adjusting saddle?

[mysterymoniker]

we have a new (to us) saddle, much better fit than the old one which had to be used with a riser pad thing

all has been lovely for a few months but now it seems to be touching his withers - the chief riding instructor said 'you need to adjust it' but when I asked how she said she didn't know

I asked about whether I should just get a new saddle and she didn't think that was necessary (phew) so does anyone know how to make these adjustments? it's a Thorowgood synthetic general purpose high wither job

oh - good stuff mm, amazing the positiion thing as well isn't it. Not too expensive either

That is great MM! Is he going better as well? It can take some time or the difference can be instant, I have seen so many horses suddenly start to float when they have had their saddle or back sorted. It is so nice to see just how much difference you have made to them!

it makes me feel really Bad though, how uncomfortable it must have been recently - he has a little pressure sore

A little pressure sore, lots of people don't even notice something is wrong. I have heard someone (riding at a show) asking a vet about the dermatitis the horse had had for 6 months. The vet took off the saddle and showed her the wrinkle in the leather with blood and hair attached.

You noticed, you dealt with it. If it happens again you will notice quicker, it is all a learning curve. The important thing is that you care enough to see something is up and take care of it.

ugh that made me shudder, ok I feel much better!

thanks!

By the sound of it you are doing a good job so I wouldn't get too tough on myself if I were you. Just ask others on the yard if you are not sure and remember vets are like doctors, they are quite happy to be consulted about something silly to put your mind at ease, these are our secondary children after all!

I'm gradually working out who is worth listening to on the yard and who isn't, it's confusing to be told so many contradictory things - for example, 'a waterford is cruel after a snaffle' and 'a snaffle is crueller than a waterford because of the nutcracker action'

it's not unlike parenting really, except my instincts were sharper and I trusted them

That's great news, mysterymoniker!! And I'm with KingCanuteIAm, please don't beat yourself up. You realised there was a problem and you got it sorted! I'm afraid a lot of people don't do anything until their horse finally gets so fed up with being in pain that it starts bucking people off and even then sometimes they don't twig that it's in pain and it gets branded as a 'problem' horse.

Generally speaking you need to listen to as many people as possible and then work out what feels right to you - as you say - much like parenting!

With regard to biting nothing is "cruel" as long as you are reading a horses reactions rather than sticking on a fashionable bit or trying to tie down a horse that doesn't suit you (ie using a hackamore on a racehorse to make it "suitable" for a novice).

The horse world is very like parenting, everyone is an expert and too few people look at what their child/animal is telling them.

I've just realised that it's a classic case of PFB with me and my horse

Nothing wrong with that at all!