Wither Pads...

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FunkyFilly28

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Hi, I just had the saddler out today to check the fit of my saddle after it had been reflocked. She suggested using a wither pad instead of my prolite half pad because he only needs the support around his withers which are high and a bit hollow. Anyway, I was wondering which are the best ones to buy. She mentioned a Griffins one but I've only seen a Prolite one so far in my research! Also, do I put it on top of my numnah like I did with my prolite pad or under?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
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teddyt

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Depends how much the horses muscles have atrophied and how big the gap is between the saddle and the horse that needs filling in. A pad is just one thickness, which might be the wrong thickness for the particular situation.

A pad also assumes that the horse is equally hollow on each side- because pads are symetrical. this doesnt mean the horse is.

The overall size of the pad also needs considering. The hollow may only need filling in over a smaller area than is provided by the pad, meaning that the pad will cause excess pressure around the area needing to be filled.

So tbh your saddle fitter has been a bit negligent to say just buy a wither pad because its not that simple if the saddle is going to fit properly with any one you should choose. You have to be very careful using pads because they frequenly just move the area of pressure from one area to another.

If the saddle couldnt be flocked accordingly for your horse is suggests that the saddle isnt right for your horse and the panel isnt deep enough.
 
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MissMincePie&Brandy

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The wither pad is only OK as a temporary 'band aid' and shouldn't really be used as a long term solution. Perhaps if you only do light hacking it wont be a problem, but if you do anything more then you really ought to get the saddler to replace the tree, with one that is made to your horse's template. I haven't heard of a qualified saddler advising anyone to use a riser to fix a problem before. Perhaps you ought to try another saddler?

In the long run, having the tree shaped to your horse will save you time and money as your horse will be comfortable and he will be able to perform to the best of his ability. Also, by using temporary quick fix solutions like wither pads, the muscle atrophy will continue as they still invariably create pressure points affecting the blood supply to this area.

I tried everything for my tricky TBs, but honestly, the only way your horse will be comfortable and able to develop a nice top line is to get the saddle tree altered to fit him. Flocking out the gap under the withers is often not ideal either, as if a large amount of extra flocking is needed, this tends to harden the leather, and after a few weeks often the flocking moves and starts to form lumps which continues to add uneven pressure to this sensitive area, causing muscle wastage as the blood supply is restricted.
 
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teddyt

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Misinterpreted said:
The wither pad is only OK as a temporary 'band aid' and shouldn't really be used as a long term solution. Perhaps if you only do light hacking it wont be a problem, but if you do anything more then you really ought to get the saddler to replace the tree, with one that is made to your horse's template. I haven't heard of a qualified saddler advising anyone to use a riser to fix a problem before. Perhaps you ought to try another saddler?

In the long run, having the tree shaped to your horse will save you time and money as your horse will be comfortable and he will be able to perform to the best of his ability.
Click to expand...

Pressure can cause damage to tissues in a little as 20 minutes, so whatever level of work the horse is in it still needs a saddle that fits.

Unfortunately i have heard of qualified and unqualified saddle fitters advocating the use of pads :mad: - it gives a cheaper and easier solution to a saddle that doesnt fit, hence wins favour with customers. Its human nature to take the easy option! Its very rarely correct advice though.

Would also like to say that the tree may atually be fine but the panel may not be right. Narrowing the tree will make the saddle clear the withers but then the tree will pinch. What high withered horses need is the correct width tree with a deep panel that fills in any hollows behind the shoulders and lifts the saddle clear of the spine- you need to assess both. Many saddles just dont have a deep enough panel and there is only so much flocking you can put in- as misinterpreted acknowledged.
 
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