help with saddle fitting dilema

[1Lucie]

I purchased an Albion Gp saddle for my horse in October from a master saddler and had it fitted correctly. The saddle has been fine and had no problems.

However, i recently had the back lady out who has said that the front of the saddle is too low and needs flocking to bring the saddle up by about 2inches. This is because he has lost a fair bit of weight during winter and muscle.

I am currently in the process of building him back up again and he is putting the weight back on now. The back lady has said until i do something with my saddle she recommends i do not ride.

However, i am having serious problems getting an appointment with a saddler as they are all booked up until end of May. I am also concerned that his saddle will have extra flocking only to need unflocking within a very short time.

I am currently lunging him minus tack to help him build up and he will probably be back to normal by the time i can get a saddler.

A friend has suggested i get/borrow a gel pad in the interim. I am torn as to what to do? I have always been taught to get saddles fitted etc.

Can anyone advise me? (ps i only want a master saddler to fit my saddle due to a few horror stories locally)

 

[M_G]

Book an appointment with a master saddler and dont ride until the saddle has been re-flocked, its perfectly normal to have a new saddle checked and adjusted afer a few months of use when the flocking has bedded in.

 

[sbloom]

How confident are you to assess the balance of a saddle from front to back? I'd be happy to help with photos. I personally never recommend gel pads, Prolite is so-so, but I do like Mattes Correction pads for these sorts of issues and because they can help shim for asymmetry as well as front to back balance they are useful to have in the tack room. I use them for al remedial fitting and might recommend one in this case if I was your fitter. As you say, if it is down to change of condition of the horse and not just about the flocking compressing (which it does, most people should have their saddles checked 1-3 months after it is first fitted because of this) then padding might be as better option than flocking. The pad is pricey but you can learn to shim yourself to it can save you flocking adjustments in the long term, overseen by a trained fitter.

BUT of course, you'd be much better having a fitter to check it. I would recommend doing as much lunging, longlining, in hand work etc and keep riding to a minimum, even if you can get the saddle in balance with a pad.

 

[1Lucie]

Umm think ill go with my original gut instiinct and get the saddler, might see if i can go on stand by for cancellations. Thanks for the responses!