When to Wash your 5 Star pad: There are several factors that will affect how long you can ride a 5 Star 100% Wool Pad before you should wash the pad.
These factors will determine when the wool fibers in a 5 Star Pad will begin to get hard in the following pressure points – wither/shoulder areas, cinch area, loin area, and along the bottom edges of the pad where the sweat and dirt flows down.
The best rule of thumb is to wash your pad when these areas begin to get hard and crusted over. When brushing will not bring surface to a soft flexible condition, it’s time to wash your pad. It doesn’t matter if you have ridden it 50 hours or 150 hours; if the pad gets hard to the touch, wash your pad.
Water: Use Luke warm water 30°C / 86° F
Do not use water hotter than this because it will damage the wool’s natural elasticity.
Soap: Only use soap like Woolite™ that is PH7 – neutral or an alkaline based shampoo. Do not use soap that is acidic based, because it will damage the wool’s natural elasticity.
Procedure: Wash from the center of your 5 Star pad to the edges. Wash your pad at an angle. Never spray directly into the pad body. Soak with warm (86° F) water up to the salt line then apply Woolite™ Soap. Let your pad soak 15-20 minutes then rinse the soap out of your pad. Make sure that you rinse the soap completely out of your 5 Star Pad, because leaving any soap residue could irritate your horse’s skin. Always rotate the pad during rinsing to ensure dirty, soapy water flows outward to the edges of the pad rather than soaking into it.
Another option to protect the bottom of your 5 Star Pad is to use a 5 Star Pad Liner underneath your pad. 5 Star Liner Pads dry much faster, however the same washing technique is required and recommended. The liner is very good at keeping horse hair and dirt from embedding into your 5 Star Pad. Sweat will still be absorbed through the liner into your 5 Star pad, however a 5 Star Liner Pad will extend the number of hours that you can ride before your pad will need to be washed. 5 Star Liner Pads are available in 30” x 30” or 32” x 32”.
Recommended care for 5 Star 100% pure wool saddle pads:
Never lay your 5 Star pad on its back to wash, dry, or store as the special hand lacing that is used to create the true French curve contour can come undone.
These 5 Star recommendations on cleaning, care and washing instructions are aimed at educating our customers on how to care for 5 Star Pads so that the pad can perform at its optimal condition to wick sweat, remain flexible and comfortable, absorb pressure, and obtain 2,000+ hours of riding with the BEST PROTECTION available on the market.
It is very important to follow 5 Star Equine and our felt manufacturer’s recommendations in order to bring back to life the 100% Pure Virgin Wool fibers after they have become full of sweat, salt, dirt and hair. By following the cleaning and washing instructions you can bring the fibers back to their original elasticity, so that your 5 Star Pad can wick sweat, absorb pressure, and remove heat like it did when it was brand new, because it will be able to breathe again.
If you follow these simple maintenance procedures on a 5 Star 100% Virgin Wool Saddle pad you will get the performance from this material that you need to keep your horses back comfortable, protected and cooled with the best material available on the market. If your horses back doesn’t hurt, he will perform better and will be much happier when you saddle him up.
We guarantee and stand behind all of 5 Star’s workmanship. We also stand behind the 100% Virgin Wool felt. We will replace unsatisfactory workmanship or defects in felt due to the manufacturing process or the assembly of the 5 Star pads. We will not stand behind the felt or workmanship if it has not been cleaned or cared for as we have recommended.
The pad that set the standard!
I train cutting and reining horses. Both disciplines require a lot out of my horses, and I have never had a sore backed horse yet. I brought a few up for some clients of mine that are into western pleasure and roping, and they are as pleased as I am. In fact, I need to put in another order!
I had my saddle taken in to check fit and they recommended your company. This contoured his back so well it improved how my saddle fit his back. We haven't had problems since! I love that I got to customize my pad making it unique to me. Thanks for making such a quality product!
I bought my first 5 Star pad over 15 years ago. I have had several over the years. When I started looking to replace it and become a dealer I inquired to everyone I could about what was the finest saddle pad made. I always heard about this little outfit in Arkansas called 5 Star.
I recommend your products to everyone I meet. I honesty will NEVER go back to using impact gel, because they made my horses sore and hindered their performance. Thanks for providing the horse industry with a pad they can trust for the next years to come.
I love the 5 star pad because my horse is much more comfortable and he doesn't sweat as bad under the pad. It makes my saddle stay in position with no slipping and also I don't have to tighten my cinch as tight because it keeps the pressure more even.
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