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Expert
Posts: 1419
 
| Still struggling with saddle and pad fit for my new horse that has pockets behind the shoulders. After being fitted for a saddle, it sits in these hollow spots and seems to put pressure on them. Ive tried a few different pads and thicknesses and they all seem to fit better with a shim. I really dont want to shim and wondering if a thicker pad such as a 7/8" 5 star would fit in the hollow spots and the saddle still sit level or if I will always need shims for this issue? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1552
 
Location: Texas | Consider a Saddleright pad. They are thinner, don't believe in shimming, and their core material encourages the rebuilding of those muscles that have been inhibited by poor saddle fit. No other pad does what a Saddleright can do for your horse. www.saddleright.com
Edited by Cowjazz 2018-08-09 9:31 PM
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Location: in the ozone | Cowjazz - 2018-08-09 8:30 PM
Consider a Saddleright pad. They are thinner, don't believe in shimming, and their core material encourages the rebuilding of those muscles that have been inhibited by poor saddle fit. No other pad does what a Saddleright can do for your horse. www.saddleright.com
never heard that before - do you have the info/proof etc of how it can do that? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I would consider trying a CSI or a Saddleright and seeing how you get along.
If you can keep the pressure off the dips and work to build topline you may get them filled in.
It may also just be how the horse is built - in which case you might try something like a classic equine biofit pad that is built up at the shoulders to fill in those dips.
I’m shimming one right now and I think I’ll eventualy be able to stop, he was worked in saddles that pinched him for a while and the muscle atrophied, but he’s young and thick built otherwise - I expect him to bounce back. |
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 Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2075
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | Do you have pictures to share? - I think I have missed any of your previous posts, so it is hard to share thoughts with just that description - there could be many things going on.
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Expert
Posts: 1552
Location: Texas | slipperyslope - 2018-08-09 10:54 PM Cowjazz - 2018-08-09 8:30 PM Consider a Saddleright pad. They are thinner, don't believe in shimming, and their core material encourages the rebuilding of those muscles that have been inhibited by poor saddle fit. No other pad does what a Saddleright can do for your horse. www.saddleright.com
never heard that before - do you have the info/proof etc of how it can do that?
Our pad has been doing just that for over 34 years now. The testing on our pad was done by Texas A&M before the pad was release to make sure it met the guidelines set forth by Dr.Mike Freeman (DOC and Kinesiologist) and the other Vets involved in it's design. Applying extra pressure to areas where the muscle is not working , keeps them from working eventually causing nerve damage. www.saddleright.com has wonderful info about the pads!
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| I wish I could get my saddleright pad to fit with my current saddle. My saddle is admittedly a bit wide and the saddleright simply will not work on this horse with this saddle and a new saddle is not an option right now. I have to use a bio-fit pad that is built up. |
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| I just sold my saddleright and my new csi after only riding in a few times. Saddleright he would hardly move and it didnt fit right and csi sat up on him almost tent like. I've tried to post photos before and also tried resizing them and could not get them to post. With a classic equine shim he seems to be moving freely but wondering with a good feed program at his new barn if this will also help with filling in them pockets so I eventually dont have to shim. |
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Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2075
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | 2sassy - 2018-08-10 11:24 AM I just sold my saddleright and my new csi after only riding in a few times. Saddleright he would hardly move and it didnt fit right and csi sat up on him almost tent like. I've tried to post photos before and also tried resizing them and could not get them to post. With a classic equine shim he seems to be moving freely but wondering with a good feed program at his new barn if this will also help with filling in them pockets so I eventually dont have to shim.
If you wanted to, you could email them to me and I can post them.... rloper@kearneywynn.com
Massage can do wonders.
I would get every saddle fit/back health article you can find and apply it to yourself and your horse to find what works for you.
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 2sassy - 2018-08-09 11:41 AM Still struggling with saddle and pad fit for my new horse that has pockets behind the shoulders. After being fitted for a saddle, it sits in these hollow spots and seems to put pressure on them. Ive tried a few different pads and thicknesses and they all seem to fit better with a shim. I really dont want to shim and wondering if a thicker pad such as a 7/8" 5 star would fit in the hollow spots and the saddle still sit level or if I will always need shims for this issue?
I think you would need to still shim, I think the saddle would sit back down in the hollow areas. Theres pads that have the build in shims and I think you can change them out to different thickness if you need to change out as your horse fills back out in these areas. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Heres a few that I found and there is more, you can google and they will come up for you.
