Saddle pad question/western?

Question

my horse is a mustang she dont have big withers probably 1-2 inches but anyway i just got a billy shaw saddle i put it on her back seemed like it sat very well on her but when i sat on her i noticed it might be putting to much pressure on that area i dont want to give her a saddle sore have done it in the past and learned i can only use fleece on her. my friend told me to get a build up pad so im going to get one but then iseen one with a cutback? just wandering what cutback does for the horse and what horse to use on

Answer 1

Take the saddle back and before you do, use a coat hanger (wire) and shape it to your horse's withers and tell them at the store you need a saddle that will fit those withers!!!

Sounds like you got a FULL Quarter Horse tree when a SEMI Quarter Horse tree would have done the job.

Answer 2

If you do not have enough padding, just put a couple pads on the horse before you put the saddle on.

Answer 3

if your saddle is touching the withers then it does not fit.  Sometimes you can get a cut-back pad to work but not always.  make sure there is enough room for you to stick your hand under there.  The jell pads are also wonderfull i use one and love it!  also; pay attention to how your hours reacts to the saddle and your wieght. they will sometimes tell you if its pinching.  A little trick that my trainer tought me is to ride around untill the horse is sweaty under the saddle.  not much is needed since its summer time, then untack and look at the sweat marks.  If there are places were they are really wet and other places that they are still dry under the pad. than your saddle  is not fitting right and changing pads isn't going to fix it.  I hope this helps a little.  I'v had lots of problems in the past with saddles and different horses. It's not as easy to find a match as people think.

Answer 4

Take the saddle back and get one that fits.  Trying to correct a NEW saddle with pads isn't a good idea.  

The cutback pad is for horses with high withers.  It allows the withers more room to move.  Only use it with a correctly fitting saddle, though; if the withers touch the underside of the fork you'll get some nasty saddlesores there.

Answer 5

If you are really having a problem getting stuff to fit then I would talk to a saddler. They can give you direction as to what to try. Be careful not to use to many pads and change the fit of the saddle in other places. Good luck!

Answer 6

When you say "too much pressure on that area" do you mean that the fork is actually contacting the wither?  If it is, you shouldn't try to fix it with pads..the tree is too wide for your horse.  If it is a full quarter horse bars saddle, a semi qh bars might work.  Also, some saddles advertise the gullet width but not the height. Be sure the height of the fork is adequate.  I'm surprised that a low withered horse would have this problem unless she has a very narrow build as well.  Good luck with this...I know how frustrating it can be.

Answer 7

Well to start off there is no such thing as a perfect fitting saddle.  The horse changes conformation as it goes through its life depending on exercise, feed, age, and lots other factors.  Such a saddle should comfortably clear the horse’s withers, allow for free movement of their shoulders, be the proper length and shape for its back, and be well balanced to provide good weight distribution. That's proper saddle fit.  

Also saddles are sort of like new shoes, you've got to break them in, for you and your horse.  In any good saddle you'll see where the saddle is worn, on both sides, from the rider and the shape of the horses back.

the thing to really look for is stiffness during or after riding.  You can see the stiffness if the saddle is rubbing the horse wrong or is just not comfortable.  Also talking to a saddler is a good idea but just remember, the no perfect saddle theory.  A cowboy back in the days couldn't afford a specially designed saddle for every horse he owned and rode.  What you need is a well built saddle built for your horse's physical type of work, that's what a proper saddle is