[lacski]

I've had my horse for about 3 months (5yrs. old TB/QH cross) and began by using a Wide gullet plate with my wintec pro dressage saddle. After a show one month ago, I noticed swelling on both sides toward the middle to lower portion of the gullet plate. My initial thought was that the girth was way too tight, because I didn't want the saddle too slide which it sometimes does when schooling, but then I thought the gullet might be too wide.

I re-measured him, and he seemed to be a M/W so I switched the plate. He's been using the MW for a few weeks, and I recently noticed significant sized dry spots on both sides of his back after a brief 30 minute ride, and some white hairs where the gullet plate rests. He's recently become a bit girthy also. I'm really worried that the saddle is hurting him

Could the dry spots be caused by the girth being too tight? Do you think he needs a Medium plate or the Wide one again?? I'm hoping this is an issue that a gullet change will help, otherwise I'll need to consider another saddle.

Unfortunately, everyone at my barn has the same saddle, so I can't even try something else on him.

I'll get some pics after riding tomorrow, but here's a picture showing the approx. location of the dry spot.

I'd really appreciate any insight from those who have some experience with saddle fitting. Hopefully the picture shows up below (terrible pic but only one I have showing his back!).
Thanks!!

[luvs2ride79]

It sounds like the saddle is bridging; there is a loose spot in the middle and excess pressure at the front and likely rear too. The only way to "fix" this on a Wintec with CAIR panels is to use a pad with center shims. I would recommend a Skito Correction pad. The shims are removable/adjustable, and you can customize them. The center shim will even out his back surface, taking the pressure off his withers. Plus the "Equalizer Foam" does a GREAT job of absorbing shock and circulating air. Use it over a thin square pad.

If your saddle does not have the CAIR panels, then you can have a saddle fitter come out and adjust the wool flocking so that the saddle more closely fits the shape of your horse's back.

I would also have a chiropractor and a massage therapist out to visit him, to get everything straightened back out. Until then, you might want to let him take some time off, and then ride bareback for a while .

[lacski]

Thanks for the advice, luvs2ride. So you don't think it has anything to do with the gullet size? Do you think this will be an issue with other saddles?

Do the CAIR panels cause the problem? I want to buy a close contact saddle, but now I'm nervous about this being an issue with other saddles as well.

[Reitpferde]

Based on you picture and location of the sore spots, I don't think it's the gullet. Luv2ride79 advise is very sound. It is tough to determine, without seeing the saddle on your horse. Regardless, you need to give your cutie (which he is!!!) some rest. Let a vet check him out as well.

[Redfishy]

I also agree, I think your saddle is bridging. Totally separate issue from gullet. My old mare had the same problem with wintec saddles. They just don't fit every horse without some other adjustments.

[luvs2ride79]

No, I wouldn't say it's the gullet size causing the problem, it's the flat panels vs. your horse's "dippy" back. This will be an issue with other Wintecs as most of them seem to be the same design for the panels. Most of the Bates are also similar. It's not the CAIR itself, it's just the shape. The CAIR limits your ability to make changes though, so for your horse, I would invest in a WOOL flocked saddle. That way if you find one that fits just right, but still bridges, you can have a saddle fitter adjust the flocking to accommodate for that.

Dippy backed horses seem to do well Stubben and Courbette saddles. Both have some rock to their trees. With your horse's withers, I'd look for a saddle with a partially cutback pommel, to make sure he has plenty of clearance there. If you start adding wither relief or lift front pads, you can change the fit of your saddle and end up making it pinch him at the shoulders/withers.

Stubben's Roxane has a nice partially cut back pommel. Courbette Aristrokrat, Stylist, and Vision all have partially cut back pommels too. To find out what size tree you need, do a wither tracing with a coat hanger. Bend it to fit his back 2" behind the shoulder blade. Trace it on paper or cardboard. Mark off 7" straight down from the top of his wither (so the mark will be in the middle of the "horse"). Measure straight across there in CM or multiply the inch measurement by 2.54 to get CMs. Now, take that measurement and subtract 5. That is your Courbette tree size (round up to the nearest whole number). To get your Stubben tree size, subtract 6.

Passiers would be worth a look too. All of those jumping saddles with have cut back pommels. I'm not as familiar with how they fit though. Rick's is a good source for Passier's, and they will help you with a wither tracing for them.
http://www.saddlesource.com
Passiers are harder to find used though, especially the close contact models. They're not as popular here in the USA are they are in Europe.

[Redfishy]

Originally Posted by luvs2ride79

Passiers would be worth a look too. All of those jumping saddles with have cut back pommels. I'm not as familiar with how they fit though. Rick's is a good source for Passier's, and they will help you with a wither tracing for them.
http://www.saddlesource.com
Passiers are harder to find used though, especially the close contact models. They're not as popular here in the USA are they are in Europe.

I ment to mention that but forgot! I ended up getting a Passier from Rick's for my old mare. They were wonderful to work with, esp since I couldn't go to the store! I love my Passier though, really nice leather and is 30+ yrs old and still looks great!
My gelding that can't wear Wintec's has a Toulouse CC which seems to be between the Passier and Wintec.

[JBandRio]

Yep, it does sound like bridging. That is one problem that I will rarely, rarely fix long-term with padding. The center shims work, but given that you have a mis-match between saddle shape and back shape, it's not something I'd do long-term for this horse.

[lacski]

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Oddly enough, Brady's former owner just called to check on him and I found out that he used a wintec pro dressage w/MEDIUM gullet when he rode him and never had any problems. He Didn't have the CAIR panels though. A woman at my barn has the wool-flocked model so I may give that a try to see if it makes any difference. If not, I'll be heading to Rick's saddle shop to try some of the brands that you'll have suggested. Here are two pics with the saddle on him (again, the best pics i have right now). THe first is with the WIDE gullet, and as I'm looking at this, it appears as though the pommel is lower than cantle. Second pic, is a schooling pic with the M/W gullet. I have a cushy seat saver on the saddle, but it still looks like the pommel is lower. What do you think??

and the M/W gullet...

[JBandRio]

Need better pictures than those, sorry

The pommel/cantel relationship is an iffy one. How a saddle is cut can make one or the other appear "too high" or "too low", when the balance of the saddle is perfect.

The better view is to look at the center (front to back) of the saddle in relation to the lowest point of the curve of the seat. Use a pencil laid sideways across the seat to find that lowest point. If it's behind the middle, the front is too elevated (either due to being too forward, or too narrow), and if it's in front of the middle, the front is too low (either due to being toooo wide, or the way the panels sit on the back (ie banana-shaped on a flat back, etc).