Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?

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Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder? Moderators: luluwhit, gotothewhip, cindyt, crossspur, ForumAdmin Jump to page :	Last activity 2015-03-08 11:34 AM 24 replies, 6121 views View previous thread :: View next thread
General Discussion -> Barrel Talk


mouse Reg. Dec 2003	Posted 2015-03-06 3:36 PM Subject: RE: Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?
Expert Posts: 1815	Depends on why your horse has the dip.........not all horses have a naturally straight back, though sometimes ~ but not all times is this caused by a saddle, but rather conformation. I had a mare like that we raised........she was not a wide made horse, but had wide shoulders and an extremely tall wither. The wide tree from a Pro Rider fit her well, because the tree had a lot of rock in it, to accomodate the horses who do not have a straight flat back. My 2nd horse runs downhill, and so I use a wide tree Tammy Fisher treeless on him.......works very very well and no soreness issues, allows room for shoulders and still have wither clearance.........just a couple ideas to maybe borrow and try
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trulyaroyaljem Reg. Nov 2010	Posted 2015-03-06 4:08 PM Subject: RE: Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?
Veteran Posts: 111	EAblondayyy - 2015-03-06 11:00 AM Did you get the CJ for the same reason? i got it because i thought i needed wider as well.
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skye Reg. Jul 2004	Posted 2015-03-06 10:21 PM Subject: RE: Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?
Expert Posts: 2122 Location: The Great Northwest	It would be so uncomfortable to have a saddle cinched behind the shoulder if it was too narrow. There needs to be flare in the bars and wide enough that the bars will ride over the scapula and not dig in. Try on your hands and knees and have someone place the side of their hand behind your scapula and push down and foreward while you move. This is what your horse experiences.
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Lookin For Diamonds Reg. Jul 2009	Posted 2015-03-07 5:44 PM Subject: RE: Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?
Elite Veteran Posts: 784 Location: USA	hlynn - 2015-03-06 11:53 AM I tried the shim thing on a saddle with a gullet that was too wide. It still didn't give enough clearance for the withers to make me feel confortable doing it. So I just went with a smaller gullet that actually fit my horse. The bars on the 'wide' saddle felt about the same so the flare wasn't much in the 'wide' saddle. I can't say I agree with shimming. It just didn't sit well with me. Different saddles are meant to sit different places on the horse. Best bet is to get in touch with the saddle maker. Or someone well versed in saddle fit that isn't trying to sell you anything. It's possible your girth is way too long &/or the pad is way too thick. You should t need thicker than a 1/2 wool pad with a good fitting saddle. And most horses would do well in 28/30 size cinches. There's an article somewhere on how to measure proper cinch size. You might be surprised how small a girth is actually needed. Thanks for that tidbit of information. My saddle was sliding back a hair. I knew I was riding in a cinch that was a little long. changed it out today and my saddle didn't move. Had no idea length of cinch made a difference. Thank you for your wisdom!!
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hammer_time Reg. Jul 2007	Posted 2015-03-08 11:34 AM Subject: RE: Saddles on the shoulder or behind the shoulder?
Money Eating Baggage Owner Posts: 9586 Location: Phoenix	My horse has the dip as well--mostly due to conformation and having high withers. I ride in a narrower Tod Slone behind the shoulder. I've had wider saddle and they just sit father down and inhibit his movement.
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