Saddle Cloths made of Wool
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Was ist eine Schabracke und für welche Pferde eignet sie sich?
Saddle Pad and Cloth (Schabracke) Cloth differ only in the shape of the cut. While Saddle Pads are cut in the shape of the saddle, Saddle Cloths are squared back and can therefore be combined more flexibly with different saddle models.
Our saddle cloth is cut like a classic dressage saddle cloth, which means it has no extra pre-cut like a jumping / eventing saddle cloth. It is generously cut and fits under saddles up to a seat size of 17.5 inches. This corresponds to the size Cob and Full.
But don't worry, the saddle cloth is elegantly cut and also fits well on small horses like our Icelanders without hindering or swallowing them.
Uses for saddle cloths:
- Appearance purposes, for the "dressage rider look".
- Alternative saddle shape like: Baroque saddle, Ibero saddle, trail riding saddle, Edurancesaddle, treeless saddle, riding pad.
- For trail rides, the additional surface offers the possibility of attaching saddle bags without them rubbing against the horse's back
What Should I Look Out For When Buying A Saddle Cloth?
- Protection against moisture, dirt and chafing: You can certainly imagine that the saddle does not feel particularly comfortable directly on the horse's skin. In addition, you also protect the sensitive leather of the expensive saddle with the barrier.
- It absorbs sweat: Leaves your horse's back dry after training, because a sweat-soaked saddle area after riding is quickly the cause of cooling and thus tension in the back muscles.
- Size according to saddle length: Whether Icelandic horse or warmblood, the size is based on the saddle length.
- The shape of the saddle pad is adapted to the top line of the horse's back: pressure on the withers and loins is avoided
- Spinal freedom: The saddle pad can be opened up, i.e. the edges of the pad are pulled into the pommel and cantle. This prevents pressure on the withers and spine, which can cause chafing and pain.
- Thickness: The thicker the saddle cloth, the narrower the panel channel. The spine likes it well padded, but it needs space to move freely. A thin, light saddle cloth is preferable with a fitting saddle.
- Material stability: This should not be too thin and flimsy, so that dimensional stability is guaranteed and folds are avoided.
Wool: The best material for saddle cloths
- Sweat-absorbing: A sweaty saddle pad can quickly lead to cooling and tension in the back muscles. Wool can absorb large amounts of moisture and release it to the surface of the saddle pad, where it evaporates. This keeps the horse's back dry.
- Breathability: The structure of the wool fibers enables excellent ventilation. This promotes air exchange and helps to wick away moisture efficiently. The natural insulating properties of wool store heat in winter and dissipate excess heat in summer.
- Relaxation of the muscles: The wool fibers create a gentle micro-massage effect on the skin during movement, which stimulates blood circulation. Wool also retains heat, which causes the blood vessels to dilate. This improves blood circulation and promotes the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, which contributes to relaxation.
- Pressure distribution and shock absorption: Wool has a natural elasticity that distributes pressure evenly and absorbs shocks. This can help to prevent pressure points and tension and increase comfort for the horse.
- Antibacterial: Wool is soft and skin-friendly, which prevents chafing and irritation. It is also less prone to allergic reactions as it is a natural material that is free from harmful substances.
- Easy to care for: Our robust wool saddle pads are easy to care for and can be machine washed.
- Sustainable: Wool is a renewable raw material that is a by-product of sheep farming and is compostable.
Synthetic materials are less effective at absorbing moisture and offer no temperature regulation. This can lead to overheating and perspiration under the saddle. In addition, they are often uncomfortable on the skin. Synthetics are not sustainable.
Do I have to wash a wool saddle cloth after every ride?
You should brush out a wool saddle cloth after every ride - most effectively with a rubber massage brush. It dries best if you take it out from under the saddle and place it on the saddle with the wet side facing up .
Due to its self-cleaning properties, it rarely needs to be washed. Depending on the intensity of use, every one to three months. The best indicator of whether your saddle cloth needs to be washed is how sticky the underside is. The fat from your horse's coat, together with sweat, sticks together the wool fabric and seals it from absorbing moisture. So if the saddle cloth is sticky or even greasy, it has to be put in the washing machine as soon as possible, on the wool cycle at max. 30 degrees.
