Tack of the Day

Horsena · Comfort and balance

Horsena Gel Saddle Pads

Horsena makes gel half pads for dressage and jump saddles in Regular, Slim, Front Balance and Back Balance shapes, plus Swap Stirrups 2.0 with replaceable tread pads and arm covers, and gel bit and chain guards.

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Updated October 2026 · By the Tack of the Day Product Team

Horsena Regular Gel Dressage Saddle Pad in black

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Buying tip:Pick the shape by saddle fit. A Front Balance gel pad lifts the front of a saddle that sits low at the withers, a Back Balance pad raises the cantle area, and Regular or Slim pads add even cushioning. Choose the dressage or jump cut to match your saddle, and between the Regular at 8 mm and the Slim at 4 mm by how much shock absorption you want.

Horsena gel saddle pads: Regular, Slim, Front or Back Balance

Horsena gel pads share a hexagonal 3D structure of separate open cells, and the shape you choose depends on your saddle fit. Horsena makes the Regular and Slim for even cushioning, and the Front Balance and Back Balance pads for a saddle that sits low at the front or the back, each in a dressage and a jump cut.

Horsena says the gel is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, and that the pads are thinner in the middle so the saddle can settle on the withers and back with air able to circulate. The Back Balance pad is 8 to 23 mm thick and raises the cantle area. Versions with a fleece underside and rolled edge are called Gel Pad with Fleece.

Horsena gel padThicknessWhat Horsena designed it for
Regular Gel Dressage / Regular Jump Gel Saddle Pad8 mmShock absorption, slip resistance and pressure relief; the jump pad suits jump and all-purpose saddles
Slim Gel Dressage / Slim Jump Gel Saddle Pad4 mmAn extra-slim, nearly invisible pad that leaves the horse freedom of movement
Front Balance Dressage / Jump Gel PadThicker at the frontA saddle with a low profile at the front, or a lift over the height of the withers
Back Balance Dressage / Jump Gel Saddle Pad8 to 23 mmSupport at the rear, raising the cantle area and balancing the saddle
Regular Jump Gel Pad w/Full Fleece; Front Balance Dressage Gel Pad w/Rolled Fleece8 mm (Regular)The gel pad with a fleece underside and rolled edge

See them: Horsena Regular Gel Dressage Saddle Pad, Horsena Slim Gel Dressage Saddle Pad, Horsena Front Balance Gel Dressage Saddle Pad, Horsena Back Balance Gel Dressage Saddle Pad, Horsena Regular Jump Gel Saddle Pad, Horsena Slim Jump Gel Saddle Pad, Horsena Front Balance Jump Gel Saddle Pad, Horsena Back Balance Jump Gel Saddle Pad, Horsena Regular Jump Gel Pad w/Full Fleece, Horsena Front Balance Dressage Gel Pad w/Rolled Fleece.

Horsena Swap Stirrups 2.0, tread pads and arm covers

Horsena Swap Stirrups 2.0 are safety stirrups you can customize without tools: change the arm color with Covers for Swap Stirrup and the tread with Tread Pads for Swap Stirrups 2.0. Horsena makes them in nine colors, and the spare parts also replace a damaged piece.

Horsena says the Swap Stirrups 2.0 are made in Italy with a steel core wrapped in a recycled polyurethane casing, weigh 450 g per stirrup, and have a quick-release lateral arm that opens 90 degrees to free the foot in a fall. Horsena describes the removable tread pad as inclined at 5 degrees to help keep the heels down. The tread pads are sold as a set of two and the arm covers as a set of four, and they are sold separately from each other.

See them: Horsena Swap Stirrups 2.0, Horsena Tread Pads For Swap Stirrups 2.0, Horsena Covers for Swap Stirrup Set of 4.

Horsena gel bit guard and curb chain guard

Horsena gel guards protect the mouth from pinching and the chin from curb chain chafing. The Easy Fit Gel Bit Guard is ultra-thin so it does not change the size of the bit, and the Comfort Gel Chain Guard cushions the curb chain.

Horsena says the Easy Fit Gel Bit Guard has a perforated design that lets foam and liquid drain, is hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial, and its anti-slip gel keeps it from rotating. Horsena says the Comfort Gel Chain Guard has polka-dot protrusions that grip the skin and give a massaging effect, helps reduce curb chain shocks and keeps the chain from twisting. Both rinse clean under running water, and the chain guard should be kept away from direct heat.

See them: Horsena Easy Fit Gel Bit Guard, Horsena Comfort Gel Chain Guard.

Who Horsena gel pads and stirrups are for

Horsena suits riders who want to fine-tune saddle fit and stirrup comfort with replaceable, color-matched parts.

  • Riders whose saddle sits low at the withers: a Front Balance gel pad, in dressage or jump.
  • Riders whose saddle tips forward: a Back Balance gel pad to raise the cantle.
  • Riders who want a pad that is barely there: the 4 mm Slim gel pad.
  • Riders who like to match their tack: Swap Stirrups 2.0 with tread pads and arm covers in nine colors.
  • Horses with sensitive mouths or chins: the Easy Fit Gel Bit Guard or Comfort Gel Chain Guard.
  • Look elsewhere for a full-size saddle pad: Horsena makes gel half pads, not saddle cloths.

Horsena gel pads and Swap Stirrups FAQ

What is the difference between Horsena Regular and Slim gel pads?

The Horsena Regular gel pad is 8 mm thick and the Slim is 4 mm thick, both 56.5 cm long in the dressage cut. Horsena describes the Slim as extra slim and nearly invisible, and the Regular as the better shock absorber.

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When do you need a Front Balance or Back Balance gel pad?

Horsena designed the Front Balance pad for a saddle with a low profile at the front, or for a lift over the withers, and the Back Balance pad for support at the rear, raising the cantle area and balancing the saddle.

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Are Horsena Swap Stirrups 2.0 customizable?

Yes. Horsena says the Swap 2.0 is a safety stirrup you can fully customize without tools, using arm covers and tread pads in nine colors.

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Do the tread pads and arm covers come with the stirrups?

The tread pads and arm covers are separate products. Horsena sells the tread pads as a set of two and the arm covers as a set of four, and each listing notes that the other part is sold separately.

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Do the covers fit the first Horsena Swap Stirrups?

Horsena designed the Covers for Swap Stirrup to fit both Horsena Swap Stirrups and Horsena Swap Stirrups 2.0.

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How do you wash a Horsena gel pad?

Horsena gives machine washing at a low temperature or hand washing with a little washing-up liquid for the Regular and Slim pads. Do not expose the pad to direct heat, and let it air dry.

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Sources, read October 26, 2026: Horsena style descriptions, dimensions, features and care instructions as published with each style in the Tack of the Day catalog; claims are Horsena's own.