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Wow...do I feel for you. I too
purchased a top of the line custom saddle for just under $4000 from England
(Balance saddle). It was professionally fitted and caused HUGE white spots
on both sides of the withers left more than right. Despite changing
padding, taking riding lessons from the best Level 3 coach around, talking to
everyone including chiropracters, Feldenkrais practitioners etc.. I couldn't
figure out what was wrong. The saddle fitters said it was NOT my
saddle, there was obviously a "conflict in the way my horse and I
were moving together". Well, the other four saddles he had didn't
cause white hairs and there wasn't any conflict there, so????
Through the generosity of a
really good friend, I was allowed to try a Port Lewis Impression Pad and
determined that the saddle did NOT fit well -- it was LATERALLY unstable.
It fit his withers well and was well-balanced, but it kept slipping
sideways. It slipped more to the right causing increased white hairs
on the left. This was exacerbated by a girth that was elasticated on only
one end -- I think this preferencially pulled the saddle to one
side.
I'm sending pictures of his
withers to you by private email. I too felt absolutely sick that I
had caused huge scars on his beautiful back, but you know what? The
scars went away when I changed saddles. Fortunately, I caught it before
the hair follicles were too badly damaged to recuperate. You can't even
see the marks now -- his back is perfect.
I understand how you feel. Consider
a Flair panel saddle -- that solved the problem for us. Take heart, solcve
the problem and there is a really good chance the white spots will go
away.
Good Luck,
Wendy
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