My guy is asymmetrical due to some conformation stuff, including a club foot. Below is a picture for illustration.
What type of western pad and/or shimming should I use to do the most good? I currently have a 5Star 3/4" pad.
Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Shimming a saddle in an imbalanced fashion locks the imbalance in permanently, so I’m not a fan. Just because a horse has a club foot doesn’t mean he has to move unequally, for example.
In most cases I’ve seen, the horse is really leaning more than developed differently. That is to say, unless the nerves enervating the musculature are damaged (ie sweeny etc), I wouldn’t give up and shim unequally.
Shimming unequally for a short period of time should be fine as long as other steps are being taken to address the imbalance.
http://www.equinestudies.org/lessons_from_woody_2008/lessons_from_woody_2008_pdf1.pdf
We’re working on doing whatever is possible to build the right side up on him, but it’s VERY slow going and the two sides very likely will never be the same. By no means am I going to put a Band-Aid on any problems that can solved.
That said, he stand straight with no discernible leaning. He’s been worked on and checked over regularly and semi-regularly by vets, chiros, and massage therapists. I do my own body work every time I’m out there to help him out.
Having tack not able to fit properly is causing more harm than finding an interim solution that helps him feel comfortable using himself correctly.
If you’re handy then you can stitch shims made of foam play mat to your existing pad, which I’ve done before using that same pad.
Otherwise, pocket pads like this are your best bet: http://www.aboutthehorse.com/secure-web/html/videopadorderform.shtml
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