equestrian. You can easily sort through equipment by category and find discounted pieces in the clearance section.