Saddlefitters, I’m looking for suggestions for saddles. My horse has a downhill back and every saddle runs into her shoulder blades. She was just checked yesterday and her back is extremely sore (vet could almost put her on the ground) and more diagnostics are needed however x-rays did not show any kissing spine. The horse prefers something that sits over the edge of the shoulders that the shoulders can move underneath of rather than something that sits behind it because it always runs into his shoulder blades. Not sure what the new diagnostics are going to show. I have been trying some of the short paneled saddles and I’m almost wondering if those saddles have made things worse. The horse is a saddle fitting nightmare, but does not have a history of a sore back until lately. The horse had been ridden in a Western saddle and went well in that. The problems seemed to start in the search for a dressage saddle.
No more riding or saddle fitting until the back is healed.
You might want to buy a cruper, so the saddle, when properly fitted, won’t move.
You will need a good saddle fitter to assist you.
Pay the extra money it costs and save on vet bills.
If the saddle is correct, the horse will prefer it not to sit over the shoulder blade. The wrong tree shape will have a tendency to slide forward even on a level build, so you have to consider the whole picture. That said, an upswept panel will be best, such as Harry Dabbs, though I’ve also had good results on a number of occasions with Black Country, too.
How old/breed/ where she is in her training all matter here. Look at how her western saddle fits. If that doesn’t make her sore then that’s what we’re trying to emulate, though that’ll be difficult in a completely different type of saddle.
Western saddles seem to be particularly suited to this downhill build. Lots of stock horses are bred this way so they can get down and work cows. Lots of those horses are also longer backed and you see western riders sitting what I would consider alarmingly far back and the horses don’t mind. I bring this up because panels that are too upswept can concentrate the riders weight in a smaller area. Good for some shorter backed horses, maybe not as good for a horse with a longer back who might prefer the weight spread out over a bigger area.
What I’m trying to say is that if you have something that works, build on that.
For the sliding forward, I had a pear mare with a forward girth groove and saddles would end up on her shoulder. For her an anatomical girth and point billet system helped. Can’t say your mare is the same without seeing pics.
I also got a saddle with a flatter tree because I think the slight rocking movement of my old saddle when she brought her back up to really work pushed it forward.
That mare (16.2hh Irish Draught) did not care for the longer panel of the saddle I bought and I probably would have traded it in for something with a more upswept panel if I hadn’t sold her. I now have a 15hh paint/arab (maybe, no one knows, real shady history on her) in the same saddle and it suits her. But again, she probably has a longer back for her height because of her shock horse genes.
You don’t say, but I assume you’re bringing this horse along and dressage will be a new endeavor? I’d just ride her in a western saddle until her back develops a bit. Might make her easier to fit and at least won’t make her miserable. This is a put the horse first situation.
Once her back is healed, why not continue to ride in a Western saddle? If it works best for her, and you are ok to ride in it, then why not? There are a couple dressage horses I know that had to go this route. They don’t show, but could always go the WD route I guess if the show bug bit them.
I just may. I stopped showing years ago and keep thinking I still need to. But then I think about the training, getting up early, braiding, immediately cleaning breeches and saddle pads after the show, getting up at zero dark thirty and hooking up the trailer, blah blah blah not to mention the $$$ I think…nah. That said, I still like riding and training in a dressage saddle.
WB4 by Hulsebos is good for downhill horses. You can read more about them on their website. I already own one and am trialing another one for another horse this week. They also have other models that work for other conformation issues as well…
Thank you! I will definitely check this out
Upswept panels are a definite must. You’ll also want to make sure the tree isn’t too wide and that the flocking on the front of the saddle has been adjusted properly so the saddle doesn’t sit too low in front. That’s basic for a proper fit but will contribute to the saddle sitting too much on the shoulders on a downhill horse.
My horse is downhill with a banana shaped back. I’ve gotten Hulsebos and County Perfections to work on my horse. I just bought a Takt TSD 37 that works really well for her. But I still have to make sure the flocking doesn’t get too compressed in the front.
I will say there are different levels of downhill. My horse is about an inch higher at the croup than at the withers. She doesn’t move downhill but she’s part QH.
I ride a VERY downhill QH horse in my riding lessons.
So far the Pegasus Butterfly Claudia jumping saddle has worked well with his extremely small “flat place” on his back, at least the saddle does not move forward during my rides. I use a BOT/ThinLine Contender II saddle pad with bridging shims with this saddle. I have not had to use front shims to level the seat of the saddle and I feel comfortable.
The way this saddle is built means that I do not have to worry about high withers either (used it without extra padding in the front on an OTTB that needs wither pads with other jumping saddles.) Since the downhill horse I ride has decent withers this is a great help for his comfort.
My riding teacher is pleased with how this saddle works with this horse (and every other horse I’ve used it on.)
Where do you find the Takt TSD 37 saddles? The issue with my horse is that while she is downhill she can move uphill then the saddle sits uphill. If it fits her as a downhill horse she won’t come up. I did trial the DT Butterfly and I’m thinking that may be the answer with front shims. It was super comfy for me too.
For the saddle terminology illiterate: what is an upswept panel and how does one make sure the saddle they are trying has one? (besides just going with a saddle fitter. I wanted to bring our fitter in after I had a few trial saddles. Maybe I am doing it ass backwards…
You’d have to find a fitter for Takt. They’re a relatively new saddle company. My fitter does multiple brands so I only went with a Takt as that was the one that fit my horse and I the best out of a handful of possibilities from different brands.
The panels are where all the wool flocking is. The upswept part is on the very back of the panel that is beneath the cantle.
Here is a saddle with an upswept panel:
https://www.pelham-saddlery.com/dressagemw/roosli19427used.html
In addition to what @TequilaMockingbird said, if the panel isn’t upswept it’s gusseted. The gusset is an extra piece of leather sewn into the panel to give it more depth. In the case of the downhill horse, the additional depth is not desirable! http://www.trumbullmtn.com/2013/12/whats-gusset/
Not sure where you are, but Mike Corcoran is an excellent fitter.
I have spoken with Mike. I’m in Pennsylvania so a bit for for him 
I know he travels all over the place. If anything, maybe he can point you in the right direction.
