My pony is getting a little older, and when he was younger he was a cow pony but now we do eventing together. I thought it'd be fun to do some western also, but I'm a little worried about his back. He has a slightly sore back so when I ride him english I use a fairly thick bump pad, but I'm not sure what to use for western. Are there western bump pads?

TheWizard11:

He has a slightly sore back so when I ride him english I use a fairly thick bump pad, but I'm not sure what to use for western. 

A note about western, a western saddle will spread your weight over more of your pony's back, possibly easing the smaller area where the English saddle sits.  It is also important that a western saddle be properly fitted too.  A thick pad will help if the saddle is a bit wide, but will cause problems if the saddle is narrow, then you'd use a thin blanket. 

One way to get an idea of where saddle problem areas are, is to put the saddle and blankets or pads you want to use on the horse and work him until he works up a sweat.  Then remove the saddle and look at the bare back.  The dry spots are where the saddle is causing problems which will need to be brought to the attention of the saddle fitter for correction.

Unless you are going to show western, you can ride in whatever bit you want, your pony likes and he goes best in.  If you are going to show, it would depend on what classes you're going to be going in.  Games classes, whatever you are using will be fine.  For everything else, because of his age, you'll need a curb type bit to be legal.  One with the same type of mouthpiece as the bit he is going in now would be best.  Just ride with a much lighter hand then you do now.

Spotted Pony

 

SpottedPony_horse:

A thick pad will help if the saddle is a bit wide, but will cause problems if the saddle is narrow, then you'd use a thin blanket. 

I'm sorry, you don't make a saddle fit using a saddle pad, unless you're in a pinch and a new saddle or the saddle fitter will be coming soon. A saddle should fit WITHOUT a saddle pad--that's why a saddle maker or fitter evaluates the saddle without a pad--and a pad is not a long-term solution to saddle fit. Spot's tips are good for determining where the fit problem is, but don't use them just to band-aid the problem.

Something is making your pony's back sore. Your vet is not offering any solutions, so it's up to you to figure it out. If it were me I would start asking some questions of your vet or get another vet's opinion. He may advise talking to a saddle fitter or an equine chiropractor.

I agree the back issue needs to be fixed 1st and foremost. Have you considered an Equine Chiropractor and or acupuncture. I know that might sound wild, but it does work. 

Remember, we are talking about a western saddle here.  They aren't made to be used without something between the saddle and the horse's back.  When I was last at a show with western classes, pads were what was in fashion for use between horse and saddle.  So if you fit a western saddle on a bare back then use a thick pad under it for riding, the fit isn't going to be the same.  So you fit a western saddle with the pad you are going to use with it on that horse. 

Spotted Pony

 

I guess I wasn't making myself clear: you SHOULD be able to ride with no pad, since that's the way the saddle is fitted, but no one does, including me. When my saddles are checked the saddlemaker does that with no pad. I was speaking of using pads to make the saddle fit, it should be fitted without a pad. The pad does not make the saddle fit, it just keeps the saddle from the sweat and dirt and prevents the leather from chafing due to the sweat and dirt.

48northfarm:

...are they fitted WITH a pad?

They should be fitted WITHOUT a pad. And I don't even care for the concept of using a "pad" under a western saddle. Most are made up in part or in whole with synthetic material that does not breathe very well. And most modern western saddles are already built up much thicker and higher than the classic western saddle of yore. Stuff a pad under it and you lose even more contact with the horse. 

48northfarm:

SpottedPony_horse:

A thick pad will help if the saddle is a bit wide, but will cause problems if the saddle is narrow, then you'd use a thin blanket. 

I'm sorry, you don't make a saddle fit using a saddle pad, unless you're in a pinch and a new saddle or the saddle fitter will be coming soon. A saddle should fit WITHOUT a saddle pad--that's why a saddle maker or fitter evaluates the saddle without a pad--and a pad is not a long-term solution to saddle fit. Spot's tips are good for determining where the fit problem is, but don't use them just to band-aid the problem.

Something is making your pony's back sore. Your vet is not offering any solutions, so it's up to you to figure it out. If it were me I would start asking some questions of your vet or get another vet's opinion. He may advise talking to a saddle fitter or an equine chiropractor.

Ok thanks for everyone's help, but I just want to clarify that his back isn't sore all the time. He's fine on the flat and he's generally fine jumping unless of course I mess up the jump and smack down on his back, but it's not like I'm riding him and he's in pain. He has a little bit of a sway back so that's why I have the bump pad, to level the saddle out; I was just wondering if I would need something like that with a western saddle too

Depending on the level of sway back-edness (lol) they make pads to help fill the space so the saddle doesn't bridge.  

here are a few pads that i found that may help with his sway back

http://www.horsesaddleshop.com/reinsman-contour-swayback-pad.html

http://www.equinenow.com/store-item-28093

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/cashel-wool-swayback-western-saddle-pad/E000865/

i hope these help

 

48northfarm:

I guess I wasn't making myself clear: you SHOULD be able to ride with no pad, since that's the way the saddle is fitted, but no one does, including me. When my saddles are checked the saddlemaker does that with no pad. I was speaking of using pads to make the saddle fit, it should be fitted without a pad. The pad does not make the saddle fit, it just keeps the saddle from the sweat and dirt and prevents the leather from chafing due to the sweat and dirt.

I haven't had a Western saddle since I was a teenager: are they fitted WITH a pad?

Dude, if you haven't had a western saddle since you were a teenager, why are you posting in the western section? Leave the poor girl alone. If you have the need to do something with your extra time, groom your horse.

Western saddles are what they are. A saddle maker doesn't change a saddle once it's made. I have several saddles that are different widths and shapes through the tree, but beyond that, my horses go in various thicknesses of wool and felt pads to make sure the weight is distributed well.

A general rule is that a medium treed english saddle will fit 95% of horses with various pads. It's amazing that people have been riding horses for centuries without major lameness issues when obviously the old wisdom is completely false and wrong by our new educated standard that gives an excuse for bad behaviour instead of insisting on training and competence.