Fleeceworks

Through Thick & Thin
(What’s important when choosing the right sheepskin pad)

Natural sheepskin is the ideal material to provide shock absorption, temperature balance and relief from friction and pressure points. Its effectiveness is proven by sheepskin’s role in the medical field, where it is the material of choice for bedridden and wheelchair bound people. By allowing air to circulate between hair and leather, sheepskin forms a protective air cushion that also balances the temperature. It not only provides protection from concussion, but also eliminates pressure points and completely heals and prevents friction sores.

All this makes it perfect to protect our horses, especially since sheepskin is also lightweight in addition to breathable; a welcome alternative to heavy gel pads or unyielding closed cell foams.

In order to be most efficient, the pelt of the sheepskin needs to be dense and should not be too long. When the hair is too long, it tends to clump and mat, making it impossible for air to get in between. A lot of the therapeutic benefits are lost this way. Another point against excessively longhaired pelts is that is becomes too thick. Just as you wouldn't’t wear ski socks with your Nike running shoes, you don’t want to stuff a very thick pad under a saddle that should already fit your horse well. The ideal length for a pelt lies between ¾” and 1”. Conversely, anything shorter or pelts with hair that is too soft are not able to properly cushion.

Even though it is dense, the right sheepskin should feel soft to the hand. The regions where the sheep are raised have a lot to do with the feel of the sheepskin. Sheepskins from England for example are a lot coarser than those from Australia or New Zealand, where climates are milder year round.

The dyeing process is important in as much as the dyes must be of high quality. BASF is a dye manufacturer in Germany who is acknowledged for manufacturing superior dyes. Some sheepskins are labeled “medical quality”. This does not mean that they are purer than regular sheepskin, quite the contrary: In order to make a pelt suitable for heavy soiling that is likely in medical usage, it needs to undergo additional chemical treatments or dyeing processes. It is unlikely that your sheepskin encounters that kind of level of soiling around your horse, unless you use it to line his box stall.

A good quality sheepskin should be machine washable in cold water and on gentle cycle. Any detergent suitable for leather or wool works; an excellent one is Leather Therapy’s Leather Wash and Conditioning Rinse. It’s a good idea to give the sheepskin item a tug to keep its original shape, as leather may constrict when wet. On a day to day basis, it’s very easy to care for sheepskin. Sweat and grime is easily curried out and removed with a stiff body brush. A wire dog brush works especially well to restore loft to the pelt.

Thera-Fleece™ sheepskin is machine washable. For best results, we recommend leather Therapy's Leather Wash and Conditioning Rinse to keep wool and leather in top shape.