Bumps on back where saddle/numnah goes

Ginger Bear

Ginger Bear

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My boy often gets little bumps on his back under where his numnah/saddle has been, they come & go & I got the vet to look at them & he didn't really know what they are but said not to worry about them if they come & go.. I first noticed them about a year ago as when I first got him last Oct the previous owner told me that he was cold backed so got him a new saddle (he came with a crappy pony saddle that was way to small..he's 16'1) one of those 'jelly' type pads that goes under the numnah & a thick numnah & that's when they appeared.I had a look online & found something that said it was a bit like heat rash where sweat gets trapped..well after a while of using his new saddle he showed no signs of being cold backed (just sore from using a crap saddle with PO) so opted for a thin numnah, it was better but still comes up from time to time.. Have had his back checked & was all fine, saddle was properly fitted etc. You can touch & prod the bumps & he doesn't react. He's a TB, not yet clipped as has hardly got a coat this year..Has anyone had this with their horse? Any ideas how to stop it?
 
My horse had some of these and I think they were related to him sweating under the saddle. Another horse that used to be in my yard was rugged up to the heavens (as in 5 rugs at night) and he had awful lumps all over his back. When we suggested she use less, warmer rugs he was much better.
 
One of mine had them last yr.
1. make sure your numnah is cleaned regularly & use quality non bio, such as fairy or persil
2. wash the area down with dilute hibiscrub in case there is a nasty bacterial infection starting.
3. Wipe your horse down after each ride if he gets sweaty there.

4. I ended up fully clipping the whole of my horse, less sweat seemed to help
5. I believed it also tied in with buying a cheaper (non branded) shavings. I loved the shavings, but they seemed to trigger the reaction. I changed back to the more expensive brand & they never came back.
 
Thanks, will keep these all in mind..He's on straw at the moment but was on HUnters shavings & neither have changed the condition.. All I know is when he was on box rest for 4 months they went away so it's definately due to saddle/numnah & not rugs..I don't tend to over-rug. Think I'll try washing all his numnahs & hibiscrubbing.. thanks again
 
Good luck, I never got the vet out & they did go within a month. Having said that they started to get heads & then get a bit manky with tiny amounts of puss. Hence why I hibiscrubed them. But they healed easily and never caused a problem. My horse does have sensitive skin & can get mud fever easily too if not clipped out & covered in baby oil.
 
Sounds like protein lumps. My old Mare had them a few years ago. Just make sure you clean tack etc often, and groom on a regular basis. They just disapear in time and they dont seam to bother them either.
 
Good suggestions, I did notice actually last week that one of the lumps had a little scab on it..to be honest at the time because it was only one I thought it was an insect bite (it was that small) but will definately be hibiscrubbing.. He is a bit sensitive as most TB are, and yeh he had a bit of mud fever last year but fields very good so far this year so no issue yet..
 
my horse had them and every year when jabs were due vet would inject them and they would vanish. He had a clean numnah on every time and was washed down well. On good quality shavings and even when clipped they would still appear. Always appeared in a slightly different place
 
curlywerly mentioned protein lumps..aren't they caused by too much protein? If they were protein lumps surely they wouldn't just be in the saddle area? that's why i reckon they're to do with sweat & heat?? Any ideas?
 
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