Is this saddle in the right spot?

[Blue]

I still think I put it too far forward, but I was in a hurry and I didn't really think about it :huh:.
New Pictures:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a3-12.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a4-11.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a5-9.jpg
Blue was standing awkwardly, but you can see how the top of the panels are "suede" and the bottom are the equi-leather, so it makes it look darker. :)

And just for fun:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a2-14.jpg
I know it looks tight, but then...
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a1-14.jpg
Tada! lol.

I'm new to dressage, I'm starting lessons in a few weeks (yay!). I wanted to make sure I have the saddle in the right spot. Are they suposed to be placed differently than close contact saddles?

Picture from yesterday:
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q92/horses30677/a.jpg

[HeartofSteel]

Might be like a hair too far foreward but it looks good :)
Is his girth like really tight? It shouldn't be indenting his skin...

[vicklynn]

Oh I so waited to see what a trained eye would say....
I get a none trained eye brownie point...LMBO
I thought the same thing.

[HeartofSteel]

Is the back of the saddle popped up? or is it just the picture...

[WashingtonBay]

I also think it's a hair too far forward. You want to encourage free shoulder movement, place it behind the top of the shoulder blade you can feel with your fingers. Note... unless the saddle is too tight or prevented from moving with a breastcollar, if you saddle the horse and work them at a big swinging trot for a few minutes their own movement will move the saddle back and out of their way. This is easy to test on the lunge. Cinch it relatively loose and lunge them a few minutes and see where it wants to sit.

Additionally... if you notice that the saddle often slips back during a ride that is just flat work, you may be placing it too far forward at the start.

And haffie... it's probably just indenting winter hair :)

[vicklynn]

Hope its just the picture. You know how some of those have some thick padding and make it look that way.

[HeartofSteel]

Wbay that is what I though at first but he doesn't appear to be terribly fuzzy lol

[Blue]

Thanks guys! He's unbelievably fuzzy under his stomach (but no where else...). So it's not too tight, it's just his fur. Infact I had to tighten it when I went up to the ring because it was loose enough for me to fit my whole hand through. But I always make sure it's not too tight. :)

No, I don't think it's popping up, the underside of the saddle is alot darker, so it might look like a shadow and the saddle pad is padded at the top (I need to get a new one without padding, but I just put this on him today and only rode for 20 minutes).

When I bring him in tonight I'll get more pictures of the saddle on him girthed up without a pad. :)

[HeartofSteel]

Ok :) Just was making sure! Looking forward to more pictures :D

[Blue]

Haha I know what you mean! :)

[cloedoll]

Agreed with everyone. Also, it might be easier for us to judge if it was w/o the pad. =]

[Blue]

Sorry guys, I couldn't make it out to the barn tonight. I'll have to get the pictures tomorrow after church! :D

[Blue]

New pics post 1.

[luvs2ride1979]

Looks right to me! As long as you have about 1-2 fingers of space between the back of his shoulder blade and the front edge of the saddle, you're good to go!

[WashingtonBay]

I think the new pictures look good :)

[zoel_222]

Looks good! :)

[cloedoll]

Like everyone mentioned, it looks good. =]