saddle fit

Wow, it's really about time I started using this blog. Such a handy tool, and I've been ignoring it.

I've recently started paying attention to saddle fit. I must say, I feel ashamed that I've never paid too much attention to saddle fit in the past. I own three saddles, but I currently only use one: my Wintec 500 all-purpose. I got this saddle at some point before Cadenza turned 3, and it's pretty much the only saddle she's ever had on her back. As far as the tree goes, it fits fine; subsequently as far as I knew until recently, the saddle fit fine.

However.

As I was researching the Cashel Soft Saddle, I found this site, which gives a lot of useful information about saddle fitting. Apparently, most modern saddles, even the "high end" brands, have a "V-shaped" gullet that comes in and rests to close to the spine, which causes the horse to constantly tense certain muscles in its back in order to relieve pain, I guess. :( Prolonged use of such a saddle, resulting in prolonged tenseness of the back, is apparently the cause of a hump near the back of the spine. I know Cadenza has this hump (pictured), and I've wondered and worried at it for a long time. No vet has ever given me the answer that it has to do with saddle fit, though. So, I took a look at my saddle, and sure enough, the gullet panels do not provide appropriate clearance.

This is problematic because I don't think a Wintec all-purpose is worth the cost or trouble of having a customized fitting. In fact, I'm not even sure that a saddler would customize a Wintec. Yet, a new saddle, or a new used saddle, is not really in my budget right now, especially because I plan to get a really nice dressage saddle as my next and last (for a long time) saddle. I could sell my other saddles, but the other two are virtually worthless, and a used Wintec probably wouldn't bring in much either. So, I have some thinkin' to do on this matter. I feel really guilty using my saddle now, though!

The good news is: my Soft Saddle arrived yesterday. I rode in it for the first time today, and I LOVE it! I think I might look into making some of the alterations mentioned in the Lorien Stable article, though, because it does rest too much on the withers. :P I only walked and trotted today, and I didn't notice any problems with slippage, but I didn't want to push my luck: the breastcollar I ordered is on backorder. Anyway, I'm sure I'll have lots more to say about the Soft Saddle later.