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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| I just bought a used corrector pad for my horse that I was having an aweful time fitting. I have posted about him before, I have gone through 8 saddles with him. All have too much curve to the tree front to back, and he also has a bit of muscle atrophy behind his shoulders so the saddle just wants to dip into those pockets and pop up in the back. I got a lot of slack in another online forum for using a corrective saddle pad and how I am going to end up in the hospital  Is this pad REALLY that bad? I was going to go with a bob marshall, but wanted to give this last saddle one more try. It seems to sit on him beautifully just standing, when he walks off his back rises and the saddle tips. My understanding is that what Len brown's pad was to correct, modern saddle trees with too much rock? I had only rode in it for a few minutes yesterday, but then after hearing nasty comments I am obviously a bit concerned.
I'd really prefer just to find that perfect fitting saddle but I've already gone through 8 saddles and a custom tree is not an option right at this moment. For one I can't afford it, two he has already changed and filled out so much in the 2 months I have had him, by the time I got my custom tree in 8+ weeks his back would be different it probably wouldn't fit him anyways! I can justify a custom tree once he is in shape and those pockets behind his shoulders are completely filled in, but just not right now. |
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Veteran
Posts: 166
 
Location: castle rock, colorado | Sorry, I didn't read the other posts so I can't comment on them. However, I can share that I have had good success with my corrector pad. I have had one for years and use it whenever needed. The ability to add shims and "experiment" with fit is invaluable. It gives me a clearer idea of what the best saddle fit I am looking for. I do not currently compete in one but I wouldn't hesitate to if I needed it. Good luck in your search!
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I like my Corrector pad. Some problems can be shimmed effectively, some cannot. It sounds like yours could possibly be improved with shimming, but I'm not a saddle fit expert. I will say that a horse's back shape changes as they move, so a saddle that appears to fit standing still may not keep contact while moving, even with a rear cinch. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I have seen a few in use, and those who have them swear by them. I have Len Brown's Never Tight Cinch. Best money I've spent on a piece of tack so far. It works great. My mare has been difficult to fit, as well. Luckily, I have found a saddle that is a close fit. I will be buying a Corrector Pad to get the fit just right (once I'm back to riding in a few months). From all of my research, people who have actually used them give great reviews. Sounds like the comments you got were bashing any corrective pads, in general and not bad reviews from people who have used this pad. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| What kind of saddle is on him? I don't remember from other posts. Everything I've heard about the pad has been good.
Are you using a back cinch? Edit to add. Pics would be good!
Edited by Nateracer 2014-05-02 8:32 AM
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Member
Posts: 21
| I use the corrector turn and burn pad, in fact I Just purchased my second one, I have a
expensive saddle that I had fitted to my horse that after every pad I tried my horse still
turned to nip me when I saddled. I found the len brown pad and never looked back. I
use it with any saddle and my horse never offers to bite when saddled. I have used with
the shims and without. I hope this helps. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| I just had the vet here this morning after I first posted to check his back and to do his teeth as well. I wanted to make sure he didn't have anything seriously wrong with his back as I have been having so much trouble. He was very very slightly muscle sore right in the middle of the saddle, and also thought he might be slightly arthritic in his one hock but not enough to effect his back. She had me put the saddle on him no pad, the pad wool pad he bucked in, and my corrector pad. She had never seen a corrector pad before but thought there was nothing wrong with using it, gave him the support he needed up by his withers and that is was probably what he really needed at this point to get the saddle off the middle of his back. We put him on muscle relaxers and she wanted me to ride him sunday with the corrector pad. Even asked her if I should try yet another saddle and she said no try the pad, so it can't be that terrible if the vet said to go ahead and use it.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| I forgot to ad the pictures of the saddle. Its an older crates with equifit tree. It is so far the best fit I have found for him. I have the two front shims in the pad in the picture.
