EQ Innovations Riser Pad

The EQ Innovations Riser Pad is crafted from lightweight, shock-absorbing foam that provides cushioning and reduces pressure on your horse's withers and spine. The foam varies in thickness from 1 3/4 inches at its thickest point to 1/2 inch at the narrowest, allowing it to fit snugly in the saddle channel while offering therapeutic support.

The pad comes with dimensions of 18 inches along the spine, 15 inches at the front (wither), and 11 inches at the rear, and it can be trimmed to fit your horse's specific shape if needed. Many customers use it successfully with different saddle types, from English to Australian saddles, and report excellent results even with horses that have prominent spines or sway backs.

A riser pad is especially helpful for horses with prominent or roached backs, kissing spine (overriding dorsal spinous processes), sway backs, or horses that are sensitive to saddle pressure. Customers have reported that this pad improves movement and comfort in horses that previously struggled with regular pads, making it valuable for both everyday riding and competition.

The pad is made from easy-to-clean material and features ventilation holes for better airflow, making maintenance straightforward and practical for regular use. Customers appreciate that it comes in black, which resists yellowing better than white pads over time.

Yes, the riser pad works well as part of a layered pad system—one customer specifically mentioned using it successfully with the EZ View Withers Relief pad underneath. Its flared front design minimizes shifting, allowing it to be used effectively with other pads while maintaining optimal fit and comfort.

Unlike a regular cotton pad, this riser pad provides therapeutic cushioning with shock-absorbing foam and lifts the back of the saddle to reduce stress on the horse's shoulders and spine. The unique contoured shape with flared front and varying foam thickness is specifically designed to address pressure points that regular pads cannot solve.

Yes, multiple customers use this pad successfully in both lessons and competitions, including hunt saddle and horsemanship classes. The pad's subtle profile and excellent fit make it suitable for competitive environments where proper saddle positioning directly affects performance.

The pad's contoured shape and shock-absorbing foam lift the saddle off the horse's spine and withers, distributing pressure more evenly and preventing the tree from rubbing. This is particularly effective for correcting saddle position problems and has helped customers improve their horses' movement, comfort, and even rider position.