Whats best for lifting saddle?

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jellyshark

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I have a very high withered horse, my saddles fit on his back but we feel they need lifting currently ride 2 saddles clothes both padded! Looking at the gel-eze half sheepskin pads - anyone had any experience - are they worht the money? do they Wash well?:)
 
I wouldn't be happy with needing all those layers and would worry about the saddle fit. If anything I would get an adjustable shim pad. I like Prolite but I just got a numed high wither adjustable shims half pad and I am really happy with that, it's better than the Prolite I think.
 
A saddle shouldn't need padded up to make it fit. Maybe as a short term measure to account for lost condition or for a specific reason.

If the tree is a good shape for the horse, ask a good saddle fitter/saddler have a look with a view to lifting the saddle by adjusting the flocking.

Where are you?
 
I'm having similar issues with mine, I would really recommend getting a sms qualified saddler out and find a saddle that fits without needing pads etc. :-)
 
Well I have a high withered horse and there is no saddle in the world that is going to fit it without a pad! He has high withers combined with massive shoulders which means he cannot drop down to a M saddle as his shoulders will be jammed and so he has a MW. I had a riser pad especially made for me years ago for another horse. Its made out of felt and it fantastic. It was made for me by a very good saddler. Its not the most beautiful thing to look at but its effective and has lasted 9 years now. I like it because the front is so thin on it so it fits to saddle cloths.

The horse was checked the other day as I knew his dressage saddle did not fit (which is worn with a sheepskin pad) but the jumping saddle was fine.

This gives you an idea of his confo though he is more muscled now.
http://s14.beta.photobucket.com/user/lucycounsell/media/Arthur/006.jpg.html?sort=3&o=87

The pad
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a336/lucycounsell/Arthur/AldonOct122.jpg
 
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presuming its a temporary fix to keep saddle off his withers, you can't beat a folded tea towel ;) everything else pads other places that dont need it
 
The only thing I would say about the towel is it will create a ridge, which is not ideal. This is an issue with wither pads in general, some more than others.

LEC, do you have any photos of your felt pad just on its own?
 
I can get you a photo later. Its ugly but effective and unlike gel pads does not change in consistency and fits to the saddle.
 
Cluny said:
Recommend the LeMieux Prosorb Corrector pads, you can either have full length corrector riser pads or front or back and they aren't hard like the Prolite ones.

http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/lemieu...kin-pro-sorb?zenid=8p5t1iuim6a8qe8euv84jseot6
Click to expand...

I've recently bought the half pad version of this to use with my dressage saddle on my youngster as it seems to be a fraction wide for him. With it the saddle looks to fit well, I've lunged him to see how he moves and he really swings forwards happily. Yes, you could say it's not ideal, but from what he's telling me he's comfortable and as he develops muscle and top line I can reduce it to the thinner inserts and then to none.

It's still a useful half pad even when you no longer need the extra padding so a good investment.
 
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