[BarrelBug99]

I recently got a new saddle and i am just now being able to use it on my horse. She is a thoroughbred mare and has fairly high withers. my other saddle was a little to wide for her. The new one has semi QH bars i believe and i figured that would work for her, but today i rode and she got pretty sweaty and i noticed that she has some not so sweaty spots on her withers/shoulders. in the pictures you can also kinda see that she has a splotchy sweat mark anyways. SO i dont know if its bad saddle fit or if its just her and the way she sweats. She is great undersaddle and she doesnt seem to have any pain. I do check her back with my fingers but she never really responds to it. If she does show a little pain i check it again in a few days and its gone. She was out for 8 months and we just started riding again so maybe her occasional back discomfort could be from exercising.:? What do you think?
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa216/sarahs_2011/Photo01231557.jpg
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa216/sarahs_2011/Photo01231557_1.jpg

 

[Tianimalz]

Do you have any pictures of the saddle on the horse?

 

[BarrelBug99]

not with just the saddle on to see how it fits. i can get some maybe tomorrow of wednesday though. I forgot to take some when i went to feed her.

 

[BarrelBug99]

Could it be that the saddle isnt pinching but itstead its not really even touching her there. I dont know if thats possible or not...

 

[Tianimalz]

To be honest I can't really give advice unless I have a picture of the saddle on the horse without a saddle pad :? Watching the thread to see if someone else can tell from those pics though, interested.

 

[BarrelBug99]

okay, i understand. i Will definately try to get pics tomorrow of it.

 

[Cowboys Momma]

The lack of sweat on the withers is a very good indication that the saddle is putting lots of pressure in the withers and pinching your horse. A poor fitting saddle can damage the sweat glands and the hair may turn white in the areas that have lost circulation due to the pressure from saddle and rider.

By the pictures I would say that your saddle is pinching at the withers.

 

[BarrelBug99]

the spots on her withers were big. Is it possible that the saddle can pinch such a large area?

 

[jumanji321]

Yes, especially if the saddle is way too narrow.

 

[Skyseternalangel]

Get pictures of the saddle on your horse without the girth or pad.

Then we can make sure you are getting the right advice.

 

[rob]

i train different size and shaped horses everyday and when they first come here i have to shuffle saddles and pads.i dont know what brand your saddle is,but you dont want a thicker pad cause that just pushes your saddle farther away,try a waffle pad and let me know the outcome.

 

[BarrelBug99]

we are having rain this week so i will get pics as soon as i can.

 

[BarrelBug99]

what does the waffle pad do? Does it cause less pressure because its thinner and allows more room?

 

[rob]

it allows the pressure to spread evenly,getting rid of the dry spots,unless it is a cheap made saddle.

 

[BarrelBug99]

ok. i will see if i can get one.

 

[rob]

try it and let me know,please.

 

[mudpie]

There's definately pressure points. The saddle doesn't fit her and is most likely causing discomfort.

 

[BarrelBug99]

I have ranch club tonight and im gonna see if my instructor knows anything about saddle fit and see if she can tell anything. I will also take pictures of the saddle on her. I brought both saddles so i will post pics of my old one and my new one on her. Both saddles have the same bar size so i dont know why one would pinch and the other wouldnt?!

 

[rob]

are they both the same type and same brand name?

 

[Skyseternalangel]

Both saddles have the same bar size so i dont know why one would pinch and the other wouldnt?!

Every single saddle is different. Even ones of the same brand, make, year. There is padding to take into account, shape, balance, weight.. so that's why it's imperative to check saddle fit though sometimes current saddles just need to be modified via adding more padding or taking it away or some can be reshaped slightly.

I'm not an expert but I try to read up on these things. Though I'm comfortable with English saddles, I'm not read up on Western ones.