Saddle Fitter
Question about saddle fitting and repair?
I ride a variety of horses because I help retrain off the track thoroughbreds. However, my saddle sits too low on just about all of them, causing wither pinching and such. Would it be possible to have my saddle tree replaced to help it better fit the general thoroughbred shaped back? Or could they use the wool panels to adjust how high it sits? any info would be appreciated. thanks!
Yes to all of those questions 
a good saddle fitter will be able to do all of the above. Is it an old saddle? If it is, the wool won't be as firm as it was when it was new - and may need re-packing in order to sit higher on the back. As for the pinching of the withers, that could be that the saddle is just too narrow or wide for that particular horse and is therefore pinching the spine and withers. There is nothing to be done about that packing wise, however the gullet can be widened or narrowed on newer saddles that have exchangeable gullets. I would recommend getting a fitter to come out and check the saddle on all of your currents OTTBs, and fit your saddle to the widest horse there. Then, I would recommend getting something like a Mattes correction pad, which you can add shims into (little bits of foam) which will act as temporary extra padding under the saddle to make the wider gullet fit the narrower horses. Fleeceworks also has a correction type pad like this, but it's not as good and doesn't last as long in my opinion.
A saddle fitter will be able to help you sort out the problem and recommend any adjustments that will need to be made to the saddle, as well as anything like Mattes pads for some horses, or puffer pads of thinline pads for others.
If you're saddle is old, and your budget allows, I would recommend looking for a newer saddle. Not an expensive one - but perhaps something like a Wintec (for example) that has the X-Change or Easy-Change system. This is where you simply open the front of the saddle yourself with a screw driver, and are able to change the size of the gullet with gullet plates that are interchangeable. It is a very quick and easy process, and then you could change the size of your gullet to match each horse that you ride/have from the track. Saddle fit is absolutely vital in every horse - imagine wearing a size 5 shoe when you're a size 11, and being made to run and jump?
I hope that helps a bit! Good luck
Saddle Fitter Visit - part 2
How much do saddle fitters cost?
Generally how much does a good saddle fitter cost? I want to save so that way I can have a saddle fitted for Exception because I think part of her problem is the saddle and I want to have a saddle that fits her perfectly. I am in the Midwest of the USA, live in Illinois and the barn the horse is at is in Missouri.
Depends on the individual saddler. I think our saddler is around £20-£60 depending on whether he's checking a new saddle/a saddle you have had for a while, checking the fit of a saddle he owns (giving you opinions on what saddle you want for whatever you are doing) or whether he's measuring for a new saddle.
I found this website (I think they were set up by the Society of Master saddlers in the UK)
http://www.mastersaddlers.com/csfs.htm
