Saddle fitting/pad for a swayback horse

[searchand_dstry]

I went through the saddle fitting tags quite a ways back and found a lot about fixing problems for high withers, but none for swaybacks so my apologies if this has been touched on and I missed it!

It's been a long, long time since I posted here so here is my problem. I volunteer for a rescue and am leasing (potentially looking into buying) a 3 1/2

Comments

[alittledffrnt]

I've seen the Cashel pad in person- looks like a neat concept. I'd start with helping your cause by ditching the FQHB saddle for a semi or possibly something even narrower/shaped differently since that's only going to add to the problem you've got going on. I have heard of people making their own types of pads for things like this- where they take material such as the thinline inserts or other correction inserts and construct a pad to suit their specific needs by either stitching pockets to another pad or attaching the inserts as simply as with duct tape. She looks like she will always be a bit of a tough fit and is beyond a prime candidate for advice from a pro saddle fitter to keep her comfortable and sound. Good luck with her ! =]

[searchand_dstry]

We have a semi so I will definitely try that. Right now, since she's not my horse I have limited options with how much I can do. I don't want to go and dump a ton of money on a horse I'm not even sure I'm going to own, you know? I should also mention that it's the pad that pushed on her withers and shoulders, not the saddle. The gullet is still where it should be.

I've seen where people use a mattress type pad almost and cut it.

Ideally if I owned her, I'd look into getting a saddle custom made for her but until then, I am very unfortunately limited.

[searchand_dstry]

I'll give it a look. Thanks!!

[dougdougdoug]

My horse isn't actually swayed but he has high withers and hollow behind his shoulders so I've been using the Reinsman with great success actually. Interesting that you're finding it to be too much bulk.

As far as the english cashel, I have used them (on other horses) and I'm not a huge fan. They don't seem to contour much at all, maybe they'd be better with a lot more use? The sort of just mimic a lollypop/banjo pad.

There are a lot of pads out there where you can add shims where you need them and of course I can't think of a name off hand.

[dougdougdoug]

Old man:

[searchand_dstry]

I have no idea. It looks fine on your guy but if I got a picture, you could actually see just from it that it looks like it doesn't fit right. I'm wondering if it's the smaller sized reinsman and the saddle is too big so not sitting properly. Not to mention, most of the volunteers own their own saddles... I have an english, but not a western, so I am stuck using the cruddy one they have until I find a solution for her. A lot of it could be the saddle.

Thanks for you input on the cashel! I have the option to return it if it doesn't work out within a week for a full refund. So I might do that and see what I think of it.

[offside_element]

One of my boss' horses (she's ~28!) has developed a swayback due to age (she has a very loooonnng back). For her, we just use a thick fleece pad over a blanket and put the English saddle on top of it. I can't seem to find exactly what we have online, but these products are the closest:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/half-pad/p/X1-19101/
http://www.chicksaddlery.com/page/CDS/PROD/3020/22P514

I use a pad like that when I just ride her around the farm. For polo, I have this thick small western square pad that I use. If I find an example of it online I'll link it here, but so far I can't seem to find one like it (ETA: This appears to be close to what I use, but I feel like there is more fill in the one that I have - it's probably closer to 2" of fill, I'll have to take a picture of it when I get to the farm later this afternoonHere's what she looks like, for reference

[colebaltblue]

I'm a huge fan of this company that sells this pad: http://advancedsaddlefit.com/store/saddle-pads/prolite-swayback-pad/

My old TB was incredibly hard to fit due to his shark-fin withers and sway back and looked about like your guy. I eventually got a 30 year-old hermes saddle to fit his back with a wool wither pad and a prolite adjustable front and back pad. Another rider was so impressed with my prolite pad she got the swayback one for her 26 year old saddlebred who has the biggest swayback I've ever seen and he does great in it.

Advanced Saddle Fit is super-helpful over the phone if you have questions.

[miladyelizabeth]

Seconding the reference for Advanced Saddle Fit.

[searchand_dstry]

Thanks so much for the input! I'll definitely look into that if I buy her! Looks like it could be exactly what I need but a little more than I'm willing to spend on a lease.