With the saddle sox removed, (the pad) you can see the panels on Elite's back, they curve down - but only when a rider is in the saddle.  Also notice that Elite's mane has been shaved.  This is so his hair is not pulled down getting caught under the panels.

This is another angle showing how the panels - when on the RIGHT TREE allow the SYSTEM X to fit smoothly and evenly along Elite's back.  His withers poke up in-between the panels, which are soft to allow this.

A top view of Elite's shaved withers, the panels of the System X are feathered so that they are soft against Elite's withers.

A side view

Another view.  You can really see the rise of Elite's withers in this photo.

Dick is in the saddle, as that is the ONLY way you can see how the panels will perform on a horses back.  Dick put the amazing System X panels on his saddle making sure the saddle tree met with the specifications needed for the panel to perform.

Here is Elite.

A close up of Elite's back and wither.

Dick (age 61 in 2008) also has horses that are mutton, wide and flat backed, but Elite was the horse that proved the most challenging to fit.  Now with the System X panels, Dick - who is an avid rider and trainer (a graduate of the MN Horse Academy of Training.)  Can fit and ride all the horses he has with confidence, in that his saddle will not interfere with the horses willingness to perform and learn.