Thursday Morning Feed from Fleeceworks

We know Fleeceworks pads are comfy, cozy and great for horses’ backs… but are they also good luck charms?

Team Fleeceworks looks to be getting 2014 off to a great start! Check out these recent updates from the Fleeceworks Facebook page:

OK, maybe it isn’t luck. More likely, these riders’ success is a result of hard work and a concerted effort to make sure their horses are happy and performing at their best–which is where Fleeceworks comes in.

Cross Country Squarepad with Perfect Balance Technology

Fleeceworks pads are made of hand-selected Australian Merino Sheepskin. You won’t find any lycra (spandex), polyurea, Teflon, or copolymers in their products. Here’s what Fleeceworks has to say about the benefits of going with the real deal:

Each material that is used in our pads was selected because it is the best choice for each particular job. Our genuine Australian sheepskin comes from older, wool producing sheep. Unlike lambskin, whose wool is very thick and tends to be coarse, the sheepskins from older sheep are dense, strong and very soft. This type of wool allows us to shear the wool down to about 1” length, which is the optimum length to protect against pressure points, deliver an effective thermal balancing layer and yet retain the fit and contact of your saddle.

The two major benefits of real sheepskin are its ability to prevent pressure points and to deliver vital thermal balance. Genuine sheepskin has long been valued in the medical field. Bedridden and wheelchair bound patients depend on it for its ability to prevent pressure points. Even a well-fitted saddle can cause pressure due to the points of the tree and stirrup bars bearing weight over the shoulders. Fleeceworks pads are carefully constructed to provide extra protection in these vulnerable areas.”

Sheepskin also has valuable thermal balancing properties.

The most common cause of back injuries in horses is ill-fitting saddles, closely followed by muscle injuries due to overheating. The need for thermal balance cannot be overstated. In order for a muscle to operate at its peak it must cool itself constantly. If excess heat cannot be pulled away, and/or gets blocked by materials that do not breathe (such as gel and some closed-cell foam), this heat will radiate back into the already overheated muscle.

While high-tech fabrics, such as Coolmax were engineered to draw heat and moisture away, they lose their effectiveness as soon as they get wet. Sheepskin and wool can hold thirty percent of its weight in water before it even starts to feel wet, thus being able to transport excess heat away from the muscle much longer.”

Also be sure to check out the Fleeceworks TheraWool line. These innovative pads uses the same wool  fibers used in our sheepskin pads and weaves them on to poly-acrylic backing, making it a sustainable fiber versus a live fiber. The pads are durable, breathable, washable, hydrophylic, elastic, and protective. In addition, they remain soft and plush even after washing–the product will not felt up after washing as with other wools currently on the market. They’re tough enough for every day and beautiful enough for the show ring.

Fleeceworks wishes all riders a safe, happy, successful 2014. Go Fleeceworks, and Go Riding!