Presure balancing sadle pads

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Redsara

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I notice my horse gets tender just under where the back of the sadle fits after a ride of more than a couple of hours. Presently I ride with a plain numnah. The sadle has been recently checked by a qualified sadle fitter and fits well. I am at the top weight for her to carry and so I'm looking for the best presure relieving/balancing half pad. I was told leMieux were the best but, after looking at their website, still don't know which to choose. Any suggestions would be welcomed pleasr
 
I would disagree with your saddle fitter, sorry. If you put anything thick under your saddle its going to get narrowed at the front. If you use a rear riser to alter the balance you will cause the angle of the points of the tree to change in relation to the horse and they could then dig into the shoulders.

I'm only guessing (I'm not a saddle fitter) but increased pressure under the rear of the saddle can be from a pommel that's too high tipping you towards the back, or from the saddle being too small for you so you end up sitting more towards the cantle. Or if its not increased pressure as such, could the saddle have been fitted a fraction long for the horse in order to accomodate you and on long rides the back muscles under where the saddle shouldn't be, get sore? I have a friend whose saddle fitter sold her a normal 18" saddle for a 13.2hh pony due to the rider needing that size. I have no faith in them.

At the very least increased pressure at the back of the saddle could be caused by lumpy flocking there, which could be helped with a limpet saddle pad 20mm (or a reflock!) but again using a thick pad would narrow your saddle.

I don't see how the saddle fitter can say the saddle is fine, when you think you need a saddle pad to redistribute pressure or balance the saddle.

The last thing I can think of if your saddle fitter really is right, is that perhaps you're just too heavy for the amount of riding you want to do on this particular horse. And that's not me saying you're overweight, just maybe too heavy for the horse unless you stick to shorter rides.
 
I would agree that if the saddle fits both you and the horse there should not be soreness after a few hours, as long as the horse has been fittened up to the work. If this is happening I would try..

1. do you use a numnah with collar on it, as if the collar is too tight to the saddle the numnah can cause a pressure area. I often see numnahs fitted like this. Collars have to be well clear of the panels.

2. The saddle may be too small for you, as in post above, so you are sitting too far onto the cantle.

3. The horse has not had his work built up slowly or well - horses need to carry us with active back muscles, and core muscles. If you are slopping along I have known sore backs as the horse is sway backed in its way of going. I have known this make horses sore even when the saddle and numnah fit, and the rider is an appropriate weight for the horse.

4. Are you lolling in the saddle? It is possible for the lightest rider to cause a sore back if they are lounging in the saddle and not using core muscles to keep their weight above themselves.

5. Second opinion on saddle fit? I love the Le Mieux saddle pads, gorgeous and springy, but the saddle will have to be fitted with it, not fitted correctly with a thin numnah then a thick one added. If all else is good you can "get away" with it, but as there is clearly a problem already I would take the time and trouble to have the saddler back and fit with the appropriate pad.

6. If all of the above do not help it may be as well to consider that although you are fine for up to 2 hours on this horse, as you say you are at the upper weight for it, then 2 hours may be your limit.



I guess no 5 is the direct answer to your question, but all 6 need considering.
 
^^^
This

I had a simular problem, the saddle was tipping back and causing soreness. I had several fitters out and ended up having another saddle. My horse became very tight in the back and I had the chiro vet several times to sort out his back, which was expensive. Having worked out what is happening I would not usethe saddle until it had been checked again. Work on your seat bareback....always fun.

ps.....I now have a heather moffett treeless..............:D
 
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