What works for you to have a good saddle fit for a downhill horse? Custom saddle, shims, pads, ? My saddle fits very well, side-to-side, good twist, and no bridging but it is downhill so it doesn’t really fit well. Pads make it bridge, shims are not the right size, and a custom is not an option. I need an all-day solution not just an hour or so in a ring. I could use some advice.
In my experience, it doesn’t matter whether the horse is uphill or downhill if the saddle fits. I’ve ridden a lot of downhill mutton withered qh’s without issues with the saddle sliding forward- but the front end appropriately fit the contour of their wither area. So, if your saddle is fitting downhill, I would speculate that maybe it’s a bit too wide in the front for the horse. I would think something in a contour or shim up front would help, but not knowing what shims are not the right size that you’ve tried, no ideas pop into my head.
To maybe describe it another way, I have seen a ‘downhill’ English saddle fit on an ‘uphill’ horse when the saddle was too wide up front.
Also check where you are putting it on the horse, many put their saddles too far forward, the front edge of the saddle needs to be behind the shoulder.
Check the rock front to back on the saddle. My mare is a little down hill but mostly she has huge shoulders and a very straight back. That caused pressure on her shoulders, especially if there is too much rock or curve to the saddle. Widening the gullet didn’t work, it would just press down into her shoulders and the saddle pop up in the back. No way to fix this with any padding or shims.
I found a saddle with a slight rise in the front for me, wide flared shoulders and straighter bars.
Keep looking.
Look for upswept panels. Gusseted panels (made with an extra piece of leather sewn in to make the panels longer/flatter for more weight-bearing surface) often bridge, poke the loins, or move forward onto the shoulders of the downhill horse.
Prestige is one of my personal favorite brands and I really like the Roma Jump for excellent quality at an affordable price. $2100 new, and very comfortable for longer rides.
You are asking about western saddles aren’t you? My hard to fit mare was pretty easy to fit to a dressage saddle, but harder western because of her bigger shoulders.
