Saddle fit. Dry spots. Riser pad?

AutumnAttic · 04-19-2007, 09:45 PM

My new saddle fit delia fine in the beginning.

Now that she is muscling up, she is getting big dry patches behind her shoulders.

I thought dry patches meant too narrow?

However, when i check the saddle, its as if it fits. . It doesnt pinch her shoulder when i run my hand, and it sits prett evenly. Shes a bit sway backed, so there is a part on the back panel that doesnt really touch her back.

Would a riser pad help this at all?
what would, if anything?

harli36 · 04-20-2007, 05:26 AM

Riser pads make saddles fit worse. They tilt the points of the tree at the front of the saddle down into the shoulders.

Saddle fit even with easy to fit horses is a complicated issue, since your mare is swayed then it's going to be even more complicated. Your best bet is to get a saddle fitter out and have them look at the saddle, they will determine if they can alter the saddle or give you a pad for temporary use that has shims attached to it.

Just_me · 04-20-2007, 05:58 AM

Do you now for sure whether the saddle is to narrow or to wide?The more padding you put under,the more narrow the space gets.For a saddle that is to wide,a pad could solve the problem temporatly.Make sure the pressure points of the saddle are euqal stretched over the back.You want to avoid bridging etc.Do you have a leather saddle?what is it filled with?sometimes re-filling the saddle (or taking out some of the filling) can help to ajust it to the back better.
Can you post pics of the saddle on the horse(without pad)?

Here is a webside that might help you but,your best bet would still be a professional saddle fitter.
~Welcome to The Definitive Online Guide to Saddle Fitting~

Dawn · 04-20-2007, 11:39 AM

A dry spot can happen if it's too narrow or too wide. It's more likely to happen when it's too narrow.

If there's a portion where there's space between her back and the saddle, then the saddle doesn't fit.

Sue B · 04-20-2007, 01:52 PM

In hard to fit horses you can get pressure points that result in ddry spots even if the saddle seems like it fits. Especially with rider wieght and movement of the horse and how the rider sits.

It is not uncommon for horses to "grow" out of their saaddles. When a saddle fits correctly, it has been found that horses that may have had no muscling or had atrophied muscles...may actually muscle up and fill out beyond the range of the saddle that previously fit them. I agree not to use a riser...it will only tilt the saddle. But, one thing that might help.....especially with the bridging issue.....is to try a full riser pad...one that will raise the entire saddle slightly and fill in the gaps along the back.. One like this:
Russo's Tack Shack

04-19-2007, 09:45 PM	#1
AutumnAttic Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 5,600 Images: 108	Saddle fit. Dry spots. Riser pad? My new saddle fit delia fine in the beginning. Now that she is muscling up, she is getting big dry patches behind her shoulders. I thought dry patches meant too narrow? However, when i check the saddle, its as if it fits. . It doesnt pinch her shoulder when i run my hand, and it sits prett evenly. Shes a bit sway backed, so there is a part on the back panel that doesnt really touch her back. Would a riser pad help this at all? what would, if anything? __________________ Amber I've been snowballed.

04-20-2007, 05:26 AM	#2
harli36 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: northeastern Pa Posts: 4,552 Images: 43	Riser pads make saddles fit worse. They tilt the points of the tree at the front of the saddle down into the shoulders. Saddle fit even with easy to fit horses is a complicated issue, since your mare is swayed then it's going to be even more complicated. Your best bet is to get a saddle fitter out and have them look at the saddle, they will determine if they can alter the saddle or give you a pad for temporary use that has shims attached to it. __________________ The Morgan Horse! Everything else is just a horse. http://www.morganhorse.com/ “I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name” It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye *Splat I've been snowballed!!!!!!!!*

04-20-2007, 05:58 AM	#3
Just_me Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: europe-the wide wild world:-) Posts: 2,519 Images: 6	Do you now for sure whether the saddle is to narrow or to wide?The more padding you put under,the more narrow the space gets.For a saddle that is to wide,a pad could solve the problem temporatly.Make sure the pressure points of the saddle are euqal stretched over the back.You want to avoid bridging etc.Do you have a leather saddle?what is it filled with?sometimes re-filling the saddle (or taking out some of the filling) can help to ajust it to the back better. Can you post pics of the saddle on the horse(without pad)? Here is a webside that might help you but,your best bet would still be a professional saddle fitter. ~Welcome to The Definitive Online Guide to Saddle Fitting~ __________________ ,.:+`The OnLy Place Where YoUr DreAms BecOme ImpoSsIble,Is In YoUr Own ThinKing`+:.,

04-20-2007, 01:52 PM	#5
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	In hard to fit horses you can get pressure points that result in ddry spots even if the saddle seems like it fits. Especially with rider wieght and movement of the horse and how the rider sits. It is not uncommon for horses to "grow" out of their saaddles. When a saddle fits correctly, it has been found that horses that may have had no muscling or had atrophied muscles...may actually muscle up and fill out beyond the range of the saddle that previously fit them. I agree not to use a riser...it will only tilt the saddle. But, one thing that might help.....especially with the bridging issue.....is to try a full riser pad...one that will raise the entire saddle slightly and fill in the gaps along the back.. One like this: Russo's Tack Shack __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

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04-20-2007, 11:39 AM	#4
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 31,484 Images: 1390	A dry spot can happen if it's too narrow or too wide. It's more likely to happen when it's too narrow. If there's a portion where there's space between her back and the saddle, then the saddle doesn't fit.