What saddle padding can reduce wither pressure/back pain in my wide, high-withered horse?
I bought a 17-yr old Quarter Horse last year to use for western trail riding. He is rather wide and high withered and had white hairs near one shoulder from saddle sores. You can see a picture of him here:
My saddle has 7" full QH bars to fit his width, but the gullet sits too low for his high withers and sometimes touches the pad over his withers. I use a contoured Reinsman Tacky Too trail saddle pad. He had a clean bill of health from the vet about three weeks ago, but he is now showing some signs of back pain that I think can be attributed to having too much pressure on his withers.
I can't afford a new saddle right now and would probably still need a 7" gullet anyway for his width. Does anybody have suggestions for the saddle pad that may help reduce or eliminate the pressure on his withers? Should I put extra padding, like a blanket, under the regular pad? Is there a different type of pad that is affordable that might lift the saddle more or otherwise take the pressure off of his withers?
My horse thanks you for any ideas you can offer!!
Anonymous2009-06-24T05:09:04Z
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I actually have a 12 year old quarter horse with the exact problem well not anymore I found a saddle pad that works perfect although its rather expensive it seems to work very very well.
I got it at a horse fair where the guy had me put my hand on a structure of a horses back then he put a regular saddle pad on it over my hand and put pressure he had asked if I could feel his had on the pad I said yes I could feel it a lot, then he had said think about this on your horses back plus a saddle plus you. Then he put the Equipedic saddle pad down and he put pressure again but this time I couldn't even feel him putting pressure the pad was squishy! I bought and I love it! Hope this helps you! They have both english and western types of saddle pads Here is the website to buy it at... or read more about it.
I see your problem, I have had a few horses with similar problems. Believe me no pad that has been invented can "make a saddle fit" if the saddle is to narrow, or not high enough for withers, then it is going to stay that way. More padding will only add to the problem, I have tried it all and the only Solutions is finding a saddle that will fit your horse. You say that you cannot afford a new saddle...ok sell the saddle that you have, ride bare back in the mean time. Look around, you do not have to buy brand new, there are plenty of used saddles out there that you can look at. You may have to resort to the different style then what you are using or prefer, but it is more important to have a good fit for the horses sake. I personally prefer the trooper styles, most of them have very high gullets and sit well above the horse. They are light and easy to handle. I am sure that if you trail ride, or game with your horse the trooper will be great. The Australian Stock saddles may be something to think about as well. So many choices out there.
If the saddle is very low indeed on his withers, it's never going to be any good so you could you sell it and replace it with another which fits better? Meanwhile, you need to try and raise the whole saddle right through (assuming it is correctly balanced on his back), rather than just paddding the withers. You could try folding a blanket and putting it under the regular pad. Make sure that it doesn't have wrinkles which could rub, and that it is pulled up into the arch so that it doesn't tighten over his withers. I don't know the saddle pads available in your country - maybe someone else will have a suggestion. But do remember that a saddle which sits very low on a horse is rarely correctable with pads. He looks a dear horse and very good for his 17 years! Good luck with your saddle issue and enjoy each other.
the problem with a high withered, braod backed horse is getting a saddle to fit in the first place.
i had this problem with my dressage horse.
and i hate to tell you, but the only solution here is a new saddle.
you can't make a saddle fit by padding it or trying to raise it, and doing so will only cause the saddle to rub or pinch and will cause your horse discomfort.
a lot of people will tell you to just pad the wither area more with a thicker pad, but this will not solve the problem, instead it will only increase the pressure on this area and in the long term is going to be damaging.
you could try a saddle for a gaited horse as these are higher cut in the withers and would allow more room. you should be able to trade you old saddle in against the price of a new one.
i am pretty sure they make some sort of a western lift pad. I would buy one and use it. And the saddle would be sitting on his withers because its to wide. If you purchase a new saddle for him ever try a narrower one on him. Also a horses back does change with age. Because of my mares wide barrel i thought she was a wide but when the fitter fit her she was an xtra narrow because of her withers.
If her is really back sore i highly reccomend horse chiropractic.