Back pain from saddle

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Nik and Ed

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I've had problems with my horse after 6 weeks of owning him. Pain in his poll, refusing to be caught, people telling me to get rid of him but I've been convinced he's in pain and not naughty just by his behaviour and reactions. I had his saddle fitted and 3 weeks later he was in huge pain around the poll. Vet said there was nothing wrong with him but I started with a mctimoney chiropractor who has been great. This week she's spotted muscle wastage under the rear of the saddle and when she touched him he shot away. I've since found that back pain can show itself in the neck and the poll. However I've had two opinions and both say the saddle fits. He's 16'3hh and the saddle is 18". Apart from time off and physio any ideas? Got to be more than coincidence b but 2 fitters tell me the saddle fits and does not rub.
 
You need the vet back, or a different one, back pain can be caused by a poorly fitted saddle but if both saddlers think it ok I would be wanting further investigating of the hind legs, bilateral lameness can cause the back to become sore and as it is getting more pronounced and the muscle is wasting away despite chiro treatment you should be getting him checked properly, it could be the saddle as not all fitters are good but more often than not there will be an underlying physical issue.
 
Agreed - could be any number of things really

Saddle fit can cause back problems yes but so can many other things
 
Think that's what I'll have to do soon as he stops hurting and vet checks him out. I did wonder if it's a bit too long although theoretically it should fit maybe it's pressing too far back for him. Thing is he now associates being tacked up with pain so will take a while to work through that I think.
 
It can also be the other way around. Issues within the jaw and also poll area can also cause issues within the lumbar area, if they are tight in there jaw it can show in there back.
 
TheCurlyPony said:
It can also be the other way around. Issues within the jaw and also poll area can also cause issues within the lumbar area, if they are tight in there jaw it can show in there back.
Click to expand...

Ditto this - my big lad gets very tense around his facial and poll muscles (consequence of the way he naturally holds himself and his conformation probably), and once these are relaxed the sore response in his back (behind where my saddle sits) disappears. I've known a lot of others that react similarly with poll tension. But then poll tension can come from just general work/movement in field etc., or from protecting and injury elsewhere.
Ideally you could do with getting a vet specialising in lost performance and provide them with the report from the McTimony practitioner and from the saddle fitters and take it from there.
Good luck
 
My horse Jay did not like his saddle, although it did fit supposedly. I bought a bareback pad and he went brilliantly. Proof positive for me that although the saddle did fit, it really did not!

I had him pressure tested with the expensive pressure pads and computer, and the saddle was FAB when static, but when in motion and he lifted his back to work, guess what, he was right, it did not.

In fact, we tried about 6 saddles that day, and they may have fitted when static, but none were perfect when in motion.

I could not event in a bareback pad, so started a long and expensive search for a saddle that fitted. I did get one custom made for him in the end, and as soon as we did some schooling he was FAB. It was like 6 months of schooling in 20 minutes! He stopped being one sided, lifted more, was more balanced, swung through his back.

I bought a low tech Port Lewis pad to test saddles. Not as good as a Pliance Pressure test, but only a fraction of the cost, and you can tell if the saddle is pinching (and where) when in motion. It is not accurate, but can confirm a suspicion. I actually have not used it on Jay, as I now know exactly what he feels like when he is not comfortable. Many horses are very stoic though.
 
Agree with Red-1 & Scats.... my own horse had similar problems.

Good for you for not giving up where the people you know are saying get rid. Hope you get to the bottom of it but I think the horse is saying loud and clear what he thinks of the saddle. I would immediately look into other saddle options, treeless if need be until you find something to fit.
 
Thank you for your replies. I'm going to persevere and give him a chance. Interesting about the saddle fitting when static but not when moving. I'm loathed to get on him now knowing he's in pain to even test a saddle. Been recommended a good equine vet so going to start again and see what they say. Thank you x
 
Is the saddle too long (feel up his last rib to where it meets the spine and saddle should not go beyond this point)? I have seen many saddlers check the gullet of the saddle fits and flocking but rarely see one properly check the length. This could cause pain behind the saddle because there is nothing there to support the weight. I have actually been sold 2 17" saddles for my horse from 2 different saddlers which said that they fit really well, only to check them myself when I became more educated in saddle fit and find they were sitting too far back. I now know that he can only take a 16/16.5" saddle depending on the style :)
 
You can get saddles that different panel sizes to the seat. Search around bespoke saddle makers if you can. I don't know if there's any near you but have a look around and some may specialise in back health too. Also, check the gullet width, sometimes they can be too narrow and sit to near the spine which can cause a reflex which makes them dip their backs. You WILL get to the bottom of it, persevere and I wish you lots of good luck with it. Let us know how you get on :)
 
How did the two saddle fitters check the fit, did they see you ride? Is the saddle placed well back behind the shoulder? The front edge of the tree points (U shaped stitch line on most leather saddles, forward of stirrup bars on sweat flap) should be 2-3 fingers behind the shoulder blade, then you need to find the last rib, low down on the flank, and track it up to the back of the saddle. There should be only a tiny bit of the very back of the panel, ie towards the middle of the saddle, very slightly over the last rib, the weight bearing area should be on and not beyond it. Many owners and even the odd fitter puts a saddle too far forwards in an effort to get a bigger seat size on the horse, you see it ALL the time in photos on FB etc where people are recommending their saddle as a brilliant fit, so many are inches forwards of where they should be!

If they didn't see you ride, didn't assess spinal clearance, ie how wide is the spine and is the space between panels big enough, didn't assess length, then it could be saddle. A saddle can ONLY be said to fit if it fits in movement, saying something looks okay "in the cross ties" is not fitting a saddle. By definition it can not be said to fit if that is all that has been checked.

I'm not personally a fan of the Port Lewis pad, in too many cases it can actually change the fit of the saddle, tipping it back slightly, making it perch and roll. It may work for some but it's a lot of money for something that doesn't always work.
 
Muscle wasteage may be due to the saddle fit but may also be due to something going on in the back.
If it continues I would consider x raying the back.

There are vets and vets. Believe me, been there and got the T shirt.
Hope you get it resolved successfully.
 
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