Hey again Michele:
Does anyone have a treeless saddle you might borrow at your barn?
Or might it be possible for you to try and swap your saddle for one, or sell your saddle and buy another one that fits better?
There are others here who are far more sophisticated about saddle fit than I am, but my understanding/experience is that if a saddle doesn't fit, padding doesn't help. (Again, this is particularly true if the saddle fit badly enough to actually injure her back, rather than simply being uncomfortable.)
Here's an excerpt from a saddle fitting site:
Quote:
Myth #3: A good saddle pad will solve my saddle fitting problems.
Many horse owners think that putting a good saddle pad under an ill-fitting saddle will alleviate pinching, slipping, or uneven pressure. Good saddle pads can cause the saddle to fit better. There is much technology in the pad industry to help a saddle fit better and you should take advantage of that technology. Padding-up to help eliminate sores from a poor fitting saddle is not a good choice. For example, if a saddle is too narrow, padding up to buffer the pressure will make the horse wider which will cause more pressure.
And from another one (AAEP "Ask the Vet")"
Quote:
Typically, padding will only make the saddle tighter or unlevel.
My concern is that after you've been building this trust with her, if the saddle goes on and hurts you could find yourself back working through things you thought you'd gotten through. (And run the risk of injuring her again.)
I'm thinking about this like shoes -- I have had shoes that I love but that really hurt my feet when I wear them. After a month or two, I'll forget how much they hurt, and somehow imagine that they won't hurt as badly, and so I'll wear them again, and end up with blisters again!
Best,
Leigh
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