Western saddle fit check

[Draftmare]

Well…I went to the tack store to pick up a muzzle…and walked out with a saddle on trial. :lol:

Its a Billy Cook built on their barrel racing tree, and I think it may be a really good fit for my horse? Looking for something to trail ride in and do western dressage in. Its a little snug on me, but for the super low price I think I may just work a bit harder on losing the weight I need to lose anyway. :yes: I also kind of wish the skirt came down a little further on her sides, but oh well. The saddle is light enough that I didn’t struggle to get it up on my 16.1 hand horse which is nice!

Left
Left side
Right
Right side

In the fully tacked up pictures I had it a bit too far forward I think. The BO came and helped me adjust it thought it looked like a good fit for my horse.

Right
Right side
Left
Left side

I really like how this saddle sits me and also gives me the “being held” feeling that makes me love western saddles. Sydney was really moving out at the walk, had a nice collected trot, and we did the most amount of canter that we have done in a while as well. I think she may like western dressage! She hasn’t moved like how she was moving last night in I don’t know how long.

[Bluey]

If you feel it is working fine, then it fits.

One little trick to saddling with any saddle, I didn’t see if you did that, but maybe not, is to pull the saddle blanket up in front before you cinch the saddle down, so the saddle doesn’t pull the blanket tight over the withers.

You do that with any saddle, English or western one.

Not directed to you, just a general PSA, we learned and taught to always do a “pre-flight check”, before getting on, to check around, both sides.

Check again the bridle so it is even, that the bosal or bit hang even and browband has not dropped too close to an eye or is up pushing on an ear.

Check the blanket so it was pulled up into the gullet and all around so there are no folds that may cause irritation.
Check the saddle so all straps are where they are supposed to be, not one twisted or caught on something, that the breast collar and cinch or cinches are as tight as they need to be.

We taught all 4H kids to do that and they then, once they had developed an eye for that, we noticed were teaching other 4H kids and at times their parents how to check and what to look for and told them to fix it if it was off.

Some instructors at times miss teaching that, especially with adults.
I have seen the occasional big win show picture where someone didn’t check and they have a twisted or dragging latigo, or crooked bridle, or a fold on the back of their show pad under the saddle.

Once you get an eye for details, any that is different or off just jumps at you and catches your attention.

OP, since you are already working with a trainer to keep an eye on things, that is invaluable no matter how much we know, that second pair of eyes on things never hurts, you both can tell how the saddle is fitting better than we can here, especially as you see and feel how the horse moves under it.

[PeanutButterPony]

I think it looks great. And I want you to go buy a new saddle pad

the pad you have is the same thickness all over, and is just a rectangle of a pad, it has no ergonomic shape to it. This makes Bluey’s suggestion harder to do, b/c the pad isn’t working with you. Also, there is a thick layer of pad under your leg, then a ‘ledge’, then your horse’s barrel. If you want to feel your horse better, a pad that allows that is a really good thing.

http://www.sstack.com/Western_Saddle-Pads_WorkProtective/Classic-Equine-Felt-Contour-Pedic-Pad/?utm_source=bizrate_com&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=WEB01010PS8&scpid=6&scid=scsho6848258

in that pad, it’s thinner under your leg, and shaped to accommodate the withers. win win win.

[PeanutButterPony]

or this one if you want color- “wither relief” is a key phrase, and you can see in the stitching on this one where the ‘padding’ ends horizontally, then it’s just the wool layer under your leg …
http://www.sstack.com/western_saddle-pads_show-pads/professionals-choice-smx-vista-pad/

[Draftmare]

I do plan to get a better saddle pad, the one that I have is kind of starting to fall apart anyway. It works for trying saddles too. I am going to have to get a girth, headstall, and reins too. :eek: I wanted to find a saddle first and make sure that I was feeling pretty serious about this adventure before investing though.

[Pocket_Pony]

Ugh. Saddle pads. I’ve found even the wither relief felt pads (with the cutout at the withers) press down on Mac’s withers. No matter how I try to pull it up into the gullet, it just smooshes down where it is sewn together in the front. I saw a different pad the other day at the tack store that was interesting, but it was too thick. I think it was like more like this (cutback and contoured but not built up): http://www.statelinetack.com/item/mustang-navajo-cutback-built-up-saddle-pad/E000362/

For Mac, his saddle fits well so he doesn’t need the bulk of the thick felt or fleece pads. What has worked best for him is a Thinline pad with a thin blanket on top and I can pull both of those up into the gullet.

Since we were on the topic of pads . . . just thought you might like to know of other options.

Good luck with your new saddle - it is fun to get new toys!

[beau159]

It’s refreshing to see someone actually post GOOD pictures to critique a saddle fit! Good job!

Yes, I would agree that you had your saddle a little bit too far forward when your horse was all tacked up. A little “trick” to learn where to place it: Without a saddle, have a helper hand walk your horse while you stand by their shoulder. As they are walking, place your hand on their shoulder blade. Pay attention to how far BACK that shoulder blade slides when the horse walks. When you place the saddle on their back, you do not want the TREE to restrict that movement. It needs to be far enough behind the shoulder so it doesn’t do that (don’t go by the leather of the saddle; go by the actual tree).

Ditto on getting a new saddle pad. You’ll find your saddle fits much better with it.

