English Tack For Sale

Is my saddle not fitting him?

Whenever I ride my horse in my XC saddle it leaves a lump just below his withers on his spine. Yesterday I used a stephens gel eze sheepskin front and back riser AND a brand new REALLY thick polypad. I've never had this problem before. He hasn't lost weight or put on. The tree of my saddle isn't broken. I've used that saddle on him for a year without problems and he doesn't seem to be in pain. although he sometimes swishes his tail but then again I have a unusual amount of flies and mosquitoes at my stables. when the saddle is on I can see right through the gullet but I cant fit my whole hand through while seated as it is a close contact (Hence the riser pad which i've used from day one) I have a dressage saddle and im only using that jump one if I absolutely need to.
(I've already ordered a wow saddle and they're coming to fit it in october)
What should I do?

Perplexing. But the type of swelling you describe is a tell-tale sign of an ill fitting saddle. It sounds as if you've done all the right things to make this work, so shy of hiring a professional saddle fitter to re-stuff the panels & balance the saddle, I'd say it's a loss.

Think of it this way: If the saddle's suddenly become too small, adding extra saddle or gel pads will only make it tighter. And, like shoes, over time they soften and 'give out'.

My suggestion to you is to avoid using this saddle at all costs. There's obviously *something* going on, so until you can get a professional saddle fitter out, I'd let it collect some dust.

That swishing of the tail, does it happen as your'e preparing to put the saddle on your horse? Say, the moment or two that you remove it from the saddle rack and have it above his withers, ready to slide into place? Then, flies or not, he's telling you he dislikes that saddle.

Best of luck.

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