Saddle Fit Help

[barnchick277]

Hi, sorry in advance for the novel. I’m going to cross post this in the Endurance/Trail Riding forum too. I have been having a terrible time finding a saddle for my paint mare. The problem is compounded by her being heel sore which is causing her to be cinchy (according to my vet) so I can’t tell if she is trying to bite me when I tighten the cinch because the saddle hurts or her heels.

I have 2 Tex Tan saddles, 1 is a Regular-QH bar and the other is a Semi-QH bar. If I remember correctly, when I measured them a few months ago the Regular has an 8 inch gullet and the Semi has a 7. Last night I decided to try my friends Brenda Imus 4 beat saddle to see if the extra shoulder room and V style cinch rigging would help (didn’t think to measure the gullet). She seemed less inclined to want to bite me when I was doing up the cinch so I’m thinking I’m on the right track. I took a bunch of pictures of all 3 saddles on her last night but only took cinched up ones with the Brenda Imus as that’s what I was going to ride her in.

Here are some pictures without a saddle
Left Side
Left Side 2
Right Side
Left Front
Right Front

Tex Tan 1 (Regular-QH Bar)
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Right Side
Right Front
Right Rear

Tex Tan 2 (Semi-QH Bar)
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Right Side
Right Front
Right Rear

Brenda Imus
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Right Side
Right Front
Right Rear

Brenda Imus with 1/2 inch pad cinched
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Right Side
Right Front
Right Rear

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[craz4crtrs]

I don’t think the third one fits at all it’s too far forward and just perches up there.

I like the first one the best but it’s a little longer on her back. I would like to see that one with a good pad underneath girthed up. The saddles should not sit on her shoulders. The conchos tend to be the place to be behind the shoulder. Also conchos can be placed anywhere the maker wants. The screw is pretty universal where the bars are.

The second is still really close. It doesn’t look bad. Again with a pad girthed up pictures.

Gullet wise, you probably measured near the conchos and that is not true gullet measurement. Gullet width is behind the pommel. Closest true gullet would be underneath close to wear the conchos or where the screws are into the tree.

Your horse has good size shoulders but has a fair amount of curve to her back. A shimmed or maybe a sway back pad may help with saddle fit.

Go with the widest saddle. Both Textans look to be the same bar or very similar. Probably qh bars. Semi are really narrow.

[barnchick277]

I have been riding her in the first one with this pad shimmed in the middle pockets

http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/4

I can get pictures of both Tex Tans cinched up with that pad tomorrow

Thanks!

[craz4crtrs]

Also something to consider is your girth and what type of Latigos. I hate nylon Latigos and off billets. I think they are sharp on my hands and don’t breathe with the horse. My mare prefers mohair cinches. She does not like synthetic or nylon. Some horses don’t like fleece, cotton string cinches are harsh and can pinch.

[barnchick277]

I’m not sure it’s the type of cinch because she was fine with the same cinch for almost a year before all of this started.

I didn’t make it out on Sunday to ride but I did last night. Here are the pictures of the 2 Tex Tan saddles cinched up

Tex Tan 1
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Ride Side
Right Front
Right Rear

Tex Tan 2
Left Side
Left Front
Left Rear
Ride Side
Right Front
Right Rear

[beau159]

Looking at the pictures, your horse seems to have a long back that may be a touch of a sway back (not horribly so), only because there is a substantial drop from the withers to the center of the back and back up to the hindquarters.

You are going to need a tree that has enough ROCK in it to fit nicely. (Here’s some info on that: here)

The regular QH Tex Tan doesnt’ look too bad. When you run your hand along the tree, do you feel a “gap” when you get to the lowest part of her back? Or is there even pressure all along? How are the sweat marks?

The semi QH Tex Tan doesn’t have the right angle. It’s too narrow.

The Brenda Imus is the worst fit. WAY too narrow. I want to say this as gently and kindly as I can, but if this was the saddle you chose to ride your horse in out of these 3 choices, you really do need some help with saddle fit because this one doesn’t fit in the slightest. I would try to find a professional in your area who can help you with fitting your mare.

@barnchick277;8199627

I have been riding her in the first one with this pad shimmed in the middle pockets

http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/4

Not a fan of that pad.

It is a straight back. Your horse’s back is contoured, and thus the saddle pad should be contoured as well.

Plus … if you need that many shims … your saddle doesn’t fit right in the first place.

I would be finding a different pad.

@craz4crtrs;8199659

I hate nylon Latigos and off billets.

