the back of my saddle is wearing the hair down on my horse...

[Echo4V]

I may be too late but I just found this thread. I think a lot of your problem could be that saddle pad. Here are my reasons...

1 you live in Canada ( where it gets cold) and the whole time you had problems was during the winter.

2 gel impact saddle pad

3 cold gel pockets are about equal to putting a rock under your saddle

I have seen these pads cause sore backs and back sores. I know you sold the saddle but if your next saddle gives you any issue try changing out the pad with a plain felted wool pad.

David

[Traveller]

Hi David,

Thanks for weighing in! I'm definitely going to an all-wool pad, though I don't think the gel was the entire cause of the problem. The gel pockets are only at the front of the saddle and the rubbing was at the back. Plus, fortunately for me, I live in the "warm" part of Canada and was riding in an indoor arena, so it wasn't all that cold (kind of like riding in fall weather, for the most part). I think in this case, it was a simple case of poor saddle fit.

However I do think that the gel doesn't do the horse any favours and, thanks to you folks here, have been convinced of the superiority of full wool for my next saddle.

Now to find the next saddle....

Joanne

[colttrainer]

Joanne

I have been reading all the advice you are getting. Some good some total B.S.

First with out seeing the horse in person all you are going to get, is guesses. Bruce has the best advice that I have seen so far on here, some others are along the same idea.

My advice comes from training horses for over 30 years for a living. 1st leave the lacing alone, never been a problem. 2nd take the thin pad and turf it, & while you are at it your gel pad can go with it (a pad as it has been pointed out needs to take the sweat away from the back). Go and by a good pad with wear bars on it, I like ones made from alpaca or a natural wool of some sort, I also use felt ones. Put on a good roping cinch, again natural fiber. Use your flank cinch, it should be pulled up snug not tight but snug ( don't want a hind foot in it, are a branch running between it & him) it will also keep the rear of the saddle where it belongs. Your front cinch should be tight enough to keep that saddle from moving around (side to side) if you are always having to shift your saddle it is to loose &, or he my be lacking in the wither department. Now this is my proffesional opinion, Have 2 saddles that I prefer to use, I ride many many different horses & have never had a problem with a sore back or hair rubbing off.

Al