[RC] Fw: questions on equipedic pad - Karen Sullivan
Below are the instructions sent to me regarding
cleaning the pad. Also had another post from the service department
regarding using something like a Dixie Midnight or similiar type, under the
equipedic to keep it clean; that is not advised as
then the phase change material-wool felt
material will not be against the
horse.
With regard to washing pad and the state of the
foam inserts after a ride you are correct that the foam will tear if the are
removed when wet. We tell folks to let the pad dry overnight before removing the
inserts. If you bend the inserts into a u-shape prior to removal they come out
and go in easily. Most horses in a natural state are not clean and in fact you
have probably seen your horse try to roll after you bathe them. They use the
dirt to protect their skin and to protect them from insect bites. when we wash
the horse we are removing natural oils from their hair that helps to protect
their skin. The will roll at this point because they are really itchy. The soap
and water we use dries their skin out. The best way (MPO) to clean a horse is to
curry comb the horse so that the majority of the dirt is removed from the
"saddle area". If done on a regular basis, the skin and hair will retain their
natural oils and yet the hair will be relatively clean of dirt. Removing the
sweat build up from a pad is more important. The salt build up is what can
really cause galling. In a felt pad this is usually indicated by coarseness
typically found closest to the loins. The best way to get rid of this is to
curry comb the pad. Typically western pads have always been 1" felt and the
procedure for maintenance on these pads has been to curry comb them on a
periodic basis to soften the nap of the felt and remove surface trapped salts.
Power washing pads developed because the pads were too large and too thick to
fit in a washing machine. That is not the case with our pad. Every fabric we use
has been chosen because it can be washed. However, the effects of the smart
textiles will diminish after about 100 washings and the felt, since it is
needled will begin to deteriorate. Like life there is a compromise in
everything. you can wash your pad cover daily but it certainly won't last as
long. Most users, myself included, have found that washing once a month is more
than sufficient.
