Hmmm...ok. I see the problem then. Definitely not from that area, no. Closest I've been is Reno for a vacation, and Georgia living there for a bit.

See the problem is I wouldn't even know where to start. Not having your background or anything. What I can say from the picture is besides the saddle's placement, you need an english saddle pad, or a way to keep the blanket from slipping back I imagine. And I hope you didn't ride with the stirrup leather buckle there the whole time...ouchie!

For conditioning the horse, hillwork...lunging in side reins that can be adjusted loosely at first and then tightened as muscle builds. But with lunging, you don't want to do long sessions at a time, just shorter sessions focused on really doing it right and keeping the horse straight in the shoulders.