Saddle fitting with back riser pad

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Fionamarie

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Hi, I have just bought a new saddle and the saddle fitter fitted it with a pad that had shimmies in the back? My gut tells me this is wrong and the saddle should be fitted without. What do other people think?
 
There many be a case of shimming if your horse needs to gain more weight and/or top line but if it's fully up to weight, mature and correctly muscled then shimming means the saddle is wrong for the horse.
 
My pony would need one whatever the saddle because of the shape of his back. Is yours coming back into work? Sometimes they are fitted as a temporary measure while the back lifts and muscles up.
 
Some horses need room to grow a saddle that fits today in a matter of weeks could be wrong. Horses are individuals and often need different things. I see nothing wrong with appropriately fitted pads. Did you not discuss this with the fitter before purchase? Usually my fitter explains everything and we had a detailed plan on the direction we needed to improve my horse over a 12-24 month period. It pays to be nosy and interested. :D
 
My saddle fitter also set me up with a pad with adjustable elements to it. I have always used it that way - it seems to work well and I am content.
 
It really depends on why it was done .
While it’s the ideal that a saddle fits perfectly with just a thin cloth under it the real world is different in many cases .
And incorrectly fitted back raiser may tip the saddle onto its front and this is sometimes done by fitters who are trying to stop a saddle going forward up the wither which is a nasty frighting problem that comes up with weak horses .
You need to check that the saddle is sitting level on the horses back ,the chances are it’s not a problem but you will need to keep a careful watch on it .
Horses change shape all the time and the use of a pad and shims it’s not necessarily bad .
If you are unsure I would ring the fitter and ask them to explain exactly what they where trying to achieve with the shimming so you understand exactly what you are looking at and for .
If you are not experianced be prepared to pay the fitter to come and check it if you think somethings changed .

If you have one of those pads with lots of shims with it you can try the saddle on the horse in stable with the different shims in front back both and so on to train your eye to recognise the saddle balance .
A saddle should sit level on a horses back .
It’s becomes a habit I look at my saddles every single day it’s as natural as picking out their feet to me , just part of my routine .
 
I would always recommend going back to the fitter and asking for an explanation. If I fit a new saddle with one my customer has a fair bit of paperwork with it explaining the whys and wherefores and yes, it's frequently to cope with muscle loss, or some kind of physical or gain asymmetry/abnormality. Occasionally, very occasionally, a horse will have one long term, but it's rare and is usually down to a quirk of that horse preferring a particular type of panel shape for example that won't balance well on its back. I'm not sure I've met a horse yet that needs one simply because of the natural shape of its back.
 
sbloom said:
I would always recommend going back to the fitter and asking for an explanation. If I fit a new saddle with one my customer has a fair bit of paperwork with it explaining the whys and wherefores and yes, it's frequently to cope with muscle loss, or some kind of physical or gain asymmetry/abnormality. Occasionally, very occasionally, a horse will have one long term, but it's rare and is usually down to a quirk of that horse preferring a particular type of panel shape for example that won't balance well on its back. I'm not sure I've met a horse yet that needs one simply because of the natural shape of its back.
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I am trying with the saddle fitter but unfortunately she won’t respond to any contact. I am left with an expensive saddle which doesn’t fit properly and a pad with shims that she sold me!
 
Im certainly not a saddle fitter but I wouldnt be happy with a new saddle that requires shims to make it fit. I tried one of these pads under a saddle when my horse lost topline and found that it made it bridge and cause more pressure on the points of the saddle. I really hope you can get in touch with her to find out why she did this as there mat be a perfect explanation and not just to make a saddle she had fit your horse. Hope you get it sorted.
 
Fionamarie said:
I am trying with the saddle fitter but unfortunately she won’t respond to any contact. I am left with an expensive saddle which doesn’t fit properly and a pad with shims that she sold me![/QUOTE

What’s the saddle doing ?
Why did you let the saddler sell you a new saddle that needs a raiser pad without understanding what was going on ?
It’s extremely bad the saddler won’t return your calls you need to keep trying .
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Fionamarie said:
I am left with an expensive saddle which doesn’t fit properly and a pad with shims that she sold me!
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If it fits with the pads then I am not immediately seeing the problem. I think it important to look beyond the saddle at the total system. The 'shim' system gives you great flexibility to adjust if your horse changes shape at all, probably more flexibility than a saddle with an adjustable gullet as it allows more precise adjustment. I don't recall you saying that you or your horse were physically uncomfortable. It is worthwhile getting the fit checked in, say, six months as the flocking may settle based on my experience, and also you can check for any changes in your horse.
 
Just today I have had my saddle checked for my old boy and the saddler recommended that I use a Prolite Tripad which I think is what you are describing. Because my boy is getting on now, he is dropping away at the withers and along his back but still fully rideable. The saddler showed me that, although generally the saddle is, as it has always been, a good fit and shape for him, there is now a slight gap in how it sits just behind the skirt edge. She explained that this changes the way my weight is distributed and in order to even this out she suggested a Tripad. I have used an ordinary Prolite for him for some years and it has been great. The Tripad will allow me to add support in the middle section to even out the very slight gap. This means she did not automatically just add flocking which would have just made the underside harder when in fact the rest of the saddle sits very well on him. Of course it’s different in that you have bought a new saddle, but perhaps without explaining it well your saddler is doing it this way to allow for shape changes. You do not say how old your horse is.
 
Louby said:
Im certainly not a saddle fitter but I wouldnt be happy with a new saddle that requires shims to make it fit. I tried one of these pads under a saddle when my horse lost topline and found that it made it bridge and cause more pressure on the points of the saddle.
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This is a danger but absolutely unavoidable in most cases. I like Mattes shims as they are very thin and can layered and sculpted, but you must understand where you need more depth. Usually you wedge up the back but in some cases you need more height further forwards, both must be done very carefully and the contact under the saddle checked with the shims inserted.
 
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