I myself am a huge fan of 5 Star saddle pads. With how nicely your saddle appears to fit, you really only need a 1/2" pad or 3/4" at the most. Less is more when your saddle fits well.

http://www.5starequineproducts.com/

5 Star is not cheap but they are good quality saddle pads that will last a VERY long time. Red’s saddle pad is 4 years old now, gets ridden in almost every day (sweaty and dirty!!) and I just washed it up last week and it still is just as soft as the day I bought it. They hold up.

[Draftmare]

I have had lots of practice taking saddle fitting pictures. Her body has changed so much in the last two years.

I am having a bit of price shock on some of these saddle pads. A friend of mine recommended CSI pads which start at $350! I was actually looking at the Toklat Woolback pads… http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Toklat_CoolBack_Western_Saddle_Pad_Contoured_30x30/descpage-TC30SSP.html

But mostly because they come in purple… :winkgrin: I have always been under the impression that western saddles rely pretty heavily on the pads to help them fit?

Tonight I couldn’t seem to get it to sit quite like how the BO had it sitting, which seemed to be causing the right side to almost dig in a little bit. I know her right shoulder is bigger than her left shoulder and that makes fitting anything a real struggle.

Before our ride
After our ride it did slide back maybe a hair
The offending shoulder

I could still easily slide my hand under the left side while mounted, but not hardly at all on the right side. She still moved pretty good in it, though I did have some resistance when I first asked her to pick up the trot. She was fine the rest of the ride.

[Pocket_Pony]

I have one of those Toklat pads but in a barrel shape - I like the pad.

[Draftmare]

Also, does anybody ever have any issues with their horse getting rubbed or sore around the billets? When the saddle is done up tight my girl has a bulge of fat in front of it… :lol: I worry about that making her sore over time…

[PeanutButterPony]

I’d like to see her in a slightly longer girth.

[Draftmare]

Does anybody know anything about Corriente saddles? The reviews that I have found so far seem positive, but I question a saddle that can be bought for $800 new.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=PeanutButterPony;8128149]
I’d like to see her in a slightly longer girth.[/QUOTE]

I agree.

I think I am going to take the saddle back and see what else they have at the store.

[beau159]

In your most recent pictures, I agree that you still saddled her up with the saddle too far forward. Often times, the saddle will “settle” where it wants to rest, and it actually looks pretty good in your “after ride” picture. That’s where you should try to place it from the start.

I agree that you should have a larger sized cinch. Do you know what size you are using now? My horses toggle between a 32" and a 34" depending on if they have winter fat.

As far as the saddle digging into the shoulder on her right side … maybe. Part of it could be your saddle pad. Does she have dry spots under the saddle pad, if you’ve worked her to a good sweat?

I’ve never tried the Toklat pad you posted. Since they are made of fleece, I would really question how long they would hold up to regular use and how well is disperses pressure. It also fails to say how thick the pad is, which is important. There also isn’t any wither relief on the pad, which personally, I like to have on my pads.

I’d pass. Look for a good quality WOOL pad. Yes the pad will have a little to do with your saddle fit, but of course you have to start with a good saddle fit first. And if your saddle fits very well, you shouldn’t need much of a pad in terms of thickness.

Corriente saddles are a nice saddle for the PRICE. They are not top of the line, but they aren’t garbage either. In my experience, a Corriente saddle fits very similar to a Billy Cook, so I’m not sure you are going to find a big difference in how it fits your horse.

[Draftmare]

I am going to see about picking up a wool pad at the tack shop, I have to go there to return the girth they loaned me anyway. This girth is a 32, I was thinking maybe I should go as big as a 36? She takes a 54 inch english girth. I am not sure how much I want to invest in a saddle pad yet. I kind of want to see how this year goes and how serious we get. Last year was the first year that western dressage was offered in my area and there was very little participation. We shall see what this year holds.

I like how the saddle fits me, and it seems to fit her okay, but it’s only the second western saddle I have tried (the first one didn’t fit me at all). I kind of want to see what else is at the shop and out there in general. Our first show isn’t until the end of May. The tack shop had a Corriente and a RS Saddlery that I liked, but I couldn’t take more than one at a time due to the hold they put on my card.

[cloudy18]

If you have a horse with one large shoulder you could try the Diamond Wool pads with shims. You’d still need to find a saddle to accommodate the larger shoulder, and then remove the shim on that side. I’d post a link but this Kindle won’t let me for some reason.

[Draftmare]

I think I know the pad that you are talking about. The tack shop sells them, but I have never been a huge fan of the design. To me it seems like pressure points would be created in the gaps between the shims?

http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Diamond_Wool_Contoured_Pad_30x30_Brown/descpage-DWCRS30.html?gclid=CNOl9Kj1ncUCFdcegQodsWIAww

[cloudy18]

I’ve never had a problem with mine, and I have a shim removed from one shoulder. I see what you’re saying, but I’m inclined to think the pressure would be where the pads are located; however, if saddle fits properly you are just removing from where it’s too snug with the pad on. So the shims hopefully just make things between pad and saddle bars even out a bit. Does that make any sense?

[beau159]

@Draftmare;8128605

This girth is a 32, I was thinking maybe I should go as big as a 36? She takes a 54 inch english girth.

I probably would do a 34". You certainly don’t want a cinch that is too big, or else you won’t be able to get your saddle tight enough.

My horse also wears a 54" in an English girth and a 34" in Western works great for him.

Total side note:
Girth = English term
Cinch = Western term

[PeanutButterPony]

mmmm…34.