high withered horses and saddle fitting

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wench

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just a quick question - how easy is it to fit a saddle for a high withered horse?

I could only unfortunatly afford a cheapish saddle, and was told i had to put one of those nasty half pads under it to make it fit properly. So i am assuming not a properly fitted saddle. Having said that I only go hacking so its a bit different to a top level sj/eventer etc.

Secondly, is there any way of replacing the foul thing. The one I had to buy is a very impractical colour. I have a nice fluffy fake sheepskin numnah, which I am thinking may work, or how about something like a prolite pad?
 
Wintec do a reasonably priced pad, either plain or front or back risers, so one of those might help, that or a couple of numnahs although the purist in me is saying you should try to save up for a saddle that fits.
 
I am well aware that he could prob do with a better one...
frown.gif
 
My saddle fits my boy well. He has high withers but is a good medium fit where the points sit. Because of this, i use a prolite pad which lifts the saddle slightly to help with the high withers. It was professionally fitted with the prolite and he is very comfortable with this .
 
I had to have a saddle made for my boy because nothing would fit him. He is German bred and has high withers. I harmed his back using my old horses GP saddle on him for hacking and ended up getting the back lady out to him. She hacking is worse than anything else because you tend to sit on the back for longer. Might be worth getting a proper saddle fitter out and see if they have any 2nd hand saddles that could be restuffed to fit your horse.
 
I had problems with my last horses high withers. Got so called saddle fitter out and it still didnt fit who to be fair did refund my money in the end after numerous more attempts to fit one. Be careful that you dont tip your saddle backwards by raising the front as all your weight could get pushed to the back and cause back problems for your horse.
I sympathise with you, finding a saddle that fits is a nightmare. good luck
 
I have the same problem with my horse who also is a true narrow fit- at the moment he is in a narrow close contact and a medium/narrow dressage- I am saving for a wow but in the mean time use a sheepskin pad, and have regular physio check ups.
I fitted both saddles myself and then had a saddle fitter check them out for me, he says that they are probably the best fit he could get with out making a made to measure, I still worry constantly about it tho- infuriating isn't it.
 
My boy has HUGE withers, I have his saddle looked at at least once a year, I use a prolite wither pad rather than a riser. His sadlle fits very well, but if I could I would have one made for him rather than have to use the prolite.
 
Oh I forgot to say, I also use nothing but numed high wither numnahs on him and he has massage and bowen work every month to keep his back in good working order.
 
i was very lucky in that i went to a saddler who had just made a saddle for a high withered horse and the person cancelled the order.

Have you tried phoning a few saddlers and asking if they have any saddles suitable for high withered horses in stock. You could then get some moudable wire, measure your horses withers and then drawn around it on some card. Then take your wirre and card to the saddlers. Fit the wire inside the pommel of the saddle then see if it macthes your template from your horses withers. obvoiusly there is the rest of the saddle to ensure it fits(both you and and the horse) but i find this method helps with high withered horses if you cant get a saddle fitter out.
 
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