Saddle fit?

[Petra]

WB, I tried to follow the instructions. I really don't know if I did it right or not. Here are the pictures.
Trigger was so cute! You know how you adviced me to streach his front legs? Well I did it with the first one and as I was lifting the second one he pulled his leg back and did it himself. Put his legs upfront and streched all the way to the ground. I was laughing that he can read my mind.
I took more pictures of his hair after the ride.
My farrier brought me a catalog today. I found some western therapeutic saddle pads there; they seem really good. They are pretty expensive, but I think I would save up for one if it's needed.

[carla]

Hmm. I don't know what y'all have already said about this saddle (is this a follow-up thread?), but it looks to be way too close on the wither. I'm pretty sure that will hit with a little bit of riding. And it also looks to be a bit "jacked up" in the back?

I'm no expert, but that doesn't strike me as a well-fitted saddle. I do like the saddle, though! :)

[Petra]

I pressed all over again, so far he doesn't mind at all.

[Petra]

Hmm. I don't know what y'all have already said about this saddle (is this a follow-up thread?), but it looks to be way too close on the wither. I'm pretty sure that will hit with a little bit of riding. And it also looks to be a bit "jacked up" in the back?

I'm no expert, but that doesn't strike me as a well-fitted saddle. I do like the saddle, though! :)


Yes Carla, it is a follow up. I'm not sure if I'm putting the saddle on him right.
Here is the previous thread:
http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6243

Thanks for your reply though.

Oh, it may look closer on the whiter than it is. WB told me to pull up the saddle pad up so it doesn't bother him. I pulled the saddle pad in as much as I could. There is couple of inches room between the whiter and saddle.

[carla]

Woah, okay! I was thinking that was you but wondered when the horse changed? :hysterical: I apparently didn't keep track of that one very well. ;) : off to read:

[WashingtonBay]

You've got it rigged right! Now you can take that excess latigo on the near side and run it up through that tab on the front concho. Or you can punch some holes and use the buckle on the cinch. I don't know if I like that buckle just poking out there.

On the saddle, yes, it's a little too wide, but workable. I'd get a pad that is built up in the front. I just did a quick search and I sure like this one:

Diamond Wool Built Up Ranch Pad (http://www.rods.com/p/2054,248_Diamond-Wool-Built-Up-Ranch-Pad.html)

Or something like it. Nice inch thick felt, cut back for the wither, built up under the front where the saddle's too wide.


Oh - you might want to let your stirrups down a couple notches.

[Petra]

:D Lol.
Well, besides of what it looks like on the whiter, you think it doesn't fit?
I looked at the pictures again, yes it looks like it's low, but, look at the saddle pad - it really is pulled in all the way. Maybe I pulled it up too high?

[carla]

Ha, yep. I just read the part on the other thread where WB said to pull it up in there. Explains why I was also thinking, "woah, that's one heck of a wither!" LOL

Hmm.. all in all, I'm still gonna have to stick with my own *personal* opinion of- I would look for another saddle.

HOWEVER, I will be interested to see what you can do with a nice "help-along" pad like WB is suggesting. It'll be a learning experience for me as well I reckon. :)

[WashingtonBay]

The pads fine, it's just not enough. The saddle is a little too wide, which we knew, but the angles do align nicely, so with a firmer, thicker pad it would work. You don't want it bumping on the wither for sure, ever. But beyond that, it's pitched downhill when you're in it. Just sitting too low in front. This will focus your weight on the front too, and lead to pressure points on the front. The back half of the saddle isn't carrying it's share of the load.

And I do like cutback wither pads. It eliminates the possibility of pressure on the wither from the pad and saves you from having to pull it up in front.

[Petra]

You've got it rigged right! Now you can take that excess latigo on the near side and run it up through that tab on the front concho. Or you can punch some holes and use the buckle on the cinch. I don't know if I like that buckle just poking out there.

On the saddle, yes, it's a little too wide, but workable. I'd get a pad that is built up in the front. I just did a quick search and I sure like this one:

Diamond Wool Built Up Ranch Pad (http://www.rods.com/p/2054,248_Diamond-Wool-Built-Up-Ranch-Pad.html)

Or something like it. Nice inch thick felt, cut back for the wither, built up under the front where the saddle's too wide.


Oh - you might want to let your stirrups down a couple notches.

I do? Oh cool! :)
Lol the saddle pad you found for me is much cheaper than the one I was looking at! THANKS!!!

This is what I was looking at: http://www.cavallo-inc.com/saddlepads/western.html

OK I'll let my stirrups down. How will I know the right lenght? Please don't advice me on the angle - I cannot tell when I'm looking from the top. Is there another way?

Thanks for helping me WB! I really appreciate it!

[carla]

The way I do it is, slide my fingers up under the jockey, where the stirrups attach to the saddle. Pull the stirrup down the length of the arm.. When the bottom of the stirrup hits my armpit/side of torso, it's usually about right for me. :)

[WashingtonBay]

Oh - and with some more searching, you might find a built up for a round skirt saddle that isn't so big and square, and might look tidier with the saddle... the one I found was just the first one I found.

