Can an ill fitting saddle cause lameness???

[Libbyn1982]

I posted in Vetinary about Toby's odd lameness. Had the farrier out today, defo not foot related, he couldn't find anything in either leg either. Pulled each foreleg forward and there is defo some resistance in near fore. Thinking pain is now in the shoulder - awaiting call back from vets but box rest today has probably made a 70% improvement so will be what the poor boy get stuck with for the next few days.

I was looking into causes of shoulder pain in horses - maybe not a good idea, now developing hypochondira on behalf of Toby!!! Anyway, we had a new saddle 4 weeks ago and I wonder if this could cause the shoulder pain? We had the saddle 2 weeks, rode 5/6 times no probs, did some nice schooling work. Went on hol so he had 5 days rest and this is when lamness started. Is it likely to be the saddle? Would symtoms develop so soon after new saddle and after 5 days rest???? Anyone had experience of saddle causing lameness from the shoulder??

Thanks in advance....

 

[Amaranta]

Absolutely, my big mare was lame under saddle because the saddle was pinching her shoulder, she was sