How to Help Bridge a Western Saddle

If you love horses and riding, then you know how important it is to have a well-fitting saddle, for your horse's comfort and health and for your own enjoyment of the sport. A poorly fitting saddle doesn't distribute the rider's weight properly across the horse's back and can lead to severe discomfort for the horse. In a Western saddle, a poor fit can cause "bridging," which occurs when the saddle presses on the horse's withers in the front and loins in the back, creating a gap or bridge in the middle, where the saddle lifts off the horse's back. Bridging can leave your horse with a chronically sore back and can even cause muscle damage.

Things You'll Need

  • Bridge pad
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Instructions

    • 1

      Check your horse's withers for white spots, which are a sign that the saddle you're using is bridging, causing pressure points and chafing. Your horse may also be showing other signs of discomfort, such as balking when you try to saddle him or having difficulty maneuvering turns when you are riding.

    • 2

      Position a bridge pad between your horse's back and the saddle. The bridge pad, which should be designed specifically for a Western saddle, relieves pressure from the withers and loins by building up the middle area and allowing the rider's weight to be distributed more evenly across the horse's back.

    • 3

      Consult an experienced saddlemaker, who may be able to re-rig the saddle for a better fit. Take with you the saddle pad or blanket you intend to use when riding, because if the saddle is resting on your horse's back without the pad, it will fit differently, and the saddlemaker will not be able to make the proper adjustments.