[Petra]

Ha, yep. I just read the part on the other thread where WB said to pull it up in there. Explains why I was also thinking, "woah, that's one heck of a wither!" LOL

Hmm.. all in all, I'm still gonna have to stick with my own *personal* opinion of- I would look for another saddle.

HOWEVER, I will be interested to see what you can do with a nice "help-along" pad like WB is suggesting. It'll be a learning experience for me as well I reckon. :)

Carla thanks. If there was no other way I sure would keep looking. But if this can be solved with a pad I would prefer that. As far as seat, I'm comfortable in it. Also the horse is 4 years old and hasn't been worked. I work with him daily, He may be wider once he gets in better shape.

[carla]

Hey I got a Diamond wool pad today with my new saddle.. it's a round pad, but not built up. But yes, I'm sure you could find it.

[carla]

He may be wider once he gets in better shape.

Good forethought. :)

[Petra]

The way I do it is, slide my fingers up under the jockey, where the stirrups attach to the saddle. Pull the stirrup down the length of the arm.. When the bottom of the stirrup hits my armpit/side of torso, it's usually about right for me. :)

Thanks!!! I'll try that.

[WashingtonBay]

I do? Oh cool! :)
Lol the saddle pad you found for me is much cheaper than the one I was looking at! THANKS!!!

This is what I was looking at: http://www.cavallo-inc.com/saddlepads/western.html

That's probably a really nice pad too, but I bet you'd be plenty happy with the felt. The only gamble is hoping it's the right thickness... not too much, not too little!

OK I'll let my stirrups down. How will I know the right lenght? Please don't advice me on the angle - I cannot tell when I'm looking from the top. Is there another way?They ought to be pretty close if they're hitting your ankle when your leg is hanging straight down. You want a long leg in western, not a lot of bend to the knee.

Thanks for helping me WB! I really appreciate it!Nooooo problem :)

[Petra]

Oh - and with some more searching, you might find a built up for a round skirt saddle that isn't so big and square, and might look tidier with the saddle... the one I found was just the first one I found.


Lol, I don't care so much about looks. I will never show the horse.
I just want him to be comfortable. I like the one you found better than the one I was looking at...it's much cheaper. It would be nice to be rich though. :D

[WashingtonBay]

With the one I linked, too, if he widens out, you might be able to remove the built up part later and still have a nice felt square pad. :)

[Flair]

Lol, I don't care so much about looks. I will never show the horse.
I just want him to be comfortable. I like the one you found better than the one I was looking at...it's much cheaper. It would be nice to be rich though. :D

I think I'd agree with WB. A round skirt pad would really look nicer on the saddle, and personally, I think your boy's too short for a really big square pad. It kinda looks like the edge of the pad is hitting his loins and hip. Might not be comfortable if you go on a nice long trail ride. If he was longer, I'd say it's OK, but he looks a tad short-coupled, and since he's pony-sized, you don't want a big pad anyway. A round skirt pad would probably do better.

One solution might be to get a good-quality pad like an Equipedic (http://www.equipedic.com/) or a Skito (http://www.aretesaddlery.com/tack/tack/saddle-pads/skito-pads/equalizer-insert-pad/prod_41.html). With a Skito, you might be able to get the shims put inside to built up the pad, and then take those out if he did get wider. I just got a Skito myself, and love the thing. It was a fair bit pricey (moreso because I got extras like the 100% wool/wool felt split bottom) but I definitely have learned, good quality stuff would be an investment.

[pandorasmom]

I haven't read all of this but read what WB said about the excess latigo, I typically just run it back up behind the ring again and let it hang. Next time I tack her up I'll see if I can get a pic. I don't use the buckle thing because I can never get it to work right for Pandora. lol :p It's never bothered me except once when Pandora was being naughty and I jabbed my leg on it. Left me a big ol' bruise!

[Petra]

With the one I linked, too, if he widens out, you might be able to remove the built up part later and still have a nice felt square pad. :)

Great! Yeah, I'll buy that one.
Thanks!

[Petra]

I haven't read all of this but read what WB said about the excess latigo, I typically just run it back up behind the ring again and let it hang. Next time I tack her up I'll see if I can get a pic. I don't use the buckle thing because I can never get it to work right for Pandora. lol :p It's never bothered me except once when Pandora was being naughty and I jabbed my leg on it. Left me a big ol' bruise!


I'm sorry my English sucks. Latigo - is that the thing to tie the cinch with?
If so I don't leave it hanging long - I just left it for the picture so WB can tell me I f I did it right. If you look at the fourth picture I have it tucked up.

[pandorasmom]

Yea, you did fine!!! :) I was just saying what I also did with that. ;)

[Petra]

Yea, you did fine!!! :) I was just saying what I also did with that. ;)

:) Thanks!