phoenixkthompson

*Sigh* Ok. Ive posted here before about fitting western saddle to my narrow shouldered, high withered QH.

I aquired one of those higher wither pads to help with my aussie saddle while i shop for a better fitting western.

I have heard his back type called "camel withers." He had high withers, and narrow but prominant shoulders. Everything either slides back into the hallow behind his shoulders, rubs them raw, sits down all the way on his withers, or puts so much pressure on his prominate shoulders that i can not get any fingers under the saddle while i am aboard. *sigh*

I took some pics of him with the new riser pad and aussie saddle today, but have NO idea what to think.

Here are his withers:

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

The riser pad was not long enough for the saddle, which i expected, but while i was in the saddle, this put so much pressure on his back he trotted like a jack-knife. He does that when he is uncomfortable... he tenses up.:

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

Here it is before i tried to ride:

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

While i was riding... looked to me like it was already slipping back. Could not get any fingers in with my weight. I did look under the skirt before i cinched up, and there was no bridging i could see.

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

I got off. I could tell i was hurting him. In motion:

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

And afterward, everything had shifted back. I swear he can crawl out from under and pad.

http://s399.photobucket.com/albums/pp72/phoenixkth...

If anyone has ANY opinions or thoughts, I'm open!

Thanks!

I have a (they say...) quarter horse who, in some ways, looks a little more TB to some. At any rate, since I have been trying to fit him with a western saddle (or any type, for that matter... I have an aussie and hunt seat as well) I have discovered that his high withers and narrow shoulders are a BIG problem! I bought him from the trail ride stable I work for in the summers (hence the need for a western saddle more than the others) and you can still see the scars left on his shoulders and withers from ill-fitting saddles. Anyone with specific advice on fitting my boy, please speak up! Ive read just about everything available on the net for saddle fitting, but there seems to be much more in English than Western. I took a cut-out of him to the local tack shop, but the only saddle they could find to fit was a flex-tree Circle Y (with a 6 1/4 gullet, medium tree)... but im not THAT rich! Bought a roping saddle with a 6" gullet, but the flare (?) of the tree is still too wide and the whole thing sits too low! If I use risers to bring it up, wont that throw my weight backwards? He has had lots of problems with sore "lower" back, so that scares me.

Can anyone help?!? Lol.