I’m the opposite. I hate leather latigos and off billets! They are sticky in the humid summer weather and don’t slide, and they “freeze” in the cold winters and don’t slide. I hate having to haul on my horse just to get the darned latigo snug enough. Nylon slides easy no matter the weather.

To each his own!

[barnchick277]

Thanks for the response

There is a gap at the lowest part of her back which is why I have the buildup type pad to fill it in. Would a contoured pad with the pockets like this be better? http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/3

I had tried the Brenda Imus once just because of the flare in the front to see if that would make a difference. I also wanted to see if the V style cinch rigging would help at all. I definitely agree that I need help with saddle fit I’m planning on taking her to a local place once I have a bit more money to spend on a different saddle if that’s what needs to happen

[SonnysMom]

There are pads specifically designed for swaybacked horses. I am much more familiar with English saddles. A quick search showed these pads:

http://www.cashelcompany.com/Products.aspx?ProductID=838

However from experience you best bet is get out a GOOD saddle fitter sooner rather than later. Do not try to mess around on your own.

The more you ride your horse with an ill fitting saddle the more they hollow their back and the worse things get. It takes them a long time to mentally get over having put up with ill fitting saddles for years. Ask me how I know.

This was what I was dealing with: https://www.facebook.com/?_rdr=p#!/photo.php?fbid=4748738242499&set=a.4748736682460.1073741825.1416383062&type=3&theater

It took me almost 18 months to find one that worked. I needed to build up a much better budget and find a saddler willing to make one. Stubben returned my deposit once the Master Saddlers saw pictures of his back and wither tracings. I eventually went fully custom from Patrick Saddlery.

Good luck on your search. Get a good professional to help you.

FYI- my horse hated the treeless saddle we tried. He started rearing after about 30 meters at the walk.

We have one western rider at our barn and she recently got this saddle.
http://specializedsaddles.com/trailmaster-endurance-saddle-trail-riding-saddle/
There are fitting cushions under the saddle that can be moved and I think they come in different thicknesses. It looked like a really nice saddle. The rider and horse are much happier with this saddle compared to the previous one. They have a used one.
http://specializedsaddles.com/15-standard-eurolight/

Here is a view under the saddle. I don’t think this picture does it justice.
http://specializedsaddles.com/exclusive-features/
Another view here. http://specializedsaddles.com/adjustable-endurance-saddle-endurancesaddles/

[beau159]

@barnchick277;8203438

There is a gap at the lowest part of her back which is why I have the buildup type pad to fill it in. Would a contoured pad with the pockets like this be better? http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/3

That would be better, because you do have the contour.

How are the shims on that? Are they a block? Or do they taper at the end? Ideally, you want shims that taper or else they create a ledge and an uncomfortable spot for your horse.

I agree with sonnysmom that a swayback pad will probably better suit your needs.

They can sometimes be hard to find, but Reinsman also makes one too.
http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/reinsman-contour-swayback-pad.html#.VYq-VUYepUY

[QUOTE=barnchick277;8203438]
I had tried the Brenda Imus once just because of the flare in the front to see if that would make a difference. I also wanted to see if the V style cinch rigging would help at all. [/QUOTE]

But the flare isn’t going to do you any good when the saddle is so narrow that it is sitting “perched” on top of the horse, and not even sitting where it should.

If there is something about the saddle that doesn’t fit right, it’s very difficult to judge the other aspects.

As far as your horse being cinchy, I have one like that too. And his saddle does fit well, and he gets regular chiro treatments, and I tried about 5 different cinches on him. I settled on a lambskin fleece which he seems to do the best with. You may have to do some trial and error with your cinch too, to see if one design suits your horse better (neoprene, felt, fleece (shearling … lamb … ), mohair, alpaca, etc).

[barnchick277]

The shims are basically 1/4inch thick squares of felt.

The problem I’ve had with finding a swayback pad is there is usually added padding in the shoulder area and she has broad shoulders so then it starts putting pressure there. I’ve found that she is the fussiest if there is ANY pressure on her shoulders

Maybe something like this to fill in her back?

http://www.cashelcompany.com/Products.aspx?DepartmentID=6&CategoryID=82&ProductID=10356

[GallopingGrape]

Get a treeless pad that you can properly shim yourself. Those boxy pre-shimmed pads are awful. Yes, agree with all to try to find someone who can help you with the fit. With her “sway” you will have a bit of a challenge. Or take her to your local tack shop. Any good tack shop will let you take a saddle on trial, or even do a free fitting for you at the store. We do.