Data debunks popular saddle pad sales pitch

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In this video I cover data from pressure sensor mat testing to reveal that a lot of saddle pad marketing and design does not solve the core issue with horse comfort.

Many brands sell on the premise that heavy duty "impact protection" is the key to protecting a horse with a saddle pad. They often use arbitrary examples like dropping heavy objects on the pad or smashing it with a hammer to prove its effectiveness. But the reality is that the saddle's actual impact on a horse's back is minimal (only about 2-4 psi on average)... and thus using a material that hardens on impact to disperse a high load of energy is not necessary. If fact, it can hurt performance.

As the data shows, DAMPENING is the key... like shock absorbers on a car, always absorbing small bumps every second to make for a smooth ride. Watch to video for all the details on how and why this method works so much better than impact protection.


Total Saddle Fit makes intuitive products for horses. We are best known for the Shoulder Relief Girth and Shoulder Relief Cinch. More recently we've released the PLUSH Pad and SQUISH Pad to improve Western saddle fit.