March 10, 2005 – Montreal, Quebec – Canadian textile manufacturer Ecogold has launched the innovative Frictionless™ Saddle Pad designed for the ultimate in comfort for the dressage horse.

The new Frictionless™ Saddle Pad, featuring a unique design that eliminates friction and reduces the strain on a horse’s back during physically demanding exercise, has quickly been adopted by Canada’s top dressage competitors including Jacqueline Brooks, Shannon Dueck, Ashley Holzer, Leslie Reid and Evi Strasser. All of these top-ranked riders have found that the Frictionless™ Saddle Pad provides their horses with ideal conditions for a comfortable and successful ride.

“The Ecogold Frictionless™ Saddle Pad fits my horses really well and I believe they are very comfortable when wearing them,” said Shannon Dueck, a 2003 World Cup Finalist and Canada’s highest placed competitor at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, riding Korona. “They also never slip under the saddle, and look brand-new even though I have washed them many, many times.”

The Ecogold Frictionless™ Saddle Pad is made with Lycra and Air-Knit, two high-tech fabrics that slide in contact with one another during use, eliminating any friction on the horse’s back. These high-tech materials offer superb ventilation that allows the heat from the horse’s muscles to quickly dissipate, keeping the horse as cool as possible. The sides of the saddle pad have non-slip, ultra-grip properties that keep the pad in place and prevent rubbing, making the Frictionless™ Saddle Pad especially effective at preventing skin irritation, loss of hair and discomfort.

The Ecogold Frictionless™ saddle pad can be ordered by visiting www.ecogold.ca and is also available at retail outlets in Canada and the United States including The Dog & Pony Shop in Delta, BC, Sandridge Saddlery in St. Lazare, QC, Euro-American Saddlery in New Jersey and Florida, and the Pacific Equestrian Tack Shop in California. In addition, Ecogold will be showcasing their products at various dressage clinics and competitions this summer including the CDI*** Ottawa Spring Classic from May 19-22, CDI-W Blainville from June 30 to July 3, CDI*** Toronto from August 4-7, and CDI*** Ottawa Fall Classic from August 25-28.

Founded in 1989 as a manufacturer of environmentally-friendly jackets and backpacks, Ecogold became involved in equestrian product design after being approached by the University of Ottawa to outfit its Equestrian Team. With input from top professional athletes, the Montreal-based company began creating functional products using high-performance fabrics and creative engineering. Ecogold’s goal is to apply the use of innovative textile engineering to equestrian sport, contributing to its evolution the same way that state-of-the-art fabrics have played a role in other sports such as cycling or skiing. In addition to the Frictionless™ Saddle Pad, Ecogold also manufacturers custom jackets, riding vests, horse blankets and special order saddle pads that address specific problems.

For more information on Ecogold and its line of innovative products, please visit www.ecogold.ca or call (514) 342-5893.