Dips behind the withers?

[JenLS]

I have a draft gelding that I’ve been using for trail riding. He’s mostly wonderful and I really enjoy our rides together, but we’re having some issues with the saddle and pad fitting properly.

This is my saddle, which I love:
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/fabtron-endurance-saddle.html

I’m riding with a reinsman tacky too pad.

He’s got tall withers and they have a big dip behind them and to the sides. When I saddle him everything appears to fit properly, but when I’m actually in the saddle the saddle slides back a bit and the pommel is pushing down on his withers. I can wedge a finger under, but I know that’s not indicative of good fit He’s getting a bit girthy, and I don’t recollect that from his old owner. I know all of these things need to be corrected, so I’m looking for advice.

I’ve been looking at some of the pads that fit over the withers like these:

http://www.enlightenedequitationshop.com/wither-pad-3-p.asp
http://www.stitchinghorsesaddlery.com/proddetail.asp?prod=4880

I’ve also looked at some of the correction saddle pads like Saddleright, the CorrecTOR, and Equipedic. I know they cost more, but I’d like to make sure he’s comfortable.

I’m picking up a friend’s saddle this week to see if it will fit him better, but I still think something will have to be done with those dips behind the withers to make it fit properly.

Any advice?

[UrbanHennery]

If you’re not opposed to using a western style pad, I totally recommend the SMX AirRide Ortho pads. They fill in those holes without creating a seam. I’ve used both the ortho and non-ortho versions successfully.

You should check saddle fit closely though. You’re likely to find that your saddle is too narrow in the front, hence it’s sliding backwards with weight in it. Over time a too narrow saddle can also make the hollows behind the withers worse as the constant pinch will make the muscles atrophy even further. I accidentally did this (along with white spots) to my last gelding before seeking help from a saddle fitter.

If you want, you could post pictures of the saddle on the horse (here’s an example from when I was fitting Trav recently) and I’m sure a few arm chair saddle fitters around here would love to help you out.

[egontoast]

If your pommel is that close to the withers, a pad is not likely going to help much.

It may be that the saddle is actually too wide rather than too narrow.

Either way, if the horse is uncomfortable and dropping the back, this could cause the lack of topline including the hollows behind the withers I would think.

I would look at saddle fit for starters.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I have had success with the CorrecTOR saddle pad. I ride several different horses with my saddles, and it really seems to help when the saddle is not a perfect fit. One mare had very little muscle overall when I started her, including a dip right behind the withers. This is filling up. The CorrecTOR pad helped a lot in preventing the saddles I used (4 so far) from irritating her back which is muscling up fine.
I like this pad so much that I gave the two stables where I ride one each so I did not have to cart mine around all the time. One lady uses her CorrecTOR when she is trying to work out saddle fit problems until a saddler can get out to give a good fit and on the mare I ride for lessons. The other lady uses hers all the time.

[stryder]

Another vote for the CorrecTOR pad.

[sign_of_Grace]

[QUOTE=egontoast;5078780]
If your pommel is that close to the withers, a pad is not likely going to help much.

It may be that the saddle is actually too wide rather than too narrow.[/QUOTE]

Just had my local saddle fitter come out for this year to fit my Dutch gelding with high withers and “dips”. Thought he was going to re-flock my dressage saddle (which I use for endurance these days), as it is doing the same as yours…sliding back and the pommel is just about on his withers.

He said precisely what egontoast said. It’s slightly too wide for him and suggested a Mattes correction pad (for a mere $250) and did not re-flock.

I can’t comment on the pad as this was just two days ago that he was out and I just ordered the pad yesterday.

[JetsBuddy]

You can get orthopedic SMX pads with pockets that help to protect the hollows around the withers. Impact gel pads are also excellent for this type of situation.