Saddle fit question

[tbchick84]

I am trying out a new to me dressage saddle. It’s a much older model and the channel is very narrow compared to my other saddles. My horse seems to like it and I love it, but I’m am concerned about the narrow channel. If I so much as shift my weight, it almost touches his withers on the lighter side. Also, the saddle pad scooches right out from under the saddle in a short amount of time. I’m wondering if this is a good thing or bad. I initially thought that was an indicator or more back movement (a good thing) but maybe it’s more an issue of the saddle touching more area closer to his spine (a bad thing)

I have a call into a saddle fitter, but don’t want to waste time or money if this narrow channel thing makes it a no go already.

[Scribbler]

I think you have multiple problems.

Many saddle fitters don’t like a narrower old fashioned channel between the panels. However I have used such saddles now and in the past without damage to the horse.

The wither gullet however should not be almost touching the withers. Is it almost touching from the top? Then it’s too wide or too low.

Is it almost touching on one side as saddle moves? But not on the other? Then there is asymmetry either in the size of the horses shoulders or the flocking of the saddle.

My pads always slide back on my mare if I don’t use the girth billet straps, any pad any English saddle.

Get a saddle fitter in who will do tracings that you can use to shop. It will let you dismiss many saddles without even having to take them on trial.

[Guilherme]

A saddle pad that doesn’t stay put is usually a sign of a problem, but just what problem means there has to be a visual on the setup.

A quick look at saddle fitting sites showed only one where it wasn’t exclusively Western and this was it:

https://tuckersaddlery.com/products/measuring-your-horse/

You can use the flexible material to measure the horse, then trace the measurement on a piece of paper (a grocery bag will often do nicely) and then fit the same material to the proper area of saddle that matches the area of the horse you just did and then trace that. Now compare the traces. This will not give you a perfect fit but it will tell you if you are on the large side or small side and some idea of how far off you are, if at all.

Good luck with you project.

G.

[buzul]

i would stay away from it if channel space is less than 3 fingers throughout ,the spine and the spinal processes need space and not pressure.especially around the sensitive wither area ,enough clearance is crucial .you want 3 fingers to the top and at least 2 at sides.