Corrective Pad Solutions
Find a pad to correct any conformation issue
Sometimes your horse’s back isn’t the ideal shape. It’s problematic because no matter what type of saddle you’re riding, the tree can’t function as it was intended, which is to distribute the rider’s weight down the length of the bars instead of all the pressure on the ends. Since trees are designed for the majority of horse conformations, a corrective pad is often the solution. Reinsman makes saddle pads to fit EVERY conformation issue. Here are some of the most common conformation issues that interfere with proper saddle fit and how to fix it.
ISSUE: Hollows
Does your horse have hollows behind his shoulder at his withers? This can be seen in horses of all ages and should be filled with pad support. You’ll see defined, narrow withers along with hollows behind the scapula. Often you see these horses with white spots in this area from where the front of the tree bars puts too much pressure. A pad with targeted padding will help lift the front tree bars out of this hole to eliminate pressure points and better distribute the rider’s weight evenly as the tree bars are intended.
ISSUE: Swayback
When your horse has a dropped, or sway, back, it causes the saddle to bridge. That means the tree bars only make contact in the front and rear of the saddle to put excess pressure or rub the withers and loins. It can be seen in older horses, young and underdeveloped, and poorly conditioned horses. It is a common saddle fitting problem that can be remedied with the use of a bridge pad or swayback pad.
ISSUE: Downhill
Is your horse built downhill where the croup is higher than the withers? This can cause the saddle to put more pressure on the withers. A build-up pad in the wither area will help level the saddle and relieve pressure.
ISSUE: No wither
Could your horse use a more defined wither because he’s broad and heavily muscled? The Wither Maker is the answer! With this type of conformation, the horse needs a saddle pad to help create a wither. The Wither Maker will contour, cushion, and support.
ISSUE: Asymmetry
Is your horse's shoulder bigger on one side than the other? The saddle will drift to the weak, or smaller, side. This can happen when he’s only worked on the easy side and not as much on the other side. A customizable build-up pad works great to custom-fit the weak, or smaller, side.
ISSUE: Swayback and Hollow
Most commonly seen in older horses, this conformation prevents the tree from functioning as it was intended. All the pressure from the rider will be put on the front and rear tree bars creating pressure points. A pad that’s built up in the front and down the back will help distribute the rider’s weight down the length of the bars instead of all the pressure on the ends for a more comfortable fit.
ISSUE: Weak Topline or Prominent Spine
When the horse’s spine is prominent, you’ll need to provide him relief to reduce spinal contact with the saddle and pad. This is fairly common, so choose a pad that has a 4” spine slot to provide that relief.
The Story Behind Dry Areas
Sweat marks can help you diagnose saddle fit problems, and we've noticed that sweat marks are helpful but can be misunderstood. While an even sweat pattern without dry areas is most desirable, learning the meaning of dry areas is critical.
- Bridging - these dry spots (like in the photo) are caused by the saddle not making contact along the center of the bars. A very prominent, narrow wither may indicate the lack of muscle behind the shoulder blade, and the need for a shoulder bridge pad. The shoulder bridge pad fills in this “hollow” area, allowing the saddle bars to make better contact with the horse.
- Previous Injury - Some dry spots are caused by a previous ill-fitting saddle that damaged the sweat glands in that area. Once sweat glands are damaged, most often indicated by white hairs, your horse may never sweat in a specific location regardless of the tack used.
- Moisture Absorption - using a high-quality wool pad can also cause dry spots, as they're designed to wick moisture where pressure is applied. Try feeling that same spot on your pad to see if you have a dry spot from a gap or from your pad doing its job. If you see ruffled hair or swirl marks from excessive movement in this area, a shim pad may be needed to help even out the weight distribution and stabilize the saddle.
One of the keys to unlocking your horse’s maximum potential is a great-fitting saddle and pad that he’s comfortable in. Reinsman's extensive saddle pad selection will solve your conformation issues to increase your horse's comfort to improve the ride. If you have additional questions, we're here to answer them.