I’m going to call out a saddle fitter, but in the meantime, does anyone want to take a stab at assessing the fit (or lack thereof) of my saddle?
I went to the consignment tack store to peruse the selection, and the owner recommended I try a corrective pad. Not sure it helped… Actually, pretty positive that it didn’t.
If you click “view album,” you’ll be able to read my captions for the photos.
What does it look like if you cinch it? That’s the real key. Just looking at it and knowing that you can’t get your hand in there? It’s too tight and probably the wrong tree.
Are you getting dry spots in behind the withers? Big or small?
First, the saddle is too far forward. Second, she has a pretty big shoulder though it doesn’t come back too far. I think she is wider than you think she is. The saddle is too high in the front. I suspect if you cinched it down, the back may pop up. I think you need a little saddle with a higher gullet for her withers, fairly straight through the back and flair for her shoulders.
What do you want to do with this horse? Have you tried any barrel saddles on her? Unless you are roping, try some barrel saddles on her or whatever kind of meets the above comments. A roping saddle or some ranch saddles may be too low in the pommel once you get it to fit in the shoulders with her withers. A cutter would work, too. Once you decide what doesn’t work, then you can figure out what does. If that makes sense.
I agree with the above about the saddle being too far forward and sitting too high. In the picture where you’re taking it from in front of his withers, it doesn’t look symmetrical. Perhaps it is the angle, but I it could be the fit through the shoulders as well (or maybe it looks that way because it is too far forward?).
When you said you were going to “call out a saddle fitter” I thought you were going to name names of someone who did bad work! :lol:
The saddle fitter brought over some saddles to try and the one that fit best was the brand spankin’ new Martin (Roper Lite), natch. It fit her shoulder great—yep, I was way underestimating how broad she actually was—but had a bit too much rock.
So now on the hunt for a saddle that fits her broad shoulders, moderate withers, and flat back.
Anyone familiar with the Meleta Brown saddles?
I was going to suggest a Martin because I JUST found that Martin’s older barrel saddles fit my gelding great, and he is built similarly. Broad shoulder blade, flatter back. My saddle had too much rock. I needed something with a flare in the shoulder and very little rock.
Maybe an older Martin would work for you as well?
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