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.
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.