Are you looking for a better connection with your horse? Thick, heavy pads often promise protection but can lift the rider several inches away from the horse’s back - creating a loss of feel, balance, and harmony. At VIP Equestrian, we don’t believe you should have to choose.
Our VIP Western Impact Protection Saddle Pad delivers exceptional comfort and shock absorption without compromising on that essential close contact feel. Designed with our unique VTEQ polymer technology, this pad is unlike anything else on the market.
The Science Behind the Comfort
At the heart of every VIP pad lies our VTEQ polymer, a unique material developed from 45 years of human-grade medical research. It’s soft, flexible, and incredibly resilient - designed to behave like a layer of skin and fat, absorbing and dissipating pressure to keep both horse and rider comfortable.
Rather than air holes or foam layers, the pad features hundreds of small, raised bobbles. These bobbles move independently under pressure, helping to disperse impact forces evenly across the horse’s back. The result? Less pressure, less fatigue, and more freedom through the horse’s movement.
The spine section of the pad is deliberately free from polymer, which means it eliminates pressure over this sensitive area entirely - a detail that makes a noticeable difference in comfort and performance, especially during longer rides or under heavier western saddles.
Built for Western and Pleasure Riders
The VIP Western pad is slightly larger than our Original design, with generous-sized panels that fit beautifully under western and pleasure saddles. It’s a pad that’s rated for impact up to 3 tonnes, so it won’t bottom out under the combined weight of a western saddle and rider - something truly unique in the market.
Many riders describe it as “the invisible layer that makes all the difference.” You won’t see it changing your saddle fit or lifting you off your horse’s back, but you’ll feel it in the softness of your horse’s movement and the evenness of their stride.
Pressure Relief Without the Bulk
Other pads achieve impact reduction by being thick - but more isn’t always better. Thick pads can alter saddle fit, cause heat build-up, and create instability. The VIP pad is different. Its slimline design keeps your centre of gravity low and your connection close, giving you the protection you need while maintaining that natural feel and harmony with your horse.
The material has been tested to withstand extreme forces - rated up to 3 tonnes - yet remains soft, flexible, and lightweight. The pad’s unique bobble design and open polymer structure also prevent it from compressing over time, so you get the same level of protection ride after ride.
A Natural Choice for Comfort
Every VIP pad is made from a hypoallergenic, bacteriostatic polymer that mimics the natural properties of skin. It’s safe to use directly against the horse’s back, easy to clean, and won’t absorb sweat or bacteria. It doesn’t pluck or pull hair, and horses seem to simply move more freely under it.
As one of our riders put it:
“My horse feels softer, looser, and easier to sit to with the VIP. I finish a long ride and he’s happier, and so am I.”
That’s exactly what we aim for - comfort that benefits both sides of the partnership.
The VIP Difference
- Unique VTEQ polymer technology – proven in medical research
- Bobbled design – dissipates pressure, not just cushions it
- Spine-free construction – eliminates central pressure
- Slimline and close-contact – no bulk, no bounce
- Rated for impact up to 3 tonnes – won’t bottom out under western saddles
- Hypoallergenic and bacteriostatic – gentle and hygienic
- Made for western and pleasure riders – generous sizing and easy fit