HORZEHOODS Saddle Pads Rated Overall No.1 in Independent Survey by Animalweb & Dr. David Marlin

We’re beyond proud to share some exciting news with our HORZEHOODS community!

In a recent independent survey conducted by Animalweb, led by renowned equine scientist Dr. Marlin, over 1,500 saddle pads from across the industry were rigorously assessed by real horse owners. The outcome? HORZEHOODS Saddle Pads ranked No.1 overall, outperforming every other leading brand.

Table results can be seen from original site here

So why does this mean so much to us?

Because we had absolutely no idea this survey was even taking place. We weren’t involved, we didn’t promote it, and we certainly didn’t influence it. No sponsors, no ambassadors, no staff; just a genuine survey conducted by a highly respected site that has horse welfare at the heart of their studies. After the results were published, we started seeing tags from social media accounts linking us to this renowned site, at which the office WhatsApp group was pinging through to the team with lots of reads, and we were honestly thrilled!

As many of you know, marketing in the equestrian world can often be biased or driven by big budgets over ruling what truly is a great product. For independent led innovative brands like ours who build products from scratch and focus on genuine function not hype; it can sometimes feel like you’re shouting into a void. That’s why this recognition is so special: it came from honest feedback, not advertising spend.

Our FlexiTabz™ saddle pad system was developed in-house back in 2018 by our product designer Stacey, and it was awarded a certified unique design license by the Intellectual Property Office. This unique system, paired with a carefully engineered four-layer textile structure, delivers outstanding performance especially in sweat absorption, stability, and comfort.

Sadly, in 2021, we saw a well-known brand copy our FlexiTabz concept which was so unique and never done before. But rather than waste energy on imitation which innovatve product focused brands will always get; we chose to push forward. That drive led us to develop our 2-in-1 FlexiBadge system, an enhanced evolution that includes FlexiTabz plus an upgraded 4D AirMesh Anti-Slip Gel spine taking saddle pad innovation even further. So our pads really have been an evolution of love, experience, experiments and countless tests, samples & ideas.From our original cottons back in 2015 to the hero piece they are today.

So when we learned that our pad received top marks in an anonymous, impartial survey of over 1,500 votes, we were genuinely over the moon. This wasn’t just a win for us, it was a moment of validation for all the hard work, innovation, and dedication we’ve poured into our products since day one.

⭐ The Survey: What Was Measured?

We got in touch with Animalweb to express our genuine gratitude for conducting such a thorough and unbiased survey. In true Horzehoods style, we were also keen to dive deeper, to understand exactly what was surveyed and, importantly, whether there were any areas we could still improve on.

The Animalweb team were kind enough to share the full survey results with us, and we’ve now made them available for all our wonderful HH customers, viewers, and fans to read. Previously, this level of detail was only accessible to members of their site, so we’re thrilled to be able to open it up for everyone to see.

This survey is one of the most detailed and comprehensive saddle pad evaluations in the industry. Riders scored pads across a wide range of performance areas, including:

• Fit
• Size accuracy
• Rubbing
• Wither clearance
• Slippage
• Shaping
• Attachment effectiveness
• Washing performance
• Customer service
• Value for money
• And more…

Horzehoods Highlights

Horzehoods pads topped the leaderboard in critical categories such as:

• Best for Not Slipping – Score: 9.55/10
• Top for Shape – Score: 8.90/10
• Best for Washing Without Going Lumpy – Score: 9.15/10
• Highly Rated for Fit, Wither Clearance, and Non-Rubbing – All over 9/10
• Would You Buy Again or Recommend to a Friend? – Score: 9.15/10

We also scored top three for customer service, showing that support matters just as much as product performance.

View the full survey results here:
👉 Saddle Pad Survey 2025 Results

Expert Opinion from Dr. David Marlin

We were delighted to receive a personalised quote from Dr. David Marlin, who had this to say about Horzehoods:

“Given these results, it’s clear that Horzehoods have some good saddle pads that are very popular with owners and are a saddle pad I would definitely consider buying.”

That’s a huge endorsement from one of the industry’s leading voices in equestrian science.

Full Scores Breakdown

🔗 Learn about Dr David Marlin and Animalweb:

• View the fullSaddle Pad Survey
• Visit the Animalweb Saddle Pad Library
• Learn about Animalweb

A Breakdown of our Pads.

This result wouldn’t be possible without your feedback, loyalty, and trust in our designs. Every Horzehoods product is built from scratch, with a deep focus on fit, comfort, performance, and rider confidence and it’s a privilege to be recognised by such a detailed unbiased survey by such a reputable company with horse welfare at their forefront.

If you’ve never tried one of our saddle pads, now might be the time. Your horse’s back deserves the best.

Love our Pad designs? you can check out other licenced design work here