MAY 2023 THE RIDER /35 What is your saddle pad made of?


question that has garnered much interest before or maybe it has. As an on- looker with more experience in felt than riding it seems more focus is spent on the saddle with the saddle pad sometimes being an after- thought. This likely should not be the case as it is what connects the horse with the rider.


At first glance, many


of the felt pads look the same, and one may assume that they will all perform similarly. If they look the same and sometimes feel the same, then it comes down to price, right? Not necessar- ily. The fiber and manufac- turing


horses’ comfort and the rider’s stability on the sad- dle. The best way to under- stand this, is to understand felt.


drastically impact process


can the


This might not be a


polyester, wool, viscose, polypropylene, alpaca or a blend, the fibers and produc- tion process chosen can be determined by the applica- tion, required performance or price point. From a sad- dle pad point of view, most felts are made out of poly- ester, wool or a blend.


textile where its versatility leads it to be in industries such as saddle pads, music (such as piano hammers & drum mallets), gasket/seals, floor protectors, boot liners as well as polishing wheels to name a few. Through the manufacturing process, the material can be made to ei- ther be like a fabric or firm like a piece of wood. Fiber quality, type as well as par- ticular production processes can drastically have an im- pact on the elasticity or re- siliency of the felt. Typically made of


Felt is a non-woven Polyester


tends to be a less expensive fiber that is oil based, does not have hollow breathable structure and is a smooth fiber. Wool on the other hand is sustainable as it is grown on sheep, has grip from its fiber scales and has dynamic properties that your horse can truly benefit from.


Wool has incredible fiber memory


that wool brings is from its elasticity, resiliency and moisture management. Wool has incredible fiber memory so even though it is compressed, it will bounce back returning to its original state use after use. Com- bined with its weight pres- sure distribution from horizontal fiber interlocking you can truly protect a horses’ back and make the


The big advantage is man-made,


the manufacturing process, felt can be made two ways. One is needled felt which is where the fibers are me-


saddle be more secure for the rider. Moisture manage- ment of wool is another ad- vantage to your horse. Wool fiber has a hollow structure that naturally wicks mois- ture. The fiber is straw like where it takes moisture on or gives it off as needed. This creates even moisture sweat absorption which helps eliminate pressure points that can cause sores for the horse. The breath- able fiber of wool makes for a material that insulates against heat or cold by tak- ing on moisture or giving it off. It is a key characteristic and reason wool is used in outdoor active wear and should be considered for horseback riding in our 4- season climate. For those interested in


compresses, becomes firm and leaves more of the downward pressure on the horse’s back. The true and tradi-


process, needles may break, remain in the felt and work their way out over time. Long term a needled felt is unstable with primarily ver- tically aligned fibers so it is more likely to come apart or lose its elasticity and re- silience. A needle felt sad- dle


pad over time


tional way of making felt is referred to as wet pressed felt or pressed felt. This classical process costs more to make because it is labour intensiveness. To make a pressed felt, the wool fiber’


chanically needled together. It is a felt that is less expen- sive to make, but comes with risks. With needling, there is always a risk of nee- dle breakage as the fibers are compacted.


In the


scales are opened up and in- terlocked through exposure to steam, pressure and mo- tion. This process takes time but naturally aligns the fibers in a more horizontal direction. The gain of pro- ducing felt this way is a wonderful feel that gives re- siliency, bounce and stabil- ity to improve riding performance. Cost is higher on a pressed felt as well since not all wools can be made into it. Fiber length, fineness and wool type all play a part in fiber selection. The general rule is any fiber can be turned into a needled felt, but not all wools can be used to make a pressed felt. Long term, a pressed felt will give better value to the consumer because of its lifespan and stable perform- ance that conventional syn- thetic felts cannot match. Fiber and felt manu-


facturing, what does this all


The 2023 Great Lakes Carriage Classic Celebrates Its’ Fifth Year As A Three Day Show


By Jean McLean, Show Manager The Great Lakes Car-


riage Classic (GLCC), being held July 28 to 30 at the Ancaster Fairgrounds, has expanded this year to a three day show. The first day is devoted to Dressage


show standard with experi- enced and accredited offi- cials. GLCC placings and scores may now be applied to a wide variety of other year end awards. The 2023 judges are Larry Brinker from British Columbia and Dana Bright from Texas;


him/her over a cones course. The GLCC is a time


In the Red Light/Green Light Class - Monica Lamothe of Mt.