 (28449_flexform.jpg)
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 28449_flexform.jpg (16KB - 200 downloads)
36500r_c1105.jpg (11KB - 197 downloads)
TE015538.jpg (7KB - 198 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| I've googled a ton, looked at different pads on line and am at a loss. I've tried 3/4 csi, 1/2 best ever, 3/4 reinsman, impact gel and a few off brands. It's a bummer, I've spent a ton of money on pads and saddles(currently riding in a kk wide tree flex 2 he was just fitted for), deb sibley, martin and circle y nbha. I'm too the point I dont want to even ride anymore as he is sore in the back and I don't know who to ask. I need a vet apt to get a release for chiro and could try a massage but that also cost money and what if that is not what I need to do. I was hoping having him fitted for a saddle would solve the problem?? Ugh!! Thanks for letting me vent! |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 2sassy - 2018-08-10 6:14 PM I've googled a ton, looked at different pads on line and am at a loss. I've tried 3/4 csi, 1/2 best ever, 3/4 reinsman, impact gel and a few off brands. It's a bummer, I've spent a ton of money on pads and saddles(currently riding in a kk wide tree flex 2 he was just fitted for), deb sibley, martin and circle y nbha. I'm too the point I dont want to even ride anymore as he is sore in the back and I don't know who to ask. I need a vet apt to get a release for chiro and could try a massage but that also cost money and what if that is not what I need to do. I was hoping having him fitted for a saddle would solve the problem?? Ugh!! Thanks for letting me vent!
Thats ok vent all you need, lol  . Saddle fitting is and sometimes can become very stressfull, but since your horse is sore I think if this horse were mine I would have him checked for Kissing spine so that can at lease be ruled out if thats not the problem. |
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| txbredbr - 2018-08-10 1:16 PM 2sassy - 2018-08-10 11:24 AM I just sold my saddleright and my new csi after only riding in a few times. Saddleright he would hardly move and it didnt fit right and csi sat up on him almost tent like. I've tried to post photos before and also tried resizing them and could not get them to post. With a classic equine shim he seems to be moving freely but wondering with a good feed program at his new barn if this will also help with filling in them pockets so I eventually dont have to shim. If you wanted to, you could email them to me and I can post them.... rloper@kearneywynn.com
Massage can do wonders.
I would get every saddle fit/back health article you can find and apply it to yourself and your horse to find what works for you.
I sent you some photos...wondering if a thinner pad with a shim would work better as the saddle is tight along the edge/front of the saddle about right in front of the D ring for the breast collar on both sides. Such as if you start with your hand at the gullet and slide it under the saddle and move it down along edge of saddle, there is a deffinate tight area right in front of the D rings then as you make your way down, it gets loser again pretty much all the way around the saddle? Hope that makes sence!
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Expert
Posts: 1552
Location: Texas | Check out a Saddleright pad! you can ride it 30 days to make sure it is a fit. If not just return it!!!!
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Expert
Posts: 1552
Location: Texas | brlraceaddict - 2018-08-10 11:07 AM I wish I could get my saddleright pad to fit with my current saddle. My saddle is admittedly a bit wide and the saddleright simply will not work on this horse with this saddle and a new saddle is not an option right now. I have to use a bio-fit pad that is built up.
PM me please, I would like to see what the problem with the fit is.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| 2sassy - 2018-08-10 6:14 PM
I've googled a ton, looked at different pads on line and am at a loss. I've tried 3/4 csi, 1/2 best ever, 3/4 reinsman, impact gel and a few off brands. It's a bummer, I've spent a ton of money on pads and saddles(currently riding in a kk wide tree flex 2 he was just fitted for), deb sibley, martin and circle y nbha. I'm too the point I dont want to even ride anymore as he is sore in the back and I don't know who to ask. I need a vet apt to get a release for chiro and could try a massage but that also cost money and what if that is not what I need to do. I was hoping having him fitted for a saddle would solve the problem?? Ugh!! Thanks for letting me vent!
Couple thoughts -
I feel like you’re not the first person to say their horse was fitted for a kk flex tree and then it didn’t fit. I feel like that’s been discussed here lately.
If the saddle doesn’t actually fit, no pad will change that. It sounds like it may have the wrong bar angle just from your description of the fit in front.
I also wouldn’t be afraid to go to the vet. Your soreness issues may not be saddle related. Kissing spine is one thing to look for, but any kind of issue that they are compensating for can generate soreness in other areas - like how poor footwear in people often shows up as lower back pain. |
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Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2075
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | 
Posting these for 2sassy. (if you email the photos to yourself it allows you to shrink the size - that could have been your problem, but here they are!)
Edited by txbredbr 2018-08-13 9:19 AM
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Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2075
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | On the photos you sent me it is hard to tell the difference in what pad may be better because they are not labeled. Some have pretty even sweat marks. there is one or 2 that shows a dry spot on the left side, which I believe means the saddle is leaning the RIGHT and pulling harder on that left side.
I know the struggle, not being able to run your hand down the front of the saddle, because it is too tight on the shoulders. I have a horse with pockets behind the shoulders - been running him since he was 4. He is now 22 and I have the best fitting saddle after trying over 60 on him - I studied everything I could on saddle fit and bought every saddle and pad I could afford for about 14 years for him. They didn't make this saddle when i first started running him - it is a Len Brown Black Mesa - The Grip. He believes the angle of too many saddles are too wide - the gullet may not be wide enough, though.
