still having saddle problems

[WoodysMum]

Following on from my thread http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3394888/an/0/page/3#3394888, I went and bought a prolite wide relief pad (still waiting for the stubben girth to arrive)

My boy has had about 2 weeks off work, but refused to even let me get on tonight! He has had a habit of playing up at the mounting block for about a year now whether his saddle fits or not but decided to do it again tonight even though he had stopped doing it for a while...I then eventually got on and he didnt seem very happy under saddle, so Im guessing the saddle still isnt any more comfortable with the prolite pad

I had it pulled up into the gullet as he seemed slightly more comfortable with it like that?

Anyway, here are some pictures after I rode (I apologise for him looking like a hippy and needing a wee!) to show the uneven hair and sweat marks

Prolite pad after being ridden (it was pulled up slightly into the gullet when used)

(his back leg was left behind slightly in this)


I know he has muscle wastage, but it was absolutely awful when I got him 2 years ago and Im still trying to get rid of it now!


Any advice? I'm at my wit's end

Thanks for reading this far! *cookies*

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I am a total numpty when it comes to saddle fitting but - bearing that in mind - it looks as if the prolite panel is coming way too far forward with at least a third of it right up on his withers. I'm struggling with my veteran as he has a dipped back and is a little croup high and the first thing you see on his ordinary numnah is sweaty and grubby at the front, ditto at the back, middle as newly bought from the shop, not a mark on it. Difficult to tell with the pic of your prolite. Have you got a pic of a post-ride numnah showing sweat/pressure points? Give me a few days and I might have some info for you on a product that I'd never heard of before but a fellow member put me onto. It's the davidahnequine pad which is a cross between a prolite and a bean bag. The idea is brilliantly simple. Bean bags mold instantly and perfectly to whatever is put on them. Incorporate this into a saddle pad and you could have a winner on your hands. I ordered one (still on valium as cheap they ain't!!!) and it arrived today so I'm gonna test it out on El Fatso Saturday if I can find a guinea pig coz I've damaged the flipping cartilage in my knee and can barely hobble.

 

[WoodysMum]

Thanks

is that the suberpad? It is a great idea but unfortunately my funds dont quite stretch to that at the mo'!

 

[niko]

I had real problems trying to find a saddle to suit my mare and I. After 4 months searching (imagine how many saddles!) i got one made for us at no extra cost (pm me if want details) & she looks super comfy in it. Her old saddle was causing her back pain on her right side & she didnt even let me know! Until it started to really hurt & tryed nipping which she never does when girthing. After 5wks out of work & my new saddle i got yesterday i can ride her. I've also started using the aerborn gel pad under the sadldle util she 'trusts' it again. I know its very hardtrying to find something suitable but in the first pic he doesnt look like he has alot of wither & although has muscle wastage looks like a straight topline. Which the make i use are good for those type.

 

[WoodysMum]

Have PMed you

 

[Madasmaz]

Get a Mark Todd Accupressure Pad.....they are fabulous, and I have tried everything on my pony: prolite pad, thinline pad, limpet, sheepskin, sheepskin with risers, polypad, rambo pad, gellee pad. let me know if you want to give any of them a go...LOL. Only the MT Accupressure pad releived what I was getting with my saddle...going back to my original saddle fitter (ex-army) as soon as my pony is fit to ride again.

 

[CBAnglo]

One of my horses hates a prolite as well. He turns into an evil pony tacking up with one on. He has had 3 months of work so has quite a lot of muscle wastage - the only way I can ride him is by adjusting his saddle in increments to fit slightly wide (he has a saddle company saddle and luckily I fit these).

I also use a sheepskin to fill in the gaps where the muscle wastage is and fit the saddle with this in mind. He has been back in work for 3 weeks now, and slowly I can see the muscle forming but I think it would take another 6 months of consistent work before he is back to normal - so frustrating!

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Well, as suggested by a fellow Forum member, I investigated the Suber Pad for my too-fat, croup high, sagging-back veteran. Saddle fitting is a nightmare coz everything bridges badly and I don't know enough about treeless to risk going down that route. Anyway, I read up about the Suber Pad and it sounded ace! So I spoke to the guy who was really helpful. There are testimonials on their website and one was from a lady with a very swaybacked mare so I was hopeful. The company promised a refund if it didn't do the trick so I ordered one - it arrived Saturday and it was tried out today. Whilst I don't think ANY pad can turn a less than perfect saddle into a perfect one, the right one can certainly help. Well, the Suber Pad has done the trick. Even distribution of sweat and hair when I took it off and Sunny was much freer in his shoulder today so I think more comfortable. The only downside is that it does raise the saddle a half an inch so I had a struggle with the girth! But once a rider was on, the pad settles and we ended up with the girth on almost the same holes as normal.

The Suber Pad is sort of a cross between a numnah and a beanbag, the idea being that if you sit on a bean bag, it finds its own level whatever the lumps and bumps. It's NOT cheap but it sure is cheaper for me than forking out another £850 on yet another saddle that bridges horribly! The website is (I think) www.davidahnequine.co.uk or if I've got that wrong, google Suber Pad.