I am what you would call a “saddle pad hoarder”. To be exact, I am an Ogilvy saddle pad hoarder. I absolutely adore their line of saddle pads and baby pads, and my tack trunk can attest to that. At the moment, there are six Ogilvy baby pads, one profile pad, and a hunter shaped pad neatly folded inside of my tack trunk. I would definitely have more if my bank account would allow it! 😉
Every time I log onto my computer I see questions surrounding Ogilvy’s line of baby pads and saddle pads. I thought now would be the perfect time to go ahead and write out a thorough review since I have been using their baby pads for quite a while now. I have not ventured into their other specialty pads as I am not a fan of their memory foam additions.
Fit: The main difference between Ogilvy’s baby pads and their regular profile pads is the size difference. Of course, their baby pads are smaller and more fitted to the saddle, which I actually prefer. I find that their baby pads aren’t as likely to bunch up under the girth compared to their profile pad due to their shorter length, which is ideal for short flapped saddles like mine. I have noticed that the absence of the billet straps on their baby pads is not a huge deal for me. I haven’t had any of my baby pads slip underneath my saddle during my rides. However, the profile pad I own has slipped despite the presence of the girth strap. I am attributing the slippage to the less than ideal fit of the pad underneath my short flapped CWD. Plus, it could have something to do with the shapes of my guys’ barrels. Overall, in my opinion, I feel that their baby pads have a superior fit to their profile pads as they slip less and fit neater up under shorter flapped saddles.
Customization: When it comes to customizability, Ogilvy doesn’t disappoint. With ten body color options, 27 piping colors, and 20 binding colors to choose from, choosing a color combination can be quite the task! There are so many great color combinations to choose from to create the pad of your dreams. Need to add a billet strap to your baby pad? No problem! Want to order saddle pads with a custom logo on it? Consider it done! The range of customization is downright impressive. All you have to do is give their customer service a quick email and your saddle pad dreams will come true! Not to mention, their monogramming is top notch with sturdy stitching and bright thread. I ordered a baby pad with UGA’s distinctive G embroidered on it, and it turned out absolutely beautiful! I get compliments on it all the time, and it has held up beautifully with every wear and wash. Even ordering a pad with their logo on it looks classy enough to take into the jumper ring. Customization is definitely Ogilvy’s strength.
Washing Durability: On their website, Ogilvy states that their saddle pads are stain-resistant and anti-bacterial/anti-fungal. Surprisingly, I have found this to be true! The two white bodied baby pads that I own have definitely not been babied. They have gotten dirt and mud smeared on them, sunscreen spilled on them, and even hoof polish was spilled onto the side of one. Despite the abuse, they both come out of the wash sparkling white and looking brand new. (I will definitely post pictures when I can make it out to the barn to get some!) None of the stains stick! Now that is downright impressive! Every single pad I own gets a good wash in the washing machine once every two weeks to keep them smelling fresh and clean. All of my other saddle pads that are not Ogilvy tend to fade and lose their shape over time. However, despite the frequent washing, all of my Ogilvy pads still look brand new and still hold their shape. Plus, the stitching on all of the pads is holding firm. Ogilvy was right, they are durable!
Shipping Time: Sigh. The one downside of ordering one of their pads directly off of their site is that their shipping time usually ranges from 3-4 weeks. That being said, it really isn’t too terribly long to wait when you consider that they are custom made just for you. However, it is just so hard to wait! If you want a saddle pad for a specific event, I would advise that you order it at least two months in advance. Since they are based out of Canada, shipping into the US can take a little longer than normal.
Ratings: Considering all of the pros and cons of these pads, I would give Ogilvy’s baby pads a 10/10 and their profile pads an 8/10. In my opinion, Ogilvy’s baby pads outperform their profile pads in terms of fit and overall value. They just seem to work better for me and my boys. That isn’t to say that their profile pads won’t suit your horse!
Overall Impressions: If you are considering ordering a saddle pad from Ogilvy, do it! You definitely won’t be disappointed! Personally, I won’t buy any other saddle pads other than Ogilvy since they have worked so well for me! Not only are they stylish and classy, they are also super durable too! They definitely have my seal of approval and are, in my opinion, worth the hype. 🙂
______________________________________________________________________________
Despite how much I adore their baby pads, the same love does not follow their line of popular half pads. I am probably in the minority on this, but their half pads don’t impress me whatsoever. I know that they have become super popular, but I have found that they can actually be detrimental to saddle fit when used with a saddle that fits your horse. If you have a custom saddle, please don’t stick one of these memory foam half pads up under it. The thickness of the pad itself will cause your saddle to slide up onto the withers or slide to either side. The memory foam also does next to nothing to cushion your horse’s back. It condenses down so much that all it really does is add bulkiness up under your leg. The bulkiness of the pad itself is just a huge turnoff for me. That being said, if it works for you, great! An opinion is just that, an opinion. 😁 I can’t comment on the gummy half pads as I have never used one or seen one.
______________________________________________________________________________
I hope you all found this review to be helpful! If you have any other questions that I did not address in this post, feel free to leave me a comment! I am always glad to lend a hand! Happy riding, everyone!
Pembrokes & Ponies 