This saddle is V-shaped and too narrow. It was causing a number of problems for the horse to which it had been fitted.

The same saddle, showing angular panels that are over-flocked and lumpy.

This saddle is typical of many others in its shape and design. It is nicely made, and good quality, but the “medium” width of the tree does not reflect the shape of any horse’s healthy correctly-muscled back.
The saddle is the shape that a horse will become through wearing this saddle, or one like it.

On the left, the same saddle, showing the narrow width and panels that become angular through the centre.

The picture at right is of a close-contact jumping saddle. Note the angular narrow width and the high panel line that was tight on the horse’s withers. The thin panel of this saddle was very unforgiving for the horse. Below, the same narrow angular shape in a synthetic saddle:

Apart from the hard panels, notice how uneven is the gullet of this saddle. It was crooked on the back of the horse and was pinching the ligaments along either side of the horse’s spine:

The saddle shown below is also too narrow in the tree, and the panels are over-flocked and hard against the back of the horse:

Below, gullet too narrow:

Tree too narrow, panels too angular, and panel line too high.

Tree too narrow, panels too angular. At this point it may be helpful to take a look at wither tracings.

This saddle is far too narrow for the width of the pony. As a result, it is sitting high above his withers, which are flat and low.
Note: the panel line is above the sides of the horse.

For comparison, here is a correctly fitting saddle.

Because this saddle is too narrow, it sits up at the front and slopes back. This causes pinching at the front and pressure points under the rear of the panels/seat. The rider was tipped back, with the lower legs thrown forward.

The horse had been fitted in the brown saddle but was the width of the black saddle.