Coblover63
Well-Known Member
I have a horse that isn't comfortable in a "fitted" saddle. In the first year of owning him we tried seven saddles and each one would be fine at first but then he'd start stretching his neck and shoulders down as if it were pinching and tweaking. Then a friend offered me a saddle that was a little too wide so I padded it out with a Prolite and.... SUCCESS! My boy's been very happy in it for over a year now, with no issues and no soreness (have the saddle and his back checked regularly)
I've had it drummed in to me so much about how a saddle should fit correctly, not be padded out long term BUT my husband is the same, he wears baggy clothing and if something is too tight he gets grumpy and fidgetty so I can kinda see where my horse is coming from, even if it goes against the grain of everything I've ever been told.
A few months ago, I did revert and try him in a closer fitting saddle again, just to see how he'd react and within minutes he was stretching and fidgetting again...
Trust me to get an odd one!
I've had it drummed in to me so much about how a saddle should fit correctly, not be padded out long term BUT my husband is the same, he wears baggy clothing and if something is too tight he gets grumpy and fidgetty so I can kinda see where my horse is coming from, even if it goes against the grain of everything I've ever been told.
A few months ago, I did revert and try him in a closer fitting saddle again, just to see how he'd react and within minutes he was stretching and fidgetting again...
Trust me to get an odd one!
. He's a horse that lifts up through his back & shoulders when he works, plus he has a big front on him,& I think he just needs to have room to do that comfortably. When he does much school work he needs a much wider headplate in than when he's hacking because he really muscles up & widens out - he'd be a nightmare to keep in a conventional saddle, I'd probably need at least three!