Bucking when hasn't worn a saddle in a while?

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ghostie

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Just wondering if anyone has any ideas on this please....

If my boy hasn't been ridden or lunged in a saddle the previous day he tends to buck in canter and fling himself round for a few minutes with lots of tail swishing before settling. He only does it if he as a sadde on though - if you lunge him without he is fine. Not too much of an issue as I manage it by lunging him befre I get on to get it out of him, but I am worried he is in pain.

By way of background I have owned him since Feb. He as had two saddles professionally fitted by respected saddlers, one GP and one dressage and he does it in both. He has a sheepskin pad as he is sensitive.

He has recently been treated for ulcers but has now scoped clear. Vet can't think what else is causing it. He has ad lib hay so isn't worked on an empty stomach on vets advice.

He had his back checked a month ago and all fine.

He does need to build more topline which we are working on. Could ths be the issue? I just find it odd that he is fine provided he has had the saddle on the previous day?

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Saddlers often do not look beyond the back, a good physio will also look at the girth area which could be contributing to your problems - what is he like if you lunge with a roller?
 
the watcher said:
Saddlers often do not look beyond the back, a good physio will also look at the girth area which could be contributing to your problems - what is he like if you lunge with a roller?
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Hmm, good question, thank you. I don't know as I don't own one. Perhaps I should invest in a cheap one and see as that might help narrow it down.

Have tried a girth sleeve but that doesn't seem to make a difference.

Osteopath did look at girth area but couldn't find anything. He hates having his stomach brushed though.
 
Has he changed shape (ie got fatter/thinner, more muscle) since saddle fitted? Was saddle fitted with sheepskin pad on?

All these could affect saddle fit and so may need saddler out to alter :-(
 
That is the thing, saddler only fitted him two weeks ago and he was doing it long before that. She fitted it to be worn with the pad. What I just don't understand is that he only does it if he wasn't ridden the previous day, but doesn't do it without a saddle?!?
 
ghostie said:
Tbh I have never really understood the term. When I googled a lot of things suggested that 'cold backed' is just a term that covers a range of behaviour all caused by underlying issues, but is that not the case?
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Cold backed its like shock, is it waiting for pain, is it soreness, quite often they are ok once the saddle as been on for 5 minutes. But yes it's quite an old fashioned term as you say for anything back and saddle related caused by underlying issues past or present.
 
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