Welcome to our website

History

Ihashe is the Xhosa and Zulu word for horse. Plural – Amahashe

Eric Sands

Saddle Pads – numnahs, packing, padding, saddle cloths

My name is Eric Sands. I am a racehorse trainer from Cape Town, South Africa.
For many years I was dissatisfied with the saddle pads used on my horses in racing. Sore withers and backs, skin disease and excessive sweating were just some of the problems I encountered. To address these problems I decided to attempt to make more suitable pads to improve the lot of my horses.

I experimented with different materials, both synthetic and natural fibres, different thicknesses and different shapes. It was a matter of trial and error and extensive testing before today’s product was arrived at. Initially the pads were not meant for resale but for my own use only. I used to cut them with a pair of scissors and glue them by hand in my office.

Christophe Soumillion – Multiple French Champion and international jockey
– the first international jockey to use Amahashe Saddle Pads.

Mike de Kock – multiple SA champion & International trainer

On a visit to Dubai in 2013, Mike De Kock (International and South African Champion Trainer) and I were discussing girth tensions, and I asked him to try some of my pads. After using them he ordered more, as did Christophe Soumillon (French Champion Jockey), who rode with those first pads. I have these first two clients to thank for starting this business, Amahashe Saddle Pads.

Seeking further input, I sent a few Amahashe Saddle Pads to two outstanding horsemen and jockeys; Douglas Whyte in Hong Kong and Jeff Lloyd in Australia. Both men were positive and orders started to come in. since then, Amahashe Saddles Pads have won races in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Kenya, England, Ireland, France, Germany and many other countries. All this happened by word of mouth, without a website or a brochure.

Today I also manufacture saddle pads for other disciplines such as polo, endurance riding and show jumping.

Download our PDF brochure by clicking on the icon below: