I have been showing at the Iowa County Fair for 10 years and the Wisconsin State Fair for six years. I am excited to represent Iowa County and canât wait to see everyone at the 160th Iowa County Fair.
There are so many âcorrectiveâ pad options available nowadays, and there are a few different types that serve specific purposes very effectively. The pads we are covering in this article are most focused on protecting a horseâs back and improving saddle fit, which helps narrow the field. The three most useful are foam topped pads (ie Thinline), Sheepskin pads, and shim pads.
The saddle gullet is the cutout or tunnel underneath the fork and rides over the horse's withers. The design of the fork and the angle of the bars of the saddle tree determine the width and height of the gullet. It's important that the gullet have the right amount of clearance over the withers. If the gullet height is too short, the saddle will rub on the horse's withers. If the gullet width is too wide, the saddle will sit too low on the shoulders, and also rub on the horse's withers. Rubbed withers equals unhappy horse. A good rule of thumb to use for gullet fit is that there should be clearance of two to four fingers-widths between the withers and the gullet.