I recently moved to a Parelli barn (:eek: I know, but it was an emergency and my horse is now actually getting the best care of his life. Seriously incredible BO). Now, most people use traditional tack but I did notice some crazy wide saddles. At first I didn’t think much of it, because most of the horses are naturally stocky and carrying some extra tub. However, it was explained to me that they are P saddles made extra wide in front to allow “freedom of shoulder movement” and that you just use special shims to fill in the space. But if I’m shimming it to fit, how is there extra shoulder room? Anyone have any ideas? Seen them in action? I didn’t engage much at the barn bc I loooooove my barn and I really don’t want to ‘start’ anything with the NH’s there (most importantly the BO). This just seems illogical.
From what I remember, they come in two widths - regular and superwide. The regular size looks like a wide or even an x-wide. I saw a girl with a sharkfinned, narrow horse try to use one - with the Parelli saddle pad, she had a ton of shimming to try to get it to fit. It still didn’t look right.
They honestly believe and advertise between the two saddles and their pad, they can fit any horse.
I haven’t seen these in person and am not a saddle fitter, so take it with a grain of salt…
My dressage saddle is actually meant to be wide enough for shoulder blades to move beneath the saddle instead of having to sit it behind the shoulder blades. In theory that would work well for my TB who has a VERY short back, but in practice his body wanted the saddle sitting behind the shoulders and kept pushing it there, so my saddle fitter adjusted it to be in that location. I have seen the same brand of saddle work well for other horses who were super free in the shoulders with the saddle letting shoulder blades move freely beneath the saddle and for whom the fit was great. So it’s possible this is the case with the Parelli saddles, too. I’m doubtful, but it’s possible…
There is a thread on it in the dressage forum
[QUOTE=dotneko;7816017]
There is a thread on it in the dressage forum[/QUOTE]
But those are Dressage saddles, Is P making Western saddles too?
Does the phrase “a fool and his money…” ring any bells?
[QUOTE=merrygoround;7816065]
But those are Dressage saddles, Is P making Western saddles too?[/QUOTE]
Yes. Has been for some time.
They like to shim feet too.
Shim
Sham
Bim
Bam
Flim
Flam
Scam I am.
This reminds me: did 7 get banned?
Thanks dotneko. I did not think to use the search feature before posting! :winkgrin: All the horses in the barn are barefoot (and done by some “natural” guy, so no shims there. The saddles though? We’re talking shims 2" thick on each side. Whhhhhy?
Well, they eliminate the need to actually fit the saddle to the horse and get to sell a pad. Marketing, marketing, marketing.
I suspect some of it comes from the western world where they do not have upteen tree sizes or see any need for tracings - just ‘pad it up’
[QUOTE=katarine;7816323]
They like to shim feet too.
Shim
Sham
Bim
Bam
Flim
Flam
Scam I am.[/QUOTE]
Excellent!!! 
G.
[QUOTE=CaitlinandTheBay;7815438]
I recently moved to a Parelli barn (:eek: I know, but it was an emergency and my horse is now actually getting the best care of his life. Seriously incredible BO). Now, most people use traditional tack but I did notice some crazy wide saddles. At first I didn’t think much of it, because most of the horses are naturally stocky and carrying some extra tub. However, it was explained to me that they are P saddles made extra wide in front to allow “freedom of shoulder movement” and that you just use special shims to fill in the space. But if I’m shimming it to fit, how is there extra shoulder room? Anyone have any ideas? Seen them in action? I didn’t engage much at the barn bc I loooooove my barn and I really don’t want to ‘start’ anything with the NH’s there (most importantly the BO). This just seems illogical.[/QUOTE]
Yes to the shims. My former barn had Parellists, and the one that bought everything he ever peddled bought herself his VERY wide (and expensive) saddle and then spent months fine-tuning the fit with the shims. IIRC she never did get the “custom” fit she was promised.
PSA
DO not drink the koolaid
[QUOTE=katarine;7816323]
They like to shim feet too.
Shim
Sham
Bim
Bam
Flim
Flam
Scam I am.[/QUOTE]
Now I want to dance.
Well I hate to admit but I do agree that there are a ton of people using ill fitting saddles…and horses do brace and develop bad habits and you maybe even could say posture due to bad saddle fit so I gosh I hate to admit this but I do agree with what is on their saddle fitting page
BUT just as most of their schtick they take something with a bit of truth and go hog wild as to their solution. I don’t see how making a saddle extra wide is going to correct any of this ? Just brings more of the same-bad saddle fitting. So I don’t get it at all except for the money trail…LOL
Just looked at the shim fit guide. So what happens when the shims shift or move or one compresses before the other or or or ???
Seems like a bad idea from the get go to me…
[QUOTE=katarine;7816323]
They like to shim feet too.
Shim
Sham
Bim
Bam
Flim
Flam
Scam I am.[/QUOTE]
If Dr Seuss was a COTHer… hahaha :winkgrin:
I can’t imagine THAT much shimming could be good for a horse… That Parelli I tell ya…their products make me cringe. Just can’t wrap my brain around it.
well, most Parellites don’t ride, so it does not matter as much. 
