Saddle fit advice

[Lovemarmite]

Afternoon,
My usual saddle fitter still hasn't managed to get back to me despite a few reminder messages, I am guessing he has lots to catch up on, I did sent the attached photos for advice but still no joy so I may book in with someone else, I have changed the gullet to the smallest width they do in the wide version wondering if its still sitting a little low on his shoulders? I've yet to sit on it with the new gullet, can anyone give me their opinion at all? Thank you

 

[IrishMilo]

Looks a touch too narrow with not enough spine clearance.

 

[Polos Mum]

NOT an expert but - Looks too narrow to me, if you look where the central point is it's quite far back and likely to tip you back as a rider (it doesn't look so bad in the last pick) The pick with your hand in also supports it being too narrow and sitting too high - should be 2 fingers - you have 4 in there so will wobble and tip you back.

Is it positioned too far forward? it might sit better a little further back and it looks like you have back length / last rib clearance to allow that?

Has it been fitted to this horse before and just a check you're waiting on? It does look tight on his shoulders but that's shape of tree rather than width.

 

[sbloom]

Looks a touch too narrow with not enough spine clearance.

NOT an expert but - Looks too narrow to me, if you look where the central point is it's quite far back and likely to tip you back as a rider (it doesn't look so bad in the last pick) The pick with your hand in also supports it being too narrow and sitting too high - should be 2 fingers - you have 4 in there so will wobble and tip you back.

Is it positioned too far forward? it might sit better a little further back and it looks like you have back length / last rib clearance to allow that?

Has it been fitted to this horse before and just a check you're waiting on? It does look tight on his shoulders but that's shape of tree rather than width.

For my taste the channel is a smidge narrow, and the panels are set too high at the front, but that's Wintecs. It's not badly placed, it could possibly go a few mm further back but no more, that will bring the front down (and I am passionate about saddles being back off the shoulder!).

You can't tell it's too narrow, we don't have enough information, the front photos are a little too close and slightly the wrong angle, it's not easy to get the photos bang on. You can't judge the fit over the back of the shoulders either. again not enough info.

Two fingers clearance girthed up wouldn't usually be enough, in some cases it might, but over 3 is usually better, maybe 3-5 girthed, 2-3 mounted, but it depends on the saddle balance, the profile down the front etc etc.

It looks like there's plenty of clearance, it's probably tipping back a tiny bit but you have no groundline for reference. With you on board it will come down more in front than at the back, but if you're tall, or it really is tipping back too much already, then you'll sit on the cantle and the back will drop at least as much as the front (see why not seeing a saddle ridden at a fitting is no use!?).

Photo guide https://www.ahsaddles.com/photos-for-a-saddle-adjustment

 

[Bernster]

So many saddle threads (inc from me)! Everyone must be getting back into it after lock down with, in my case at least, horses who have changed shape (lock down weight gain for us both!).

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I know sbloom is the expert but it looks to be sitting too far forward to me. I would think that it impedes the shoulder, And yes, from what we can see it looks to be too narrow.

 

[sbloom]

I know sbloom is the expert but it looks to be sitting too far forward to me. I would think that it impedes the shoulder, And yes, from what we can see it looks to be too narrow.

I actually think you're not far off in terms of the nearside photo, the offside one looks better, this indicates some kind of likely asymmetry unless the saddle had been moved,

 

[Lovemarmite]

Thanks all, lots of helpful things to get started with, wonder if I should put the bigger gullet back in and try again with photos, I think it could come back a smidgen more without impeding on his last rib, I just stupidly believed that because he had lost weight that his saddle would be too big but his barrel is the same size if that makes sense? Yes this was the original saddle that the saddle fitter fitted for him and the one I wanted to check, he had been quite choppy at times in trot even though we had only done a few strides but that may be foot related (a whole other story) so will see if I can get a photo with me sitting in it, thanks again, the link was extremely helpful

 

[sbloom]

It needs to be off the shoulder, if it goes over the back rib then it's too long, you can't compensate one for the other . I think you've got scope to move it back a little.