It is very important that the pack saddle blanket is positioned far forward over the horse's withers. A good indicator is to have the blanket in line with the front legs. This may seem odd for riders, and it takes some discipline to consciously make sure this is properly executed.
The main reason for this is that a static load — unlike a human who moves with the movement of the horse — can cause the saddle blanket to shift. The blanket will always move in the direction of the horse’s hair: backwards.
Further, pull the blanket up under the front buck to create a hollow space where air can circulate. Doing so becomes much easier when the blanket is positioned far forward.
I recommend using a half inch thick liner under the pack saddle blanket.
Check out our pack saddle blankets, liners and combo of the two.
A Few Words About How Weight Should Be Distributed on the Horse’s Back
Although the hind legs have much more muscle than the front legs, the horse carries most of its weight on the front. The powerful hind legs are meant to move the horse forward.
The pack saddle and the riding saddle should be placed as far forward as the horse’s shoulders allow. Look for the hollow part behind the shoulder blade and place the front tip of the pack saddle bar just behind the shoulder.
This often seems counterintuitive for beginners, but we must be aware of where we place our weight. Too much weight over the back part of the horse’s back can cause serious damage and shorten the horse’s lifespan.
Common Mistakes
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Making the saddle bags too heavy: Use a pommel bag for heavy items like water bottles, and put lighter items such as clothing into the saddle bags.
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Avoid heavy backpacks: A light backpack with some clothing is fine, but heavy, large backpacks pull the rider backward and are generally unsafe. A friend of mine once fell off a horse while wearing a backpack with a can of beans in it. They had to make an emergency trip down the mountain because his back was severely injured.
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The rider doesn’t adjust their body position to the terrain: Uphill, the rider must lean forward; downhill, they must push the pelvis into the saddle and lean back.
For beginner packers, it may seem strange that the pack boxes hang relatively far forward, but this is the case when the saddle is positioned correctly.
Happy Packing!
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