Comfort for my horses is paramount. After trying countless chin pads, I designed my own bridle products and tested them for years. The horses love them!
The Kathy Connelly
Performance Collection
Disappointed with products already on the market, Kathy wanted easy-care pads that made her horses more comfortable in their work. She wanted products that would provide cushioning, prevent rubbing, and stay securely in place - so she designed and spent years extensively testing these bridle pads herself.
In many cases, the bridle pads have helped horses with tongue or mouth problems. They work well with all kinds of bridles including custom-fit bridles. And, Kathy finds her eventing, jumper, hunter, and endurance friends use the pads too.
All bridle pads feature soft terry cloth in direct contact with the horse's skin and with a non-slip texturized rubber surface against the bridle. The filling is mildew resistant and hypoallergenic. All products are durable, machine washable and will not shrink. Each pad in the collection is fully edged for both a finished look and increased durability.
Kathy Connelly Performance Collection pads are enjoyed by horses and riders across multiple disciplines and all levels - from pleasure riding through the Olympic Games.
About Our Designer:
Kathy Connelly
Kathy Connelly is a renowned and highly respected international dressage rider, trainer, coach, clinician, live stream broadcast commentator, author, and USEF “S” Judge. A world-wide ambassador for the sport of dressage, Kathy is known for her amicable and approachable nature, integrity, good sportsmanship, and deep concern for the well-being of every horse and rider. Her career has included service on many high-level committees for the USEF and USDF including the body known formerly as the USEF/USET High Performance Committee. Kathy has been Co-Chair of the United States Equestrian FEI Dressage Sport Committee since its creation in 2016. She has published numerous articles in top dressage publications and co-authored “Dressage Insights from Experts” (1994). Her latest book, “The Art of Long Lining” is forthcoming from Trafalgar Square Press in 2021.
Kathy's experience in equestrian sport is deep and wide-ranging. An “A” Pony Clubber by the age of 17, she won the "A" division National Championship competing in eventing. She went on to represent the U.S. in Australia where she competed again in the "A" eventing division, winning team bronze. After shifting her focus exclusively to dressage, Kathy rode for the U.S. at the World Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden, and in Canada as part of the bronze medal Grand Prix team competing at the North American Championships. In her work as trainer, Kathy has guided students to victories at NAYRC dressage championships and a NAJYRC eventing championships. She has served as a personal coach at the World Equestrian Games, the World Cup in Sweden, and coached the Canadian Individual Silver Medal winner at the Pan American Games. Kathy was appointed Chef D’Equipe and team coach for the Silver Medal United States Young Rider Team in Australia and has served as Co-Chef d’Equipe for the United States Dressage Team at Hickstead, England.
Kathy has always believed strongly in the importance of continuing education in classical dressage. She has worked extensively with Herbert Rehbein in Germany. Kathy also brought her Grand Prix horse to Austria to study long lining with Ernst Bachinger, a former Director of the Spanish Riding School, focusing on advancing her understanding of the horse's state of mind in the advanced levels of collection required for piaffe and passage. As a result of her record of success, her commitment to learning in all aspects of the sport of dressage, and her warm good humor, Kathy is a very sought-after instructor and clinician who brings her deep font knowledge to her work with riders and horses at all levels. Along with her many riding clinics, she also offers specialized clinics in long line training for the piaffe and passage.
Throughout her career Kathy has paid special attention to the close connection between the physical and mental comfort of the horse. Complete comfort in the bridle, for Kathy Connelly, is imperative for the horse to be able to perform correctly and happily in any equestrian sport.