Choosing the correct saddle pad is just as important as choosing the right bit to put in your horse's mouth because each one affects your horse's comfort and responsiveness to your cues. With so many saddle pads on the market, it can seem like quite a task to figure out what the best saddle pad is for your rope horse. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what others are using by looking at the Top Ten Selling Saddle pads for rope horses at NRS.

1. Relentless by Cactus Extreme Roper Pad | #TB90506 #TB90504

The Relentless Extreme Roper Pad is a 1” thick, 31”x30” pad with a gel insert that runs the length of the pad where the bars of your saddle sit. Designed by 26X PRCA World Champion, Trevor Brazile, the Relentless Extreme Roper Pad has a 100% Merino wool lining to wick away moisture and allow heat to escape. It is made to last, having a durable leather spine that runs the length of the pad and around the wither cutout to reduce stress on the pad, has extra long wear leathers to protect the edge of the pad, and is available in three colors, black, grey, and tan.

2. Diamond Wool Contoured Felt Pad | #CR21

The Diamond Wool Contoured 1” thick, 32”x32” pad is a quality pad at an affordable price. Being a one-inch thick wool felt, it is a pad that will fit a wide range of horses. This pad can be ridden by itself or with a saddle blanket underneath. This pad features a contoured spine and a relief notch in the wither area for maximum comfort. To add to the longevity of this pad, it is reinforced with distressed wear leathers where your front cinch and stirrup leathers hang.

3. Classic Equine 1” Felt Saddle Pad | #CFP-100C

The Classic Equine 1” felt saddle pad is a 31”x32” pad that can be ridden with or without a saddle blanket. The blended wool felt is designed to stay soft, while the split design allows it to move with your horse’s back. Couple that with the contoured construction, and you have a pad built for the comfort of your horse. The pad also features a butterfly cut so you will have closer leg contact with your horse. Wear leathers, a leather spine, and a leather strip in front of the wither cutout to make this pad durable as well.

4. Best Ever Pads 1 1/4” Kush Saddle Pad | #KUSH-G-B-114

The Best Ever Kush 1 1/4” Saddle Pad is 32”x32” and is usually ridden by itself because of its thickness. The Kush Pad is made from 100% high quality, washed and pressed wool that is 136 ounces per square yard. This makes the pad durable and resistant to compression, all while staying soft and supple against your horse’s back. Quality wear leathers, a leather spine, and a leather strip in front of the wither cutout ensure that this pad is built to last.

5. Professional’s Choice Comfort-Fit Wool Pad | #PCWFP200

The Professional’s Choice Comfort-Fit Wool pad is a 1” thick, 31”x32” steam-pressed felt pad. Its contoured back and wither cutout help provide a comfortable fit for your horse. The steam-pressed wool allows this pad to wick moisture as well as stay soft and protect against pressure points on your horse’s back. Add in oversized wear leathers, and you have a pad you will ride for a long time.

6. Diamond Wool Contoured Comfort Cutter Pad | #NE25

The Diamond Wool 1” Contoured Comfort Cutter Pad is a 32”x32” saddle pad. A long-time favorite of cutting horse trainers because of its fit and durability, the Contoured Comfort Cutter Pad is becoming a favorite among ropers and rope horse trainers because of its fit and durability. The Cutter Pad has a shape that matches the natural top line of a horse, a 1” felt filler, a Merino wool fleece bottom, a contoured channel on the spine, and suede wear leathers. Its brushed fabric top and Merino bottom make it easy to clean as well. The Diamond Wool Contoured Comfort Cutter Pad is usually ridden without a saddle blanket.

7. Classic Equine Performance Trainer | #PTP2

Another quality cutter-type pad is Classic Equine’s Performance Trainer Pad. This 3/4” thick saddle pad is a 31”x32” saddle pad with a canvas top, wool felt center, wear leathers, and a Merino fleece bottom. Its contoured design molds to the shape of your horse’s back and the raised wither area allows for added comfort. This pad is usually ridden without a saddle blanket.

8. Impact Gel Contour 1” Saddle Pad | #C4F32B

Impact Gel’s Contour 1” Saddle Pad is 32”x32” and features a two-piece design and is cut out in the wither area and under the rigging for close contact and maximum fit. The Contour Pad also has wear leathers to extend its life. The gel inserts in the center of the pad run the length of the pad where the bars of your saddle fit, creating flexibility and even pressure distribution along your horse’s back.

9. 5 Star Equine Rancher Saddle Pad | #16WN-FS

5 Star Equine Product's 1 1/8" thick Rancher, is a 32”x32” saddle pad made from 100% wool felt and is meant to be ridden directly on your horse’s back. The felt allows for breathability and moisture wicking, making it a great choice for all-day rides. Along with the moisture wicking and breathability, The Rancher has a contoured design and wither cutout to enhance the fit. The wear leathers, leather spine, and leather strip in front of the wither cutout make sure you’ll get your money’s worth from this pad.

10. Classic Equine 3/4” Felt Pad | #CFP-340C

The 3/4” thick, Classic Equine Felt Pad is 31”x32” and is made of a blended wool felt. Along with being contoured, the softness of the felt adds to the comfort of your horse. This pad can be ridden with or without a saddle blanket. If ridden without, it is important that your saddle fits very well. The split design allows the pad to move with your horse and the long wear leathers ensure you will be able to ride this pad for quite some time.

Personal Pick: Classic Equine Zone Wool Top Pad | #ZBT3221 #ZBT3423-1

Along with our Top-Ten best sellers, I’m going to go ahead and throw in one of my personal favorites, and that is the Classic Equine Zone Wool Top Pad. The Zone Wool Top Pad is a blanket-top felt pad with a Zoombang center and orthopedic felt bottom. The vented Zoombang center is used across multiple sports, including football and baseball, as a shock-absorbing material and works well to disperse pressure in a saddle pad. The felt makes the pad breathable and enhances its moisture wicking abilities. I ride a 3/4” on my heel horse that is a little round-backed, and I ride a 1” on my head horse that has a little more wither. 

I hope that this little insight into our top-selling roper pads at NRS, along with a little personal input, will help you in making your choice on what to use for your horse. Although these are some of our best-selling pads at NRS, that doesn’t mean you can’t shop our entire collection of felt saddle pads for sale at NRS to find a pad that fits your specific needs and personal style.

Should You Ride With a Saddle Pad vs. Saddle Blanket?