Saddle fitting: Changing shape of panels on saddle

[PBaines]

I was wondering if it is possible (if money were not an object) to repanel a saddle that is too “A-framed” in the cantle area to be flatter.

Would replacing the foam with wool do the trick?

Could I replace the foam panels with new foam panels that are less steep?

Can a tree be simply too curved side to side to allow this?

This is an Equipe carbon fiber tree, which I have read is very accommodating to the shape of the horse. The panels fit well on one horse and I’d like to get another for my flatter (side to side) horse and would like to replace the foam in the next saddle with wool as horse prefers this. The panels in the current saddle fit my other horse perfectly all the way to the last 1/4 of the rear panel where they become too steep in the cantle so mainly the outside edges of the rear of the panel are the main weight bearing area. Horse is a large thoroughbred so still moderately A-Framed, but not as much as the other horse.

Thank you in advance for your answers and thoughts.

[PBaines]

bump I changed updated the information a bit to better explain the issue. Haven’t found much information on the internet about this.

[gumshoe]

Do you have any pictures? I’m having a hard time envisioning what you are describing.

[Halt_Near_X]

I know someone who bought a saddle made for a horse with a curvier back and had it flocked to fit her horse’s flat back. Not quite the same as what you are saying, but it was definitely using flocking to make a much bigger difference in panel shape than is typically done.

It worked ok for her and her horse, but she absolutely had to reflock every year because it would compress unevenly due to the need to flock some areas more substantially than others.

You’d probably be better off talking to a saddle fitter about the degree of change you need and how feasible it is, but keep in mind you’re also probably going to be introducing much higher maintenance costs-- yearly small flocking adjustments probably won’t be enough.

[PBaines]

[QUOTE=gumshoe;7793093]
Do you have any pictures? I’m having a hard time envisioning what you are describing.[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures on hand, but basically the front of the panels lie against the horse nicely, the middle of the panels also match the horse’s angles and if you look at the horse from the side, the panels sit nice and flat. However, if you look at how the back of the saddle sits on the horse, facing the back of the horse, from top to bottom, the panels are at too steep of an angle.

The tree is wide enough between the points and flat enough for the horse from front to back, it does NOT rock at all. But the problem is that the panels attached to the tree are too steep under the cantle so that only the outer edges of the panels rest against his back. The horse’s back under the cantle area is flatter than the shape of the panels in that one area.

In other words, the shape of the tree matches the horse nicely, but the rear 1/4 of the panels do not. They would sit well on a horse with a “roof top” / \ back, where this horse is less steep.

[Lori]

I would suggest getting a saddle fitter out. I just had someone out today to look at my current saddle on my new pony. My saddle does not rock, but is too wide a tree. If I wanted to continue using it, it will be maintenance with the wool flocking (suggested to be checked every 6 months). Even then, it will still slide due to his build and the saddle itself. I decided to order him a new saddle. I always buy wool flocked saddles, so I cannot really help with the foam panel questions. A fitter will be your best bet.

[meupatdoes]

You will be able to make small adjustments, but ultimately the tree of the saddle does not fit your horse.

[vxf111]

If cost is truly no option, you could have a bespoke saddle made for you that copies what you like about the current saddle and shapes the tree for your horse.

[GoForAGallop]

As meup says, at the heart of the issue is that the saddle is never going to really fit your horse.

Also be aware that by changing out the panels so dramatically, you may find that the saddle now rides differently, and you don’t like it as much. That’s a lot of time/money to waste to end up with a saddle that you don’t particularly like, and that will be a hard resale.

If you’re buying the newish Equipe, and paying in the $800-range (I think that’s about what most of the French places charge to drop panels), that’s quite a big budget for a custom saddle that actually fits you and the horse.

[SnicklefritzG]

Sometimes making big changes in the panel design can change the balance of the saddle for you. I’ve found that I can make small changes in the padding to get various saddles to fit my horse but this sometimes also causes me to be pitched slightly forward or back.

The only circumstances under which I would make adjustments to the panel is as a temporary measure while I looked for a properly fitting saddle or while I had one on order.

[PBaines]

So I spoke to my saddle fitter yesterday who assures that the tree of the saddle does fit the other horse and that if the panels are changed over to wool the panels will as well. Again, the current saddle fits my mare perfectly and will NOT be changed. I was just wondering if at a later date I could change the panels and potentially put the saddle on the other horse. He assures me I can. He said it should not affect the balance although I do understand the concerns of posters here and maybe it would change it just enough to annoy me? Either way I’m probably not going to change it but am relieved to have the option incase current horse changes shape or I decide I’d rather use it for other horse. I promise that after all I’ve been through with saddles and fitting that I would never put an ill-fitting saddle on either of mine for my “convenience.”