I fear the reason why my mare is ducking barrels is because of soreness from my saddle. I get a lot of dry spots around the front of the saddle which I know doesn't lay flat of her back. The back of the saddle fits her but not the front. Could this be the reason as to why she's trying to duck the first barrel.
Dry spots won't cause a horse to duck a barrel, but a sore horse can. A little bit of a sore back shouldn't affect performance much. You probably have a bigger hidden issue. I would make seeing a vet a priority over a new saddle. If soundness isn't an issue you may get someone to help you and see if it's not something your doing wrong. A better fitting saddle isn't a bad idea, but like I said vet would be my first stop.
Posted 2016-10-03 9:59 AM Subject: RE: ill fitting saddle
Expert
Posts: 3815 Location: The best kept secret in TX
Dry spots mean nothing. Especially if you ride a 5 star or other sweat wicking material pad. Pads are designed to keep horses cool and dry nowadays. I don't bat an eye at a dry back.
CRASH COURSE IN SADDLE FITTING: If you sit your saddle WITHOUT A PAD on your horses back your seat should be flat, the horn level (unless your horn is angled) and you should be able to put your hand in the stirrup and push down without the saddle going anywhere. The bars of the tree will grab the side of the horses back and hang on while you push down. If the saddle comes off, your bar spread is too wide. If the saddle is too tight it will pinch and your horse will let you know by either moving away from the pinch or ducking or throwing its head. (Get your horse to a chiro and massage therapist before doing this if you feel he is already sore.) You should be able to slip your fingers a little ways under the front and back to feel how the bars are laying against the back. If your saddle is on your horses back and is tilted downward in the front, your bar spread may be too wide. If the saddle is tilted upward it may be too narrow. Forget gullet size completely. I can get a 10" gullet and if the bars are a semi quarter horse bar I have still changed nothing about the fit of the actual tree. Get a wider or more narrow bar spread and your saddle will fit better. If your saddle fits correctly on your horse without a pad, get a thinner pad or a thicker pad depending on fit after you put a pad under and cinch up. I don't like anything thicker than a 3/4" pad. Anything larger will make the saddle fit tighter and since my saddle fits my horse without a pad, I don't need to change the fit with a pad. However, some people need a larger pad because their bar spread is too wide therefore they have to make the fit tighter with a larger pad.
ill fitting saddle
