Outfitted

 

 

Ready to go.....

 

Leaving without me, LOL!

New (Quilt) Saddle Pad for my Horse

I have taken a break from my quilting passion to focus on my horse passion.  We've had an unseasonably dry spring and I've taken advantage of that and also the fact that my horse now lives in a place where I can fully use the property.  Win-win!   Thus, my Hunter's Star is partially quilted at the moment and I'm okay with that.  That quilt is not "for" someone other than me so there is no great rush.

There was a rush to make Bud a new saddle pad though.  I made him one about five years back before I had a clue about quilting.  I was pleased with it at the time.

Unfortunately, I did not know how to join the two pieces without making a huge seam in the middle of the pad so it was quite bulky on his spine.  I had to be certain it was aligned perfectly.  In the last month, I brought that pad home to correct the spine and that helped a lot but changed the length of the pad because I had to cut some away.  In the end, it was too short.  There was no quilting in this pad either so it could be quilt shifty with three layers.  Regardless, it served me well for the last five years and it served as a prototype for my new pad.

I have been thinking about making a new pad ever since I took up quilting.  Like everything else, I did some Internet searching to see what others used for fillers and how they held up over time.  This is obviously a quilt that will be used and washed a lot.  What I found was a lot of sorrow over the batting falling apart or being too thin to be anything else but decorative.  This did not bother me because I didn't use batting in my first pad.  Instead, I used a fabric called "Zorb."  I use Zorb in my incontinence pad line and many people sew it into their diapers.  it is a bamboo poly fabric that feels to the hand like very thick felted wool.  It doesn't shrink, doesn't pill, and appears to be indestructible.  It's lasted five years in my first pad and when I took it apart to repair the joining seam, it still looks new.  Read: tested and true.  The benefit of Zorb beyond its longevity and thickness is its intended use.  The purpose of Zorb is to be super absorbent.  It can absorb 10x its weight in fluid in under a second.  For incontinence purposes, it is a sponge.  For a saddle pad, it equals a drier, cooler, more comfortable back for the horse.   Sweat is wicked away into the pad.  Air dry after use and wash weekly.   The lingering sweat difference between my pad with Zorb and regular pads is huge.  I have a neoprene girth and that is the only place where sweat is profuse.  I'm starting to not like that........but I digress.

I just purchased a new saddle which is due to arrive sometime next week.  Since being back to work, Bud has outgrown the saddle I have.  Like my sewing machines of old, I have never had a new saddle so I am hoping the upgrade will be as good as the sewing machine upgrade was.  I am thinking it will be simply because the saddle I have is not really suited for the work I am currently doing with Bud.  And it doesn't provide enough width for his spine to lift.  Worse, I think either his anatomy is crooked or the saddle is.   In short, its just time.  Bud is 22 years old.  He has limited energy for work and it's simply imperative that his tack is comfortable so that the work we do can be as efficient as possible. 

I considered just buying a pad for the new saddle and did some browsing for what is out there.  I found tons of "new technology" for upwards of $200.00....  Really?  $200.00 for a saddle pad?  I just about fell out of my chair.  What do you get for this?  Apparently memory foam, ceramic crystals, and God knows what else.   What you don't get is color choice other than black or white.  Maybe this expensive crap is what is expected in the show ring these days and let's just say there is a reason I have never been interested in showing.  I want something that is both functional and ornamental.  My guy isn't getting any younger.

What did catch my attention was the pads with the ceramic crystals touting they provide a therapeutic heat for the back.  Many riders said they found their horses warmed up quicker and were much more comfortable both during and after the ride.  Thankfully, Bud had never been sore after rides, but he definitely takes a bit to warm up and begin to lift his back.  So this intrigued me.  Intrigued me enough to add a half layer of Insulbrite into his pad.  It has a nice thickness that paired well with the Zorb and as it reflects heat or cool back to the source, perhaps, just perhaps, it may be beneficial.   Jury is still out on it after one ride.  I felt under the pad at different times and while it was warm, I don't know if it was any more or less warm than usual.  Also, as I mentioned above, I am certain my saddle is not fitting well and allowing him freedom to lift his back so I will wait to comment until I have had some rides with the new saddle.   What I do like about this layer is the thickness it provided and the firmness it added to the pad.  It is less floppy. 

Before I got my new machine, I made several strands of a Friendship Braid.  I intended to use it for a border of another project but since scrapped that idea.  It was perfect joined together into a Chevron pattern for this pad.  I quilted it into a single layer of Hobbs cotton.  Then I followed a few of the Chevrons and quilted in the Insulbrite.  Then I repeated this with the Zorb.  And finally, I backed it with wool and followed the lines again.  Basically the quilting is staggered into each layer giving it a 3D effect.  I also used one of the decorative stitches to put an asterisk chain all throughout and also into the binding.   It is really striking and for what my dear husband calls a "free ball" it fits perfect.   I plan to add pockets in the future and have enough of the Friendship Braid left to do so.  I am toying with the idea of making star pockets instead but we'll see.