Re: RC: Fw: was CTR: slipping saddle now muscle loss

[Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>]

My saddle now > slides> back into the spaces on either side of the wither
that were > previously
> "fat" I had not used a breast collar previous 
.if  the saddle is causing pressure bumps on either side of the >withers,
will > a breast collar do the trick or just mask the problem??  I use a 
thick, synthetic pad and am wondering if I >should invest in a Toklat 

I'm not sure how a breascollar will make any difference at all. That's to
keep a saddle from sliding *back*.  Why would your saddle be in front of
the hollows by the withers? That would be on top of the shoulder wouldn't
it? Sounds like yours is falling down or forward.  The problem with
weight bearing in the area to either side of the withers is that it's a
slope.  No matter what, it's a real pain to try to distribute weight on a
slope.  I'm not good enough to tell you how to solve the problem, but
maybe I can at least give some hints.  

First, I'd expect a crupper to help more than a breastcollar.  When you
go downhill the only thing to hold a saddle back is the shoulderblade
unless you use a crupper so it seems to me it would cause your saddle to
get farther forward than is optimal.

Also, as far as the inserts thing goes.  I use a Toklat that has a place
for inserts, but instead I made myself a sort of portable shim pad.  I
took a sheet of felt...about 1/4-3/8" thick.  I cut one shim that lays
all the way over the back.  It's about 8"-10" deep on the sides, and
cutback where it goes over the back.  Then, I cut 2 more shims that can
velcro on each side to stack it if I like.  Each one is maybe an inch or
so shorter than the one below.  I used to use the foam shims from
Ortho-Flex when I had booties on my saddle, but now this is what I use. 
I just try to level up my saddle with them, so if it looks as if it's
doing a nosedive, I'll add a shim.

Angie
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