Abstract: An equine saddle pad for use in direct contact with the animal's hide and hair is constructed from a mat of piled polymer filaments extruded into an elongated continuity of about 1/2 inch thickness having 65% to 80% void volume within a thermally bonded matrix of approximately 10 mil to 30 mil diameter filaments. In one alternative embodiment of the invention, a hinge band of reduced thickness and void volume is heat formed along the pad center to divide the pad into two substantially symmetric leaves. Another alternative embodiment comprises a unitized overlay of the polymer filament pad by a dissimilar material such as neoprene foam, felt, woven nylon, woven or knitted polyester, cotton, wool or linen.