Saddle Fit?

Question

I bought a new saddle for my horse a couple of months ago because the one I had was too narrow and pinching his withers. The new saddle was slightly too wide and I purhcased a pad (this is the pad: http://www.doversaddlery.com/comfort-pad... to fix this issue. When I tack up with this pad (I just use a square pad under it) it looks like a great fit - it gives him wither clearance, follows his shoulder angle nicely, sits level, everything just looks great. I get off and he has dry spots behind his shoulder blade but isn't sore. Just the other day when I un-tacked he had NO dry spots and wasn't sore at all. Today it was back to how it used to be, he had dry spots, but he was also sore (normally he isn't). I don't get why everything was great just yesterday and today he didn't just have dry spots, but was sore. I didn't do anything differently when tacking up or under saddle.

Any ideas on why this is happening?

Answer 1

Dry spots mean you have a saddle fit problem - the saddle is putting too much pressure at those spots and cutting off the natural process of sweat and circulation.  A pad is not necessarily going to solve the problem.  Basically I agree that you should see if you can get a professional saddle fitter to look at him.  It's possible that adjusting the flocking in the saddle or some type of tree adjustment can be made

Answer 2

the link to the pad doesn't work.. but i would see about getting a pro saddle fitter out to check.. he'll tell you if you got it right (though unlikely due to the dry spots) and if not he can move around the wool flocking to fit him perfectly, so in theory you will be able to ride with just a square pad.. which is better for the two of you since you'll be close to him and better able to give cues, and he will be more comfortable since a professionally fitted saddle feels better then a saddle with the most expensive cushiest pad around..

also, to get my saddle fitted is about $80 but its better then going out and buy the $200 pads every few months when his body shape changes.

and the soreness could simply be because the saddle hasn't been fitting him PERFECTLY for a while, and the ill effects are finally showing through... though i couldn't be sure.

Answer 3

Make sure the square pad you are putting underneath it isn't pressing down on the withers. We use wool pads and cut 4-6 inches back so that the withers can come up through. Our horse chiropractor insists that there should be NO pad pressing down on the wither at all. What is your underpad made of? Can you cut it back?