Saddle Fit thread - need new padding rig!

[evans36]

Argh. As my horse continues to grow, my saddle is fitting him better. However, he still has those annoying hollows behind the wither that the saddle is falling into, so it's hitting his withers when I sit in it - clearance is fine without a rider. What I think we need is wither gussets, but since I can't afford a new saddle with those until I find a new job and quit being underemployed, I need to find a padding rig to work for now.

I have a mattes correction pad, but when I stuff it full enough to get inside those wither hollows enough, it's too much stuff up top, and makes the gullet of the saddle too small. I've tried a foam pad with free gullet, which was better, but not quite enough - the foam collapsed too much. What I really think would work is something like one of those heavy wool wither relief pads with the hole, only with the hole being an entire cutback instead.

Anyone ever seen anything like this? I'm also considering buying a set of "experimental" shims for the mattes, and trimming them down to stay out of the area where they're not needed. Any thoughts about that? I'm a bit concerned about migration in that circumstance.

I'm also considering sewing my own pad that sortof looks like a dumbell in shape, with pads to go in those holes and one strip of fabric to go over the withers, and some method of hooking it into the gullet to prevent slippage. Any thoughts on that?? What kind of padding to use, etc?

Thanks! I figure I haven't seen a good saddle fit thread on here in about two weeks, so it's time for another :)

[vbunny]

I think ecogold might make something like what you are looking for? You could maybe try and find a felt pad and trim it too, I don't think the run once you have cut them but I am not sure on that.

[Catmando]

evans36 Your situation is why I worry about JQ Public being turned loose with a shimable saddle pad. At least you have come to the concluson that stuffing the pad is not solving your problem. The shims are designed to be cut down to the shape needed and when using more than one shim, you need to start step laying them with each one becoming a bit smaller as you layer. Without a gradual step layer, you will create new pressure points and most likely bridging. I learned this technique way before things like Mattes correction pads existed. I would cut the shims and tack stitch each layer onto a saddle pad. That way, as the horse and saddle fit changed, you could cut the few threads and remove a layer. When trying to use shims, imagin in your mind pouring a soft, moldable goo into the area needed to fill in and what it's shape would be....then try cutting and placing your shims.

[evans36]

OK, so do you recommend tacking them onto a saddle pad, or onto the mattes? Not quite clear there. Thanks for the advice! Is the felt that's used in those shims the same as the felt at Walmart or JoAnn's (I know it's wool felt that Mattes uses; just not sure if it's wool @ walmart or not)?

[jrchloe]

You might think I am nuts but what about using sponges? Like the big car wash sponges. You can easily shape them with a serated knife and then indescretly tape (doubled over duct tape) them to the bottom of your saddle. They are cheap so you don't have to worry about messing up and the tape if removed carefully won't mess up your saddle.

[jds]

http://www.ecogold.ca/en/products/hj522.php