Dry spots can carry over from one saddle to the next if there is some damage to the horse/ muscles, sweat glands...that makes it even harder to find if a new saddle or pad is better.
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| Horse was rode about the same amount of time in all the photos
the 1st photo-first 3 photos are CSI
the next 5 photos were a 3/4 C.E. Countourpedic pad-there was a bulge almost where the front of the saddle was when I was done riding
the 2nd photo- first 2 are with a 1/2" best ever pad
the next 2 were with a saddleright and he was pinning his ears and swishing his tail the whole time
last photo I highlighted the spot where it is tight on both sides of saddle with and without pad.
Really starting to think I am having more issues with this saddle and no pad is going to fix this. She spent almost 2hrs fitting this horse for a saddle that day. I called after I got the saddle and asked about the fit and the tight spots and she said I may need to shim to get it to work?
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I would like to see a side view of the saddle sitting on your horses back without a pad, but the picture with the saddle and pad the saddle looks to perched for my likings. Edit to add: Maybe its the rise of the seat that makes it look perched to me, but maybe try a saddle that has a little rock to it.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2018-08-13 10:26 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1419
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Half-Eaten Cookies
Posts: 2075
Location: Fort Worth / Springtown | How thick is that felt pad in the picture? I would not go thicker than 1/2 inch thick - you could even try 1/4" felt and see how she moves and how the sweat patterns are.
I had a CSI when they first came out, so I'm not sure if they have changed, but they made the back sweat a lot, and evenly so I found it really hard to tell about saddle fit by dry spots when using a CSI.
the tight spots for you tells me to try a thinner pad and see what that does...especially when the saddle seems to be tilting upwards in front - if it were tilting down in front when you didnt' even have a saddle, I'd consider a thicker pad, but not after seeing these pics. When the saddle was fitted - was it fitted with a bare back? I'm assuming bare back so I don't see how a 7/8" 5 Star is going to help.
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 2sassy - 2018-08-13 10:36 AM Photo
I dont like how the saddle sits, it looks like it needs to slide back a little, but I really think you need a saddle wih more rock. Was this person that fitted this saddle a experience saddle fitter or was this the first one that they did? |
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| Fitting was done at a tack store by the owner who is also a barrel racer. Was told by a few different people that this is the place to go to have horse fitted correctly. Saddle was tried on his back and also with a 3/4" pad. Thinnest pad I have tried was the saddleright then the 1/2" best ever. He was not rode at the fitting, I sat on him and she walked a few steps so I could see how it felt? I know I'll never get back what I paid for this saddle but is there a brand I should be looking at if this is something that does not look like it fits him? I've already bought and sold a deb sibley and a martin.
Edited by 2sassy 2018-08-13 12:54 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | 2sassy - 2018-08-13 12:36 PM Fitting was done at a tack store by the owner who is also a barrel racer. Was told by a few different people that this is the place to go to have horse fitted correctly. Saddle was tried on his back and also with a 3/4" pad. Thinnest pad I have tried was the saddleright then the 1/2" best ever. He was not rode at the fitting, I sat on him and she walked a few steps so I could see how it felt? I know I'll never get back what I paid for this saddle but is there a brand I should be looking at if this is something that does not look like it fits him? I've already bought and sold a deb sibley and a martin.
I think it looks pretty good threw the shoulders, looks like a good fit there, but its the way the saddle is sitting on top of him that I dont like, I like seeing a saddle that sits down on the horse not on top. The saddle that I have that fits my gelding with that dip is the Double J #10 and its got the rock to sit down on the horse. Maybe someone else will chime in and give their thoughts too. |
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Expert
Posts: 1419
| txbredbr - 2018-08-13 11:11 AM How thick is that felt pad in the picture? I would not go thicker than 1/2 inch thick - you could even try 1/4" felt and see how she moves and how the sweat patterns are.
I had a CSI when they first came out, so I'm not sure if they have changed, but they made the back sweat a lot, and evenly so I found it really hard to tell about saddle fit by dry spots when using a CSI.
the tight spots for you tells me to try a thinner pad and see what that does...especially when the saddle seems to be tilting upwards in front - if it were tilting down in front when you didnt' even have a saddle, I'd consider a thicker pad, but not after seeing these pics. When the saddle was fitted - was it fitted with a bare back? I'm assuming bare back so I don't see how a 7/8" 5 Star is going to help.
Felt pad is 3/4. It is tight without a pad too. I mentioned that when she tried it on him and she said because it is a flex tree that it is ok. Ive never had a horse with saddle fit issues before and just got back into horses after getting divorced and selling everything. All I want is to ride!! |
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