Edited by Buckles 2014-05-02 11:50 AM
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| In the Corrector pad pic it looks like the saddle is too far back, IMO. I would move the pad forward an inch and the saddle between 2 -3 inches forward. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| That is one thing I wasn't sure about as far as placement, where should the pad and saddle be as compared to his shoulder? I have the front of the saddle tree behind his shoulder blade, the pad is on top of his shoulder and the front shield is up on his shoulder a bit too. |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| It kind of depends on the saddle, where it should be placed. Martins are made to fit behind the shoulder blade, hence the Mondo sized gullets. Most other saddles are meant to be placed over the shoulder blades. That is why I think this saddle is popping up in the back, it has no support under the front of it, so it slides back and tips up. If placed correctly over the shoulder blade, it shouldn't slip or tip --- IF it's the correct size. Based on the bare pics, it looks pretty good. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| Hmm may explain why every saddle is tipping up. I have always placed my saddle behind the shoulders blades, the skirt normally comes up on the shoulder a bit but the tree always behind the shoulder blade, been doing it for years lol! Never had any problem doing that. When fitting I have always measured right behind the shoulder blade for gullet width as well. Normally if my saddle is up to far on the shoulder it bumps my horses shoulder and he shortens his gait. Maybe I do need different saddle then! |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| It just looks like with the pad, the saddle is too far back. I don't think the saddle looks bad at all in the naked pics. Just make sure it's pretty close to the same spot with the pad. From your naked pics, it's maybe 3 inches in front of the flank. From the corrector pics, it's about 2 or less. It looked better in the wool pics. |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| After re-reading my post, I realized I said it backwards. Martins fit over the shoulders, others shouldn't! Sorry! I'm sure you were confused!
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Nateracer - 2014-05-03 6:51 AM After re-reading my post, I realized I said it backwards. Martins fit over the shoulders, others shouldn't! Sorry! I'm sure you were confused!
No, Martins do fit BEHIND the shoulder. Not many are made to float over the shoulder blades, (Caldwells are) actually, although when the leg reaches the shoulder will rotate underneath the saddle and it needs to be able to accommodate this. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | I am pretty sure the corrector will push the saddle back behind the shoulder anyways, that is what it was designed to do. You may try the rear shims also since it still looks like it is popped up in back. That is the nice thing about those pads, you can play around with the shims instead of being stuck with a pad that doesn't quite work.
I would contact WimpyB here. She has a new tree made for flat backed horses and she has a trial saddle you can get on the list for.
When I first set it on my mares, I honestly thought it wouldn't work. I went ahead and tried it anyways and was pleasantly suprised that it really was a pretty good fit, much better than anything else I have tried.
One of my mares was not wanting to pick up her left lead (very green) and I was getting ready to take her to a chiro. The third time I asked her for the lead (first ride in the saddle) she picked it up and has been getting better every ride.
Edited by Barnmom 2014-05-03 8:39 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 2049
Location: Utah | I've been using The Corrector pads for YEARS and I love them. I have 3 that I ride on a pretty much daily basis. I really like how I can adjust the pad & saddle combo to fit the horse. I've never had a horse who didn't work in them. In fact I tried to go to different pads over the last few years and it never failed that with in a short amount of time, my horses had sore backs & went back to the corrector pad. I have my original one that I bought in 07 and still ride it. I followed that up with one in 08, and another in 12. I've had great luck with them. |
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 I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | I have had saddle fitting nightmares and the CorrecTOR ended that. I'm not thrilled with the quality but thrilled that it worked. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 520
| I still cannot get this saddle to work correctly even with this pad. Thought I had it figured out but it still connects with the middle of his back and rocks. The shims really don't help at all, they seem to be in an odd spot for the saddle so all they really do is change my bar angle. Not really what I wanted the pad to do. I really need the pressure relieved off the middle of his back, think I need to find yet another saddle with a flatter tree.
Edited by Buckles 2014-05-05 10:52 AM
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I Prefer to Live in Fantasy Land
Posts: 64864
Location: In the Hills of Texas | Buckles - 2014-05-05 10:50 AM I still cannot get this saddle to work correctly even with this pad. Thought I had it figured out but it still connects with the middle of his back and rocks. The shims really don't help at all, they seem to be in an odd spot for the saddle so all they really do is change my bar angle. Not really what I wanted the pad to do. I really need the pressure relieved off the middle of his back, think I need to find yet another saddle with a flatter tree.
Call the maker of the CorrecTOR pad and see if he can help you. |
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