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My Dressage Saddle Fit *PICS*

4K views 14 replies 8 participants last post by  my2geldings 
#1 ·
My horses back has been sore lately. I had my chiro out about a month and a half ago. I have him out pretty regularly. She was still sore. So My next thing to decide is my saddle fit. To me it seems to fit ok, although after reading some things I think I have been putting it too far forward. She seems mostly sore towards the beginning of her back so I was thinking this may have something to do with it. I recently, like in the last few months, have been using a riser pad.

This is what I notice: after putting the saddle on with no pad and sliding it back and forth until it stops to me it seems too far back but that is probably because I have been putting it too far forward. I can fit 2 1/2 fingers vertically from the withers to the bottom of the pommel. It seems to me that there are no gaps anywhere. I can see light from the back of the tree. I do notice though that she has some sweat spots that on the sides of her withers..well right below them.


her weight is shifted so it looks a little crooked

this is looking at the left side



this is her rub marks..but they are more of just where she sweat the most and the hair just didn't come back the same. Now that she is shedding out she doesn't really sweat much at all.
 
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#3 ·
It seems like the saddle is pinching the withers. Since the marks are on the withers and I can see when the saddle doesn't lay properly down the horses shoulders, it gaps off after the it curves into the withers. I would try using a sheepskin pad with shims on the front or a wither relief pad and see if that helps at all. Or just some kind of padding for the withers in general.
 
#5 ·
I think it looks off center because she wasn't standing on one of her back legs.

I was also wondering about the pinching of the withers since that is the spot that seems to wear on her the most, and that spot seems kind of sensitive to her. She twitches that part the most. I just am not sure what to do about that or if some extra padding would help that.

I think you mean that the seat and cantel are too low, and I ride with a lollipop pad to raise up the back so my seat is higher. I am not sure if this has been affecting the way the saddle is fitting on her withers or not.

How do I fix the pinching of the withers? Is there a way I can have my saddle fixed somehow? Is that expensive? Would a pad of some sort help just as much..
sorry I ask so many questions I just really want to take care of this!
 
#6 ·
IMO you need a new saddle. i used to have one almost identical to that and it was causing my horse at the time major pain and discomfort until i learnt that the saddle was the main problem. they sit poorly on the back and put pressure on everywhere they shouldnt.

your best bet would be to get yourself a better saddle :)
 
#7 ·
I am getting a new saddle in 2 or 3 months, but until then I need to do something to make it better. And...just because you had one like it doesn't mean mine is the same. But yes...I am getting a new one they just require money.

I am thinking about these 2 pads:



I have to get something with a raised back...but these seem like they will give a little bit of relief in the mean time while I still have to use this saddle. What do you think?
 
#8 ·
What happens to the gap between the pommel and the withers when your weight is in the saddle? You should still be able to fit 2 fingers stacked on one another in between the pommel and the withers. I have been riding a tb who is quite narrow and high withered and I had to go to a much narrower gullet in my Wintec in order to get enough space between the pommel and withers. It does look by the pics that there is alot of pressure just below the withers judging by the rub marks. I would do like you said and try a wither relief pad to see if that helps, but just for kicks test the gap at the withers with your weight in the saddle to see if it might be a tad too wide. 8)
 
#9 ·
alright I will do that. I am giving her a little break from riding until I can get someone out to hopefully help fix her and I just ordered a pad today. I don't want to fix her and the just ruin it with my saddle fit. That sounds like a really good thing to try since I am starting to look for saddles and I don't really know how to determine what size of tree I will need. I believe what I have is just a regular tree.
BTW...I ordered the first one.
 
#11 ·
BriLeigh said:
I am getting a new saddle in 2 or 3 months, but until then I need to do something to make it better. And...just because you had one like it doesn't mean mine is the same. But yes...I am getting a new one they just require money.

I am thinking about these 2 pads:



I have to get something with a raised back...but these seem like they will give a little bit of relief in the mean time while I still have to use this saddle. What do you think?
well considering its essentially the same saddle i can say that. its exhibits the same characteristics as mine did. ALL saddles designed like that are the same. it was quite a common saddle in its day as it was very cheap. since then advancements have been made with regards to saddle design. but by all means, yours might be especially different from the other 250,000 saddles the same as this ;)

also, it was my disqualification from a dressage day because of this saddle that bought my attention to the issues with them. it was about 11 years ago and on tack check before my event i was informed that my saddle was by no means suitable for my horse. on querying this she explained that the pommel is very low and puts undue pressure on the withers. the tree is very narrow and applies pressure to sensitive areas on the back. its a hard, non conforming saddle. since using a newer, better saddle i have really understood what she was talking about because it makes such a huge difference

but yes, a raiser or even a gel pad would help you a bunch until you can get your new saddle

p.s. i keep thinking about this and keep having to come back and edit lol anyhoo, another thing i noticed that maybe exacerbating the problem is that at the moment, she/he seems to be lacking much topline muscle. this makes this kind of saddle an even poorer fit therefore extra rubbing and pressure on the wither area
 
#12 ·
Just my two cents worth...........I don't know what brand of dressage saddle you are looking to buy, but I sure love my Wintec. It is so versatile with the easy change gullet system and you can pick up used ones for a good price. I have never had a problem with fit and I ride lots of different horses with it. Some people don't like them, but like I said it's my two cents worth. :D
 
#13 ·
Let's see if I can remember everything lol. She is definitely lacking some topline but it is being worked on and it makes sense that that would affect the saddle. I have to have a riser in the back otherwise my seat is too low and then that just screws up everything lol. My trainer told me to use it so I have just listened and it works.

The saddle I am looking at getting is the Wintec Isabell, so I think we are on the same page with that. =] My old trainer has one and I rode in it a few times and LOVED it!

I just need to make it through a couple more months with this. And I would agree with all of you that it isn't the best fitting. I got it 3 years ago mostly because it was cheap, and I really haven't ever had any problems with it until last year. But I can't wait for a new one! [well...new/used lol]
 
#14 ·
Well, good for you :D I have an Isabell as well, and like I said I love it too! I bet with the pad you are getting that will give your horse the relief needed to get through the next couple months. You'll both probably breathe a real sigh of relief when you get your Wintec! Good luck!
 
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