Brydges, ON drives her Fjord, It’s A Dun Bill on the directions of competitor Connor Vanos. Photo by McGinny Photography


for comradery with like minded people. On Friday night there is a corn roast with Dressage/CDE Cones awards presented at that time. On Saturday a catered Sit Down Dinner is open to all. This meal allows partic- ipants time to visit with old and new friends in a relaxed setting. On Sunday a com- plementary box meal ac- companies the presentation of the Pleasure Awards and the Overall Show Awards. Lovely class, divisional and


champion ribbons, trophies and vendor donated prizes, (given in lieu of booth fees) all contribute to the show experience. This year the vendor marketplace has been expanded and a wide range of products will be available for purchase. A new website has


been created for the GLCC. All are encouraged to go to this site for the prize list, scheduling, entry forms, sponsorship, advertising and all other information about the show. It is found at www.thegreatlakescarriage-


classic.com . If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help with the show please contact the show management


at


info@glcc.ca . The GLCC Organiza-


tion Committee expresses its appreciation to all the supporters who have helped to build a solid foundation from which to expand offer- ings and continue in the years to come. We look for- ward to seeing you at The 2023 Great Lakes Carriage Classic. There is truly something for everyone!


more questions or are curi- ous about felt, ask us. The Brand Felt has been making felt in Mississauga, ON since 1959 and always enjoy talking felt.


If you have


mean? In general, there is more to felt saddle pads than price. If looking to replace, always look at the fiber makeup and if you can, ask what type of felt the pad is made of. The pad is in con- tact with the horse so you want a felt that that breathes and does not slip, has excel- lent compression memory and that breathes. You want your horse to be comfort- able the same way you want to be comfortable. There are materials that we as peo- ple will not wear or use be- cause they are stiff or make you feel hot. The same should be kept in mind for horses too.


Darryl Billing of Elmira, ON drives his Dutch Harness pair, King and Sonny. Photo by McGinny Photography


and CDE cones, (Training to Intermediate Levels). The Pleasure portion of the show remains on Saturday and Sunday with five core classes; turnout, working, reinsmanship, timed obsta- cle and fault and out obsta- cle. Fun classes


such as


drive/ride, carriage dog, costume and international have been included in the schedule to offer competi- tors variety and delight spectators. The objective of the


GLCC is to provide a wide range of driving enthusiasts with a Canadian experience to show their equine part- ners. This is reflected in the broad spectrum of divisions available to participants, whether a first time show attendee or the most experi- enced of competitors. Para and Junior drivers are en- couraged to participate with special divisions and prizes. This year the GLCC


has been recognized by the American Driving Society. This recognition ensures competitors can expect a


with Pennsylvania native Dana Bright serving as the TD. The show management has remained unchanged since inception with Jean McLean as the Show Man- ager and Valerie Williams as the Show Secretary. The Ancaster Agricul-


tural Event Centre is a ex- emplary site with extensive facilities and convenient lo- cation close to major high- ways. A big component of the show is education. Spe- cial demonstrations are held at noon both Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday Car- riage Parade and the Sunday Equine Showcase introduce the audience to the wide va- riety of equines and car- riages used in the sport. The show announcer and printed programs offer spectators assistance with the rules of the different GLCC classes, the awards and the turnouts presented. The Red Light/Green Light Class of- fers youth an opportunity to walk a cones course and then act as passenger in the carriage with an experi- enced driver, directing


Helen Vanos of Guelph, ON drives her VSE Heirs and Graces in the Coach Assisted Division with Coach Carolyn Aarup. Photo by McGinny Photography


Comfort Zone Continued from Page 34


more — for the last time — we took off in canter but soon we were at full gallop. Yes! We were galloping along the top of the cliffs to- ward our pickup point. That was the most exhilarating experience I have EVER had in my life! My panic aborted. I can only surmise that


[my] trauma will never completely heal. But I choose my path more wisely and nourish close friend- ships. I have family who love me unconditionally.


I’m capable of remaining optimistic, and I manage my self-care and calm the waves. Never again do I feel ashamed of my distur- bances. If suffering be- comes so painful that you lock up, being truthful works for me most of the time. Sharing a memorable breakthrough is to share my trip of a lifetime — an ad- venture that I may have passed up. There are always moments of grief and doubt, but I still have that need to take a step away from my comfort zone.


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