The latest WH article on saddle pads is a puff piece and most of the pads shown are gimmick pads. Hell the 5-Star pad never even got a mention yet it is a better pad than anything shown. A couple of years the WH had a very good article on padding involving Steve Mecum. It contained the type of info WH should be promoting rather than steering people down the wrong road. They have an upcoming article on saddlebags in the future lets hope they actualy do some reaserch this time. We'll know they don't care about anything but money if they endorse any bags big enough to take the kitchen sink along with you while it sits on and over the kidneys and lumbar vertibrae of your horse. Greg

[ December 29, 2007, 08:14 AM: Message edited by: gumby ]

Thanks Greg, I agree wholeheartedly. I was more than a little surprised at the promotion of all the "trick" pads myself. Without even mentioning the excellent 5 Star pads, or even good quality wool felt pads by other manufacturers,novices will be led to believe that "plastic fantastic" is the only way to go. I guess the proper place to express dissatisfaction at the content (or lack there-of) of this article is in the Letters to the Editor.

Waddy; The editorial staff at WH read these posts from time to time as they do chip in on some of the comments. If I were to write a letter to the editor on this they would not print it so a least this way some of the public can view the info and determine what is a sales oitch and what is reality. And by the way for those interested I DO NOT SELL SADDLE PADS> Greg

HI Greg--

i'll have to make it a point and read the article....i'll admit, i don't use the 5 t pads...i do use the diamond wool felt pads, and have been very pleased with them. (even got a new one from santa!)

betsey

I had been using A 5-Star pad or high qualitly 100% wool pad for as long as I remember. When it was time to reorder a new one, I ordered direct from Mike at 5-Star himself, If you ever get a chance to talk to him he's a Great Guy! Now the last pad I got it sored up my Old Girls shoulders, seems it was stiffer that the last one I got, and had a hard time beaking it in. I usally get a 3/4" or 7/8" contour Western I think the size was a 31x30. Has anyone ever run into that problem? I thought Maybe I should have gotten a straight back instead of a contour? I did try a friends Classic Equine Ortopedic Pad that He uses on his roping horses and said that he never has sored up any of his horses yet and swears by them, and He does a lot of roping. I was second guessing this pad because I have never used anything except 100% wool pad on my horses. I was really surprised how great this pad worked on her, great shock aborbsion and it did not slip one bit, and it worked great with my saddle as well to. Now this is the first time ever using a pad not being a 100% or a 5-Star. But I still like a All wool Pad!!

[ December 29, 2007, 08:09 PM: Message edited by: Denny ]

Ditto me in on the 100% wool pads.
I bought a slightly thinner one this last time....it seemed a little stiffer to me, but broke in easily enough.

I've never used their pads but did have them make a custom cinch for my Shire. Emmett Dalton is 7"2" around the heart girth. 5 Star made me a Mohair roper type cinch that I'm real happy with.

Whole heartedly agree. Maybe if Western horseman would get 5 Star on board as a major advertiser, then they might get a better look by the writers. I kind of look at articles of this nature the same way as I look at the political crap in Washington, the companies and industries that spend the most on lobbyists get the most legislation.

I agree 100% with gumby - was disappointed in that article about the pads and what they chose to highlight, and what they left out. Definately was suprised at some of the gimmicky choices.

On that topic - ditto for the Wild Rags article - although I was glad to see who they chose, they also left out some good rag makers including a couple in Oregon who puts out nice custom rags and whose rags are probably worn by more workin' stiff buckaroos than you'd know, and they weren't even mentioned. But then they don't advertise anywhere in WH. It's mostly word of mouth through the grapevine - and through one dealer that I know of, Carlos Macias at www.LostBuckaro.com, and their own website, www.Buckaroohorse.com.

I may as well finish my rant off with I'm not happy with the less is more content direction WH is taking. The majority of their articles are shorter - more pictures - less written material. I call it the "CNN Effect". And always the same people being quoted or hyped. Well I suppose all things run in cycles....

anyone ever use Saddleright pads? they have a lifetime warranty, and i mean lifetime! if it wears out 6 years down the raod, send it to them adn they will fix it our replace it, no charge. we use them alot, and they are the best.

La Vaquera-
neat website...but i had to laugh...30- for a piece of polyester (about 3- at the local joanne's fabric shop...) and two minutes on a serger!

wouldn't they be much nicer in silk????

betsey (i think i may have found a money maker!!)

La Vaquera-
neat website...but i had to laugh...30- for a piece of polyester (about 3- at the local joanne's fabric shop...) and two minutes on a serger!

wouldn't they be much nicer in silk????

betsey (i think i may have found a money maker!!)

They are really well made - expensive yes but hey I remember when I got a full flower made to order Wade saddle for $1500 so it's all relative I suppose.....the price of everything has gone up.