EA Mattes Information

What Makes E.A. Mattes Different

Quality – E.A. Mattes Sheepskin Pads are made with only the finest quality sheepskin and a one-at-a-time mentality that ensures product quality. Pads are handmade from start to finish with attention to detail that is unparalleled. Each hide is thoroughly inspected, hand picked for quality, and made with full hides to ensure no seams contact the horse’s back.

Design – The anatomically correct topline design of Mattes Sheepskin Pads follows the contours of the horse’s back and allows for a perfect fit under the saddle. The patented SPINE FREE® Design ensures the spine is not in contact with any seams, fabric, or tension which eliminates the risk of rubs and pressure on the sensitive area of the back around the spine.

Function – Sheepskin has long been known for its amazing natural properties including heat dissemination, breathability, and the ability to eliminate friction and bounce. This cannot be imitated by wool pile, artificial fiber product, or foam.

Correction – The Mattes CORRECTION®-SYSTEM was recently rated the #1 therapeutic pad on the equine market by the Horse Journal. The Mattes CORRECTION®-SYSTEM helps maintain balance and straightness for horses that change form through a season or have asymmetries. POLY-FLEX® Shims are resilient, do not bottom out like foam or other materials, and allow incremental adjustments to be made easily. The shims are 5mm thick, designed to be layered, and are easily trimmed with scissors to taper the ends and create a pressure free fit if multiple shims are necessary.

Care Instructions – Wash with MELP, a detergent that includes regreasing properties to keep sheepskin in top condition. Regular detergents can dry the sheepskin and lessen the quality of the pad. Hand or machine wash in cold water on the gentle setting. Gently pull into shape. Lay flat to dry. Do not expose to sun or dry with heat.

DO NOT USE CHLORINE BLEACH.
* In order to maintain your satisfaction guarantee warranty for Mattes products, MELP must be used when washing.

Mattes Lambskin

Mattes Lambskin is made from lambskins selected after our own specifications with extreme dense and resilient wool

• Since lambskin has an open structure, air can flow between the fibres, therefore it equalises temperature, it is ideal in summer and winter
• Can absorb up to 8-times its wool weight in moisture before it feels wet
• The resilience of the wool is ideal for pressure distribution
• The upright standing wool fibres can slide against each other, therefore absolutely no friction or chafing nor rubbing on the horses skin
• Lambskin, because of the afore-mentioned structures, allows development of the muscles

Peter Mattes understands the importance of selecting the proper type of sheepskin for the application. He has perfected an amazing line of saddle pads using this knowledge. The right sheepskin has wool fiber that is dense enough to carry the weight of the saddle and rider without matting down, and long enough fibers to allow the wool to move with the horse’s back, thus eliminating friction. This deep understanding of the characteristics of the materials combines with expertise of equine anatomy that results in saddle pads that are shaped and contoured to the horse’s back. Other intelligent design features are the anatomically correct designed topline, the Spine-Free® channel through the topline and the use of a single hide so no seams come into contact anywhere on the horse’s back. These combined features prevent rubs, sore spots, or pressure. No other sheepskin saddle pad measures up to a Mattes. Remember, a poor saddle pad can ruin a good saddle fit.

Neoprene

There are plenty of NEOPRENE lined equestrian products in the market. The fact that NEOPRENE, except for its shock absorbency is one of the most unqualified materials concerning heat accumulation. Dr. David Marlin from England, who owns the only private test insatiate for horse equipment has proved this fact insofar, that specifically NEOPRENE lined horse boots can heat up to the extent that the cell structure of the tendons can be damaged. Neoprene is specifically used for its fantastic isolating properties for e.g. Diving suits

Merino

Merino skins are generally heavily advertised as the ultimate material for horse products. Merino is a special breed known for its extremely fine wool. For the production of very fine and soft yarns this wool is uniquely qualified. For high performance equestrian products and other technical products the resilience and density are the major requirements. Therefore Mattes lambskins are strictly selected after these specifications our of "crossbreds" by sorters trained by us at the countries of origin. These have a medium fine, extremely resilient and dense wool.

Foams/Gels/Felt

In contrast to foams, gels, felt and other materials there is no friction on the skin, because the wool fibres glide against each other, thus avoiding any friction. Pressure alone is not as dangerous as pressure with friction

Mattes Quilt & Design

High quality twill fabric, as used to produce heavy duty work clothing

The inside is a double laminate of POLYFLEX (deep needled polyester felt) and polyester wadding. The construction is absolutely air permeable

No foam, neoprene or gel or similar material

Mattes quilt design results in a quilt that is firm enough to keep its shape. It does not get lumpy and it does not turn limp. Thus excellent washing and drying properties. Even after many washes no breaking of laminate along the seams. Anatomical correct shape, high wither cut, hence no pressure in the wither area

Results in combination

A functional, high quality product, thought highly fashionable with a choice of more than 25 quilts-, lambskin and piping colours. Simple installation and correct positioning under the saddle because of the padded front trim and adjustable from billets

SPINEFREE - Wither & Spine relief

Our Spinefree design prevents any pressure in the wither area and along the spine. Combined with our saddlefix fasteners it guarantees the exact positioning of the pad. Specifically when combining Mattes sheepskin half pads with our quilt only pads, as a top pad or under pad

Saddle Fix System

Safe & quick fastener system, the ideal improvement to perfect the use of all our spinefree and especially our correction system saddle pads. The centre of the pad is lodged high up in the gullet to allow complete freedom for the spine. For accurate fastening of combinations of our sheepskin half pads with under pad or top pad. No alteration necessary on the saddle.  Adjustable for all saddle sizes

Correction System

The system can be integrated into all Mattes pads

• To compensate for changes in young horses due to their rapid development during training
• For fully trained horses which change a lot during the season
• To correct irregularities in the horses build
• Using a pad to compensate for the lower back, caused by age. It balances the saddle beautifully 
• Slight compensation on a horse with unequal sides
• Fitting of an initially too wide saddle on a young horse with the possibility to reduce the shims in a flexible way according to training conditions 
• Due to the simplicity of the system it is now possible to compensate for the changes in the fit of the saddle caused by changes in form and condition of the horse during the season
• Correction system single pocket for exact saddle fitting especially suited for bridging saddles. Bridging saddles are a very common problem, not only with western saddles but also with english saddles