Saddle question - is this normal?

[Hollyhorse]

I bought a new dressage saddle for my boy last week! Tried over 10 saddles including passier, ideal, kieffer, jaguar... n ended up with an albion ultima platinum, expensive taste I know but I loved it straight away

Anyway I've ridden in it a few times n have noticed that when his shoulder moves back it bulges in front of the saddle - is this normal? I've never noticed this before with other saddles, but that doesn't mean that it didn't happen! I rang the saddler and asked about it as I was worried it meant his shoulder wasn't moving freely etc, n he said that it's just the skin and could be that he has lots of loose skin and that it's not something to worry about, he's going to call me tomorrow morning to chat about it properly as he was in the middle of a fitting when we talked today. So I was just hoping for some feedback about whether this is normal or whether I should be worried? He talked me through the fitting at the time, explaining about how the point of the saddle was parallel to my horse's side etc so it seemed ok but I want to check as I leave Southampton on saturday and so if necessary I need to sort anything out by then! Any advice would be great

Thanks!

 

[archie1]

my big shoulder horse bunchs in front of the saddle though it fits perfectly and does not restrict any movement. if it fits, is comfy and you like it then can you let everyone know where you got it as noone seems to be able to get a decent saddle round here!!!

 

[Hollyhorse]

Thanks for the words of reassurance - I would be really upset if I found it wasn't comfortable for my horse as I like it so much and have tried LOADS of saddles so that's really saying something! I'm going to talk to the saddler tomorrow to double check it's completely right as my worry is it's slightly on the tight side and this will only get worse as he muscles up - he's only rising 6 so will definitely change shape!

 

[Donkeymad]

Sounds to me as if you may have placed the saddle too far forward on your horse. Can you try placing it back a bit and see what happens? You really shouldn't be getting that with a dressage saddle.

 

[Hollyhorse]

Good point but actually if anything I put the saddle too far back! I will double check tomorrow though as you're right that would suggest it's too far forward, it's hard when he's so short-coupled but I would say that I'm in general really careful about putting it far back enough.

 

[KatB]

Replied to your other post

Also, if your horse changes shape, a majority of the time if he is a master saddler they can just adjust the flocking for you....your horse shouldnt change an excessive amount now at 6

Mine gets adjusted a couple of times a year.