My old saddle does not fit my new horse. Its not too low on her withers, but it does rock. I know I need to replace it but until I sell it can I make it work with the right saddle pad? Using a 3/4" felt now. Keep going thicker? or is there something else out there that could help? Thanks!
You can get your saddle looked at and shimmed by a certified saddle fitter, easy to insert and remove. There are also shimmable pads out there too (they sure can be pricey though!).
There are saddle pads than can be shimmed to improve saddle fit. Like the Diamond Wool Pressure Relief Pad:
http://www.diamondwoolpads.com/products/details/4
Whether or not something like that is a viable solution depends on just how bad the saddle fit is, why it isn’t fitting, and how long and hard you work your horse.
Buy at least the video here (cheap):
http://www.aboutthehorse.com/secure-web/html/videopadorderform.shtml
I’ve had a similar problem with my new horse and my old saddle… he has pretty low withers and my saddle would slip. I didn’t want to compromise his comfort, and I love the saddle too much to give it up. I’ve been riding in a 1" Wool Pad made by Best Ever Pads, and so far it is the best pad I’ve ever used, and my horse LOVES it. They will also help fit if you need it, I highly recommend that you give them a try! www.besteverpads.com
It depends on how poorly it fits now. I am very happy with our Diamond Wool pad, and if it doesn’t help this saddle fit better, you’ll still have a nice pad.
Thanks for the input! I bought a Thin line felt pad (it said it would stop pitch and yaw). Sounded like it could do the trick. Now that I have it, I thought a nice Navajo would look nice instead of the dressage pad I’m using. Question: do you put the felt pad against the horse? or do I put the Navajo against her, with felt pad on top? Should I get wool, cotton or synthetic? If I put it against her hair, worried about the itch factor.
I am confused, you first said you were using a 3/4 inch felt and just above you reference using a dressage pad. I can’t think of a dressage pad I’d want to use under a western saddle, so I wonder if that is part of the problem. When I had low withered horses, thinner padding often tended to be preferable to thicker, but it’s hard for me to visualize a specific problem without a picture.
To answer your question, either the felt or a good quality Navajo (meaning wool) would be fine against the horse’s back. I have a Saddle Rite pad and when I use it, I use a felt liner or a single layer Navajo underneath it. Though mostly I use the Diamond Wool 1" ranch pads.
Its an endurance saddle but looks western. Has the round skirt, lighter weight. I was told I could just use a dressage pad with it, but there is too much wiggle. So that is why I’m trying to figure out a better solution.
You generally want to use something thicker than just a quilted cotton saddle pad like you would use with an English saddle because a Western saddle has no padding–that comes from the saddle pad; whereas an English saddle has padding in the panels.
Some people will use a liner between horse and pad to keep pad from getting dirty. I just use my wool felt pad by itself.
[QUOTE=Lilykoi;7819950]
Thanks for the input! I bought a Thin line felt pad (it said it would stop pitch and yaw). Sounded like it could do the trick. [/QUOTE]
Did you get shims for it? Because I have a Thin line felt pad for a western saddle and without shims, it won’t help a saddle that rocks - you do mean rocks forward and backward, right? Like a rocking horse sitting on the floor? (Even with shims it might not help a saddle that rocks, depending on how much it rocks.)
Navajo goes on top of felt.
