Gullet Width

[goldpony]

I received this image from the saddle maker. A few days later I received an email suggesting a 1" wool felt saddle pad and a link to CSI Pads. I did purchase a 1/2" hospital felt wither pad from Flint Saddlery. I tried that on top of my wool felt/sheepskin pad and over this a 1/4" Ultra ThinLine. These two pads I have always used on this young horse. It did not seem to make a difference in the alignment of the cinch. I am waiting to hear back from Darin to order a 36" mohair cinch. Any thoughts?

[goldpony]

Hi all! Spoke with Darin this morning. He looked over the saddle pics and conformation pics of my horse. The cinch will be ready in two weeks. If the saddle is also too wide (please see above), would a 1" 100% wool pad do the trick?

[goldpony]

Any ideas?

[Billy H]

Well Goldpony, If it were me I would cinch up that new saddle on that Fjord and start puttin some miles. Respectfully Billy

[jwwright]

Goldpony............I agree with who ever sent you that photo with the captions. No disrespect intended here at all................but ride your horse and that new saddle. JW

[goldpony]

Billy H & jwwright, I am riding the horse. I have ordered a longer cinch. This does not address that the saddle is tipping forward slightly. I tried a 1/2" hospital felt wither pad. If I went with just a 1" 100% wool felt pad, would this be better for the horse? I trail ride in an area with gradual and steep hills, there are also flatish areas. The footing is good. The cinches and saddle pads I used with his previous saddles (drop,double dee rigging) do not fit with his new custom made saddle. I will have to mail order the right type of pad, just as I have done for the mohair cinch. This horse is only five. He has an exceptional work attitude and I want to preserve this.

[JRedding]

Goldpony, Is it possible you're just plain trying too hard to get everything just right before that saddle is even broke in ? new saddles do take a considerable amount of miles before they settle in and you can really tell how well everything fits. It appears to be a well made saddle that you probably won't have any issues with once it's broke in. Do like JW and Billy suggested and just get on it and stay with it until the saddle and the saddlemaker have had a fair chance to make you happy.The only thing I could add to what JW and Billy already suggested is that the only thing worse than having a new saddle to break in is having new saddle pads, and putting the two together is almost certain to cause you greif . Break in new pads under an old saddle and a new saddle on top of old pads, use some old pads you've used before pad him up decent and just make sure it's enough you're up off his withers like it ought to be, cinch it up, and just ride it. It's great that you're being dilegent and are so responsible with your livestock and I surely don't want to insult in any way, and apoligize if I have but I've built and sold hundreds of saddles and seen folks do this before. Just relax, ride it and enjoy it, and it just might all work out.

JRedding

[goldpony]

JRedding, The saddlemaker told me (about a week ago) the gullet was a little too wide and suggested a 1" wool pad or one built-up in that area. The saddlemaker also stated that the 32" girth (the one that is digging into his shoulder muscle) was the right size. If the saddlemaker fitted the saddle on my horse (September 16th), why was I not told about the gullet being a little wide, advised about the appropriate sized cinch and the correct saddle pad thickness? I've had my custom made saddle (with a custom made tree) for a month now. I am using his old saddle pads (wool felt top with a sheepskin bottom total width 5/8" with a ThinLine pad 3/8". I have used these two pads together for over a year.) with the addition of a 1/2 hospital felt wither pad. I have had other custom made saddles for other horses. No insult taken. I need advice from experts - LeatherWorkers is the best!

[Tkleather1]

It looks to me as if the saddle could go a touch more forward onto the withers. With that and the new cinch I doubt like hell you will have too much more trouble. as far as the new pad goes I dont know I like the felt pads with the neoprene centers and the air holes cut out along the back bone. Sold by Cowboys choice. Just my opinions.

[bruce johnson]

Just using a 1" pad will not necessarily raise the front up and level the saddle. Because of the flatter bar angles behind and steeper angles in front, the tree will raise up relatively more behind and be even more downhill. If I was younger and geometry/trigonomtry was closer to the top of the brain cells, I could figure how much. It isn't raised up much more behind, but is some.

Some people favor shims and if they work for someone great. I am not sure I could really figure out where to put them and how much, and then not get an edge lump with some systems I have seen. You hear some anecdotal stuff about them concentrating forces more than dissapating force. The pad I have had the best luck with has been a wedge pad with a 3/4 tapering insert between the layers - fuller at the front and tapers to the back. Rick Ricotti developed them and Toklat is selling them under that name. They worked pretty well under my wider saddles for younger and narrower horses. They will raise the front some, less side to side roll, and not raise the back.