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Frustrated!

2K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  my2geldings 
#1 ·
I am so frustrated right now! About a month ago I sent my saddle to the saddle fitter because my horse kept getting terrible saddle sores. (She has extremely high withers and is a little underweight) I tried various different types of pads and she still got sores. Last Thursday I got my saddle back and rode her without a fluffy pad or anything just the saddle pad and saddle. Well she got another saddle sore. Granted I was really stupid not to put extra padding on her but still I thought the saddle was supposed to fit properly!!! I didn't ride her for about two days (to let the sore heal) and rode her today with a pad that had a hole cut into it. After riding my instructor and I found that the pad had slipped back off her withers. (my instructor says I need a bigger pad) But what do I discover?? ANOTHER SADDLE SORE!!! It is not as bad it just looks like it is pink and was beginning to get rubbed but not terribly. I am so frustrated with this situation! I am trying to get her weight up, I've talked to various trainers and they all say I just need to keep fattening her up and finding a better pad. (they keep telling me to use a real sheepskin pad) The worst part is that my mare is so sweet and well behaved that she doesn't even react when I'm riding her. She shows no signs of pain or anything. She just does her job willingly. :cry: I feel like I'm punishing her every time I ride her because she keeps getting sores.

Sorry for the rant I just had to get it off my chest.
Any advice or suggestions?
 
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#2 ·
Go get a new saddle and ride bareback in the mean time? I don't really know what to do. I'd get a new saddle that fits.
 
#3 ·
Why did you send your saddle away and not get the fitter to come and fit it to your horse in the flesh? I have never seen a well-fitting saddle that was not fitted in person. Also, pads will not correct saddle fit issues.

If I were you I would get a reputable saddle fitter to come to you and your horse, with some other saddles for you to try if yours won't work,
 
#4 ·
What, specifically, was the fitter doing to the saddle that they were going to accomplish without being where they had access to the horse to check the fit, etc? It just seems very odd to send the saddle to the fitter who, from the sounds of it, has not seen the saddle and horse together to see what needs adjusting. My understanding of fitters was not that they adjusted the saddle to fit the horse but rather helped you to find a saddle that fit the horse.
 
#5 ·
I'm sorry I didn't make this clear the saddle fitter did come and see my horse and looked at the saddle on her.
 
#6 ·
I've seen the saddle fitters who come out, look at the horses back and then go away and fiddle, but I honestly think that is pretty useless.

The whole idea of a saddle fitter is that he changes the stuffing of the saddle to fit the horse perfectly, not only that, but also ensures that the saddle fits when ridden. The saddle fitter I used to use (before I got a Cair saddle) used to fit the saddle exactly to the horses back, then get me to ride, and then fiddle with it some more.

I'd look for a reputable saddle fitter that does the fitting on the spot, seeing you ride and then offers a free consult if the saddle does not fit.
 
#7 ·
I guess I could try to find another saddle fitter. It's just that we already spent 150 euros for the saddle to be "fixed". Another thing is that it is really hard to find another saddle fitter because I don't speak the language and the boarders at this barn all suggested the guy who came and took my saddle. Not trying to make excuses but its just very frustrating. Nothing is ever easy I guess.:wink:
 
#9 ·
You should have a fitter come and make a saddle specifically for your horse. I don't know what else to tell you.
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the replies. I guess if money weren't the big issue I would be all for getting a new saddle! lol I'll definitely talk to the saddle fitter again.

I would like to know though. My horse despite her weight has very high withers. Does anybody know what type of pad would be good for her? I have used a fleece one with a hole cut in it but I was just curious if there something better for her.

Thanks.
 
#11 ·
You need to get that fitter back out. Unless your horse is horrandeously underweight at which point you shouldn't even be riding your horse, there is no reason why your saddle shouldn't fit. Did they tell you what they did to it to correct it?
Some saddles can only be altered and changed so much, so I could see it possible that you might have spent the money to get it corrected more and it wasn't enough to fix the issue with your mare. Having said that, your fitter should have been able to tell you before it was "corrected" that there was a good chance it wouldn't be enough to correct the issue.

I would sell your saddle and get a new one.
 
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