Back sores

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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I noticed my girl had saddle sores last night when I took her saddle off :-(

I put warm water and surgical spirit around them on her back as seem to remember that this works to harden the skin? I then covered the sore in Sudocrem..... was this the right thing to do??


I am going to swap her polypad for a lambswool numnah as i dont think this will rub as much???

Just wondered if anyone has any other suggestions??

I am getting the saddle fitter to come out and check the saddle, it looks like it will need to be re-flocked... it dosnt help that her withers are so prominent (sp) so I have always used a saddle pad with wither riser. I do have thick gel and foam pads, but not sure if these will help?

Does anyone have any similar experiences?

What else can I do to help?? I feel so guilty!
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Firstly you need to stop riding her until the sores are completely healed.

I would go with Sudocreme for it's soothing and antiseptic properties - rather than trying to 'harden' the skin personally.
 
Yes, stop riding her completely.
Firstly you don't want her to associate being ridden or her saddle with saddle sores and secondly the sores need a chance to heal.
Personally would stick to the sudocrem for its soothing properties, mainly because sudocrem is amazing and I use it on everything!
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The saddle has been rubbing for a considerable time if your horse has already developed sores. I would stop riding her immediately.
I absolutely hate it when people use thick polypads, sheepskins and front risers to make a saddle fit. The saddle should be fitted directly to the horse’s back without any of these things and only a thin numnah used unless there are medical reasons for the use of a sheepskin or the discipline requires it. As for big withers – I am always surprised by the number of people that call me and say they have a horse with big withers. Then I turn up to find that their horse has completely normal withers with severe muscle wastage. In those circumstances I sometimes advise the use of a front riser for a very limited time until the muscle has developed – they are not meant to be used forever to cure a badly fitting saddle.
As for treating the sores, you do not want these to harden off as otherwise the hair might not grow back. You need to keep the skin moist (sudocrem) and make sure that if it is sunny you put sunscreen on otherwise the skin might burn.
If you like, you can pm me some pics and I can let you know what I think the problem might be.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I absolutely hate it when people use thick polypads, sheepskins and front risers to make a saddle fit. The saddle should be fitted directly to the horse’s back without any of these things and only a thin numnah used unless there are medical reasons for the use of a sheepskin or the discipline requires it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually CBA your point is a little unfair. Sometimes these things are needed. My horse has muscle wastage either side of his withers, so a good sheepskin pad is required to fill out this area until the muscle is re-developed. My saddler always reviews the fit of my saddle with and without my sheepskin, to ensure a satisfactory fit to accomodate my horses weekness.
 
As I said, I recommend the use of these pads for a limited time – but not for continual use to cure a badly fitting saddle. In your case I would have advised the same thing – either a sheepskin or front riser depending on the degree of wastage as obviously the saddle has to be fitted slightly wider to accommodate the muscle development. But I have heard of fitters who have said to people that the saddle will only fit with a riser (and they have sold the saddle to the person in the first place).
 
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