Re: Saddle fit. Need help

["Advantage Saddles" <owensall@sierratel.com>]

Dear Pamela;

My guess is that the tree is too wide. 

Generally speaking in western tree terms, what tends to happen in saddle trees is that the wider they are, the flatter the angles of the shoulder become.  If you have a wide, steeper shouldered horse, the wide tree will not make contact at the bottom of the bars and all the weight rests on the top.  This causes the dry spots you mentioned. The front of the tree bar area needs to rest in the shoulder pocket, the area behind the scapula, and it needs to match the angle of the shoulder fairly closely.

Someone on ridecamp shared a website with an article on english saddle fit that was very good, and explains this same thing in english terms.  See if you can find it, if this is an english saddle.

 

Katee