Microperformance+ advanced saddle pad: review

Our reviewer found this saddle paddle perfect for competition but also useful for when schooling at home

I tested a navy blue Microperformance + advanced saddle pad in full size. The first thing that I noticed about this saddle pad was it’s attractive appearance. It has a diamond quilt pattern and 6mm edging cord around the outside. This means that I have found the pad smart enough to go to showjumping competitions in, however I do use it for all disciplines at home.

It is a general-purpose pad and has an ergonomic design — it fits under the saddle neatly, as you can see from the photos. The saddle pad is also very lightweight and features a specially formulated cool dry mesh lining on the underside, which wicks away sweat from the horse’s body.

The saddle pad is therefore both breathable and sweat absorbing, making it perfect for summer riding, competitions or more intense schooling work. The benefit of this is that the horse does not lather up under the pad, as commonly found after extensive exercise, and instead remains dry and comfortable. I have tested the pad in a range of temperatures, and when performing a variety of different exercises and have found it to perform well, even when the horse gets very sweaty.

In addition to this the saddle pad is anti slip (I have found that the lining grips the horse well and the pad also features has girth loops). The lining also dries quickly after exercise, meaning that the saddle pad does not smell and is ready to use again the next day. I have also found that I’ve not needed to wash it as often as my other pads.

It would be nice to see this saddle pad available in a wider variety of colours, as it’s currently only available in navy blue, black and white and a version with smaller branding on the side could be beneficial, as the Microfibre+ logo is quite big.