Saddle lifting at back?

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teach

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I have just tried my old horses saddle (a Bates jump saddle) on my 3yrold as he needs to do some long reining to build up his back end as he has locking stifles.

It fits well at the front, but lifts a little at the back when he drops his head down....should I pad it at the front to lift it? I suspect this is happening because he is croup high again at the moment.

He is not going to be ridden until the new year, so wouldn't actually be sat on with saddle like this.

Ta for reading...
 
It may be that it's a tad wide at the front - that tends to make them lift at the back. Being croupe high won't help. If you're going to pad it, make sure you don't then make it too narrow, and also ensure that there's no pressure placed on the spine because of the padding.

Believe me, I've recently become an expert on saddles that lift at the back, and croupe high/weak backed horses! I've ended up investing in Flair.
 
No! Dont pad it! Bates/wintec saddles have a 'banana' shaped tree so often lift at the back, let alone on an undeveloped youngster. Narrowing the gullet at the front will not help, just cause more problems by pinching behind the shoulders. Padding just moves the pressure from one place to another. It does not solve the problem i.e. the saddle doesnt fit, it just causes other problems.

The saddle doesnt fit, so dont use it. You are about to start your horses education that will stay with him for life. It is vital to make sure the saddle fits, even without a rider. Any pain/discomfort now is asking for trouble. You just cannot expect a horse to happily accept a rider if his saddle doesnt fit.

Use a roller for long reining instead then when he is ready to be ridden get him his own saddle. Bear in mind that you may need to change it several times in the first year or two of the horses working life.

I cannot emphasise enough that you musnt 'make do' with a saddle on any horse, let alone one at the start of his education.
 
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my wintec is very straight rather than banana shaped-maybe its an older style or something

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wintecs are banana-tastic... i love them... but they just don't fit my straight backed horsey...
smile.gif
 
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No! Dont pad it! Bates/wintec saddles have a 'banana' shaped tree so often lift at the back, let alone on an undeveloped youngster. Narrowing the gullet at the front will not help, just cause more problems by pinching behind the shoulders. Padding just moves the pressure from one place to another. It does not solve the problem i.e. the saddle doesnt fit, it just causes other problems.

The saddle doesnt fit, so dont use it. You are about to start your horses education that will stay with him for life. It is vital to make sure the saddle fits, even without a rider. Any pain/discomfort now is asking for trouble. You just cannot expect a horse to happily accept a rider if his saddle doesnt fit.

Use a roller for long reining instead then when he is ready to be ridden get him his own saddle. Bear in mind that you may need to change it several times in the first year or two of the horses working life.

I cannot emphasise enough that you musnt 'make do' with a saddle on any horse, let alone one at the start of his education.

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defo... ^^^ what teddyt says ^^^
 
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my wintec is very straight rather than banana shaped-maybe its an older style or something

[/ QUOTE ]

The saddle may seem to be, but the tree won't be.

Pretty much agree with teddyt, please, do not use this saddle.
 
I tried the saddle with the med gullet in and it fitted loads better! Not tight at the front or nipping at all, he seemed happy in it and there were no pressure marks at all after he had been worked.

Don't worry, there's no way I would work him in a saddle that didn't fit.

Thanks for all your advice
 
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