Mattes saddle pad and Solution saddle

[Marigold4]

My young horse is in a Solutions Saddle (the old "popular" version), size 3, dressage. It's a pretty good fit, considering he's short backed and also flat backed, but with quite a broad, high wither (he's a small WB). Saddle needs a bit of lift over the wither. He's been wearing a KM Elite sheepskin numnah underneath which I feel works reasonably well but perhaps a bit low so I'm looking for a little more lift.
Today I tried just a Mattes half pad but without a saddle pad/ numnah underneath. - just the half-pad. Mattes half-pad is thicker than KM Elite numnah so lifted the saddle a little more but seemed too bulky with anything else under.
Does any else do this (just a half pad) or am I asking for trouble? Might the saddle flaps or girth straps rub?


Just to add horse has regular visits from well-respected physio, regular contact from vet, saddle fitted by specialist Solutions saddle fitter and she's been back 4 times in 12 months, horse schooled by professional dressage rider weekly and, no, I don't believe in diagnosing horse problems using crystals.

 

[sbloom]

If the saddle was stable then it's worth a try if you're borrowing or using something you own. If you're buying get a half lined numnah, definitely better, but a half pad alone is usually okay (no rubs) if the saddle is stable with it.

 

[Marigold4]

If the saddle was stable then it's worth a try if you're borrowing or using something you own. If you're buying get a half lined numnah, definitely better, but a half pad alone is usually okay (no rubs) if the saddle is stable with it.

thanks, that reassuring to know. I tried it again today and he seemed pretty happy.

 

[marmalade76]

I more often than not use a half pad alone, with some they're too bulky to use with a pad underneath and I've also found that they can be better than a full numnah, eg, when I've been hunting and the numnah had wrinkled up when I tighted my girth whilst mounted and it made my horse sore on his side, you don't get this problem with a half pad.

As for the saddle rubbing without a full numnah, my aunt always used to say " if your saddle fits, you don't need a numnah" , in other words, you should be able to use a saddle with no numnah at all.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks. That's reassuring to know. He certainly seems happy in just the half pad.

 

[Jellymoon]

If it needs lift over the whither then how about trying front shims?

 

[Marigold4]

If it needs lift over the whither then how about trying front shims?

Trouble is, because he has a wither but also a flat back, if I lift it in front it tips saddle back so my weight is moreis in the wrong place. He's a tricky horse to fit but the half pad seems to work well.