What is he telling me about his saddle fit?

[Tootsie4U]

I bought a new dressage saddle but haven't been riding in it because even my untrained eye can see that its cantle low. I am having zero luck finding a saddler (despite asking my vet, farrier, friends and tack shop employees) so went out and bought a wedge pad this weekend to try to band-aid the problem until I do find somebody to fix it properly. It has helped the balance problem.

While traveling up the long sides of the arena, he will stretch down and round and even trot nose to the ground if I give him the reins but at the slightest hint of a bend on the short side, he starts going like a giraffe and throws his neck and head to the left (both directions although more severely traveling right). If I really get after him to bend, he starts rushing and weirdly goes into a fast canter.

He is a wide boy and it is a wide tree. I bought the saddle second hand and its in near new condition.

Im wondering why he'll stretch his back up into the saddle if going straight (indicating he can move fine in it) but once he needs to bend in it, he cant.

If the tree is pinching the shoulders he shouldnt even want to trot nose to ground. Would a horse act like this if the tree were broken?

I should mention he does not do this in his old saddle. I just rode him in the dressage saddle tonight. He was ridden in the old saddle a few days ago.

[KarinUS]

My guess would have been too narrow.

Does the seat have any flex to it? Did you test it for the more obvious signs of broken tree?

[Tootsie4U]

It could still be too narrow. :confused: I know the basics about how a saddle 'should' fit but Im not a professional. I will tell you though that I can stick almost my entire fist into the gullet while Im riding and I dont notice any pinching spots. Sweat patterns are pretty much even along the contact points. Its a Duette, so its made specially for the wide horses.

I tried testing for a broken tree when it came in and I didnt see any give.

Neartest saddler I found is 6 hours away. She wants $350 just to drive out to me and that doesnt include any work on the saddle. Worst comes to worst, I'll have to have her out but I'll end up spending more on the fitting than I did on the saddle :D

What do you think about him being able to work long and low in it at one point but then going opposite spectrum if he's asked to bend?

[julia gulia]

Just a thought for you Tootsie but do you have an Equine Chiropractor? If so, you may want to have then check out the saddle fit for you while you try to figure something out. If you have one that is well qualified and experienced...they can be very helpful in this area.:)

[Tootsie4U]

Thats a good idea. The vet *should* know of someone like that...

[julia gulia]

http://www.animalchiropractic.org/default2.htm

[Yann]

I will tell you though that I can stick almost my entire fist into the gullet while Im riding

That doesn't sound right to me - unless he has no wither at all it sounds like it's either too narrow or there's too much flocking for him in the pommel area which is why your balance is wrong front to back. Does he react the same way on both reins?

The lack of saddle fitters must be a nightmare :( Not that we are well blessed in our part of the world but at least we have poohsmate over here :)

[Bebe]

At a guess, without any other info, I'd say that the points of the saddle are digging into your horse when he's asked to bend, which leads me to believe it's too narrow.

I've never tried getting my fist in the gullet of my saddle but I suspect it wouldn't go. Basically at the wither you're looking for clearance of 2-3 fingers (this is generally considered ideal) height. Whether the saddle is wide enough for your horse beyond that is determined by the way the points of the saddle (which are hidden, you have to imagine them; they'll follow the line of the stitching at the front of the saddle) lay over the horses body. They should run parallel to the horses body.

[connieD]

i also think too narrow, if it is it could be sitting too high at the front and hence its pommel high. when he turns left or right it would pinch as he turns
hope you get it sorted

[KarinUS]

What do you think about him being able to work long and low in it at one point but then going opposite spectrum if he's asked to bend?
I think that still sounds more consistent with too narrow or otherwise hurting treepoints rather than broken tree. (turn = inside shoulder back = ouch)
Have you thought of emailing Gal? She's still alive. ;)
Don't PM her though. Use her email from her website.

[Shadowlark]

That doesn't sound right to me - unless he has no wither at all )

hehehe he's a Morgan.. he has no wither :) They are short backed, round as barrels have almost no girth groove and HUGE shoulder action.. Everyones fave combo for finding a ***ing saddle that fits. (can you tell I have played this game?)

Can you snap a whack of shots and maybe hit Pooh's mate up for some thoughts?

Big second on the Chiro - mine has a wealth of knowledge on saddle fit also, so you may get a 2 for 1 out of the deal. It may have nada to do with the saddle fit and everything to do with an out back or similar.

Either way.. I TOTALY UNDERSTAND!!!