Saddle fitting problems and Prolite Pads

[ponieslovered]

I had a Keifer GP saddle fitted to my horse end january 2010 and it fitted perfectly - and its comfy for me to. Over the last couple of weeks i have noticed that when removing the saddle he has rub marks on his right shoulder. The previous owner said she used a front pad raiser as the saddle she had tended to move forwards. i havnt used a pad, but just wanted to ask you guys for advice, do you think that if the saddle is moving forwards that it would rub on just one side ?. When i remove the saddle after working him, it dosnt seem to have moved forwards, its abit confusing. The last time i rode - monday this week, when i went to put the saddle on, he was kicking his back legs at me, so he's trying to tell me something. He's had his back checked, and i have booked the saddle man for this friday (good friday), I would hate to buy another saddle and the same thing happen, i have never used a prolite pad, so im in the dark really. in my mind, if the saddle is tight and restricting on one side, if i put a pad underneath, wouldnt it make it even tighter for him to move ? he's a 16.3 TB - thanks for any help

 

[mattilda]

Front and back raisers just sit under the gullet and lift the front or back slightly to make a better fit. I have used them but don't really like to do so as I feel the saddle should be fitted . I have used them as a temporary measure whilst waiting for the saddle fitter to come out.

 

[Donkeymad]

Is he equal on both sides? By that I mean, if you look at him has he larger muscles/fat mass or anything on side than the other? It sounds very much to me that he is not equal, and this is the case with a large number of horses. If a saddle fits, a prolite pad should really not be necessary.
See what your saddler says, and ask them to check for any uneveness.

 

[Teddybully]

See what your saddler says but I bought an adjustable prolite pad last week and now my horse doesn't retreat to the back of the stable when the saddle appears (which was also said to be ok by master saddler).

He seems a lot happier with the pad on so I would recommend them.

 

[Tharg]

Could the saddle be crooked in that one side extends further than the other? Hold the back of the saddle to your upper leg and hook your finger into the middle of the pomel and you should be able to draw an imaginary line along the front of the saddle.

 

[domane]

Prolite pads have their place as a temporary measure - they come with different-sized shims so you can fill gaps and as your horse muscles up you can gradually remove them. If your saddle fitted "perfectly" originally, I would be asking why it's rubbing now on the right. Has the horse changed shape? If you stand on a mounting block by his tail and look along is spine, is there less muscle on the right? If so, you may need to do some specific work to re-build this. If there is no muscle atrophy, then it sounds like your saddle will need some reflocking. Your saddler should be able to sort it out on Friday

Prolites shouldn't really be used permanently... it would be far better to have a correctly fitted saddle.

 

[Hippona]

An 'ordinary' prolite- that is, not a front or rear riser, just the bog-standard gel pad...(or saddle cloth with gel pad incorporated)....does not affect the saddle fit, it just provides extra cushioning and spreads the weight more evenly and avoids pressure points. I use them....my horse definately is more comfortable with one.

A lot of 'back people' recommend them for comfort, not to make a badly fitting saddle fit.

 

[Fransurrey]

I would also get yourself checked. Sometimes we can get lopsided, particularly if we've had an accident and the muscles adapt to a new posture. I don't suppose you've got access to a camcorder? I suggest that as I know that if anybody sees me ride, I try extra hard to be in the correct position, so the observer wouldn't actually see if there was any lop-sidedness in my normal riding!

I would think a prolite pad would exacerbate this problem rather than solve it, as it's rubbing on one side. I do use one, but mine is without shims and is a shock absorbing pad, rather than a fit adjuster.

 

[Hippona]

I would also get yourself checked. Sometimes we can get lopsided, particularly if we've had an accident and the muscles adapt to a new posture. I don't suppose you've got access to a camcorder? I suggest that as I know that if anybody sees me ride, I try extra hard to be in the correct position, so the observer wouldn't actually see if there was any lop-sidedness in my normal riding!

I would think a prolite pad would exacerbate this problem rather than solve it, as it's rubbing on one side. I do use one, but mine is without shims and is a shock absorbing pad, rather than a fit adjuster.

Re getting yourself checked- great idea. I had a stiff back for many years on the left side.....I didnt realise how crooked I was sitting until I noticed my car seat covers were all rucked and twisted....so I must have been doing something similar to my poor horse.......now my back is sorted and I am much looser, its easier to ride and my horse goes better too.