Saddle fitting

[Nicolaa]

Have just got my pony back from being out on loan but I've had the gullet in my saddle changed to fit my horse. It's is now a narrow/wide and for my pony it was a wide. Would it be okay if I were to ride him in it using a half pad ? It wouldnt be for long he should be going again in a week or so but it is just to keep his fitness up x

Thanks

 

[forestfantasy]

narrow/wide???? Do you mean narrow/medium?

I'd not ride if the saddle didn't fit, i'd just lunge to keep his fitness up, if it's too narrow it will pinch.

 

[Nicolaa]

Yeah sorry narrow/medium is what I ment

 

[ThePony]

No it won't be ok - it means it won't fit him, and if he is a wide then it will be massively too small! A half pad doesn't make it ok or comfy for him I'm afraid. At best you put a pony through pain or discomfort just so you can ride more quickly, at worse you show him that work = pain and that will take some time to fix. I would spend the week doing groundwork and lunging instead, or leave him to chill out in the field.

(Sorry if that sounds ranty, I just can't understand why people would do it to a horse, and lots of people on my yard do which drives me insane!!).

 

[sbloom]

I'd never advise padding a too-narrow saddle even as a temporary measure. I would set the saddle to a medium and use a good pad for the narrower horse - you MUST ensure the saddle is in balance for both of them, good eyes on the ground are needed because it must be in balance with you riding, especially in trot. The only pad I use for remedial fits is a Mattes correction pad - expensive but with four pockets it can be used for rear rise, front riser or for asymmetries.

I may fit and sell saddles for a living but we have to be pragmatic - a saddle for each of them would be much better - and definitely don't try to change the gullet twice a day even if you could be bothered! - but sometimes needs must. Just try and get a saddle for each of them as soon as you can.

I did just read again (doh) and saw that it's for a week only - I'd also suggest not riding, it seems a lot easier than slightly compromising the fit for your horse.