Pushing Passenger Day One

After practically overdosing on Parelli Savvy Club episodes yesterday, I was ready to start some Passenger lessons with Gwen!  I totally lucked out; all the kids went on a trail ride and I had the ring to myself!  I had planned to use the round pen, but the weather lately has made it nasty, so I was pretty thrilled to get the arena to myself!

While I think the passenger lesson went well, I don't think my saddle is fitting the way it should. I've got the theraflex pad, and one set of 1/2" shims, but I'm thinking I definitely need more... but I'm not sure the best way to shim for her.  Physically, Gwen is built very slightly uphill, but her saddle actually rides downhill...  I've got the shims in the front, to try and lift the saddle, but it's just not sitting right.

See....

She's not standing perfectly square, but she's got weight on all four feet and is standing mostly straight. Especially in the first picture, you can really see how high/the depth of the slope behind her withers... her saddle is a bit narrow, and I've really struggled to get it up off her back. Thankfully, the Theraflex helps with that, but it's not giving her enough room in her shoulder, which is why I need more shims...

Bleh. I'll just have to experiment I guess...

J