English Saddle fit?

Question

i have a Tb mare with high withers.Im buying a general use(all around) english saddle for her.Does she need a regular or medium tree?She is not really muscled in the shoulders.She is a former race horse if that helps...I want her to be comfortable.Also would a wither relief pad help her?one with the lifted back or not?Im a western rider converting to english and im used to my chunky butt AQHA gelding.Thanks

Answer 1

When a saddle is correctly fitted you should be able to fit a riding crop (lik the ones showjumpers use) along the horses back, beneath the saddle when there is someone sitting on the horse.
The width of the tree depends largely, i believe, on the brand of GP (general purpose) saddle that you try.
Bear in mind that depending on the type of work you are doing with your horse she may become more or less muscled over the back and withers. This will cause the saddle to fit differently over time.
My best advice to you is to have a professional saddler come out and fit saddles to your mares back, he/she will be able to advise you on which tree size would be best.
There is a make of saddle that we get here in South Africa called the Wintec, im sure you probably get a similar make in the States, the Wintec has adjustable trees, so as your horse becomes more muscled (or less) the tree can be removed and replaced with a different size. You can even do this yourself (removing the tree).
And, just as a point, it isnt a general rule that Thoroughbreds have higher withers than that of a QH, they come in all different sizes. I have owned TB's my whole life, and personally think they're the most versatile breed on the market.

Hope this has helped you, happy riding!:)

Answer 2

I'd get a saddle fitter if you can afford it. You don't want to make her sore on her withers or even cause fistulus withers because of poor saddle fit. One option may be either a Wintec or Bates saddle because they have interchangable trees. You may also need a custom tree. Don't be surprised if the fit of the saddle changes when she muscles up.

I would recommend a pad with high withers (raised or cut out) so nothing presses on them. Real sheepskin half-pads can also really help fit a saddle to a difficult horse if you can't afford a custom tree. Watch for any pressure points.

A good way to check saddle fit is to have your horse dirty (dusty, not muddy) and simply use a thin white cloth as a saddle pad. The markings on the cloth should be evenly dirty, if some spots are dirtier than others it's a good indication the saddle does not fit properly.

Answer 3

I had the same problem with my TB gelding. If you get a wider tree, it will actually make the saddle rest even more on the withers, do regular would work. If you are not sure, some tack stores will come and do a saddle fitting for you. You could always get a saddle that had interchangeable trees(Windtek, or Bates...depending on budget) I always used a gel pad also, but a riser could help. My gel pad worked fine. Esp if you are used to a QH, it will absorb any bobbles you may have while you are still getting used to her. Hope this helps

Answer 4

If you can afford it, you should definitely get a saddle fitting, because a saddle pinching the withers can really affect your horse's performance. Otherwise, if you have a locally owned tack shop, they'll usually let you borrow the saddle to try it on your horse, and even sit on it on her. A wither pad probably would help, but don't get one with a lifted back. That would tilt the saddle forward, and probably make the problem worse. Good luck with english, there's a lot to learn when you switch disciplines!