I ride approx 15-20 ponies a week; it is not possible to have a saddle that fits them all. The most common fitment issue I run into are big shoulders w/ a hollow back therefore causing a bridge between the withers and the cantle. I have an ogilvy pad, but this doesn’t at all fix the issue. Is there a pad out there that does this? Thanks
The only pads I have seen that have a specific shim for the area you are describing, are the total saddle fit pads and the saddle fit 4 life pad from thinline.
The ThinLine Trifecta will take a bridge shim. Pad is about $135 and shims another $25.
If there’s a big gap, the Cashel Swayback pad works well.
Make your own shims. I used some memory foam, but any shim material will do. Lay it against the area you want to fill in, mark, and cut. Then stick them into a shimable pad. I use a Mattes.
This horse has a hollow behind his shoulder blade. But he also has a flat wide back. and broad shoulders. So all I want to do is fill in behind his shoulders. Most shims and pads put more bulk over the shoulder blade, where I do not want more bulk. https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/11127856_10205538290171048_2868329663011223837_o.jpg
For your situations, I recommend the Prolite Tri Pad to clients. http://www.thesaddlefits.com/Prolite-Tri.html It would be able to fill in the bridge. It is also very easily adjusted so you can have one pad for multiple horse and very easily change out the shims for that particular horse. It takes me less an a minute to change the shims. Plus they are very reasonably priced and it comes with the shims.
The reason why I would use the Prolite vs other pads is the foam that is in the pads. It has been proven to retain it’s shape and reduce the forces. In 2007 Prolite underwent pressure mapping testing using the Society of Master Saddler’s Pliance system.
The results were very impressive and on all the different saddles tested, Prolite® reduced the peak pressure (psi) by at least 25% on a well fitting saddle and over 30% on a badly fitting saddle.
I can not say enough good things about these pads. If you want more information about Prolite or saddle pads in general just email me at thesaddlefits@gmail.com
I LOVE my prolite pad. I second the recommendation.
I have seen a gel “bridging pad” in Dovers catalog (but have never used it)
A scoop pad can correct bridging. I know a few people in my barn that have this pad. http://www.amazon.com/Intrepid-International-Scoop-Center-Half/dp/B003PBMOUK
[QUOTE=VTMorgan06;8129328]
A scoop pad can correct bridging. I know a few people in my barn that have this pad. http://www.amazon.com/Intrepid-International-Scoop-Center-Half/dp/B003PBMOUK[/QUOTe]
Actually, that particular pad is for saddles that rock, or are too curvy front to back. It should absolutely never be used on a saddle that bridges!
You need a pad that is thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges. Unfortunately, a saddle that rocks is significantly better than one that bridges in terms of horse comfort and ability to use corrective pads.
Op: any chance you could have two saddles, one that’s curvy and one that’s straighter? Also, are you sure you’re not putting the saddle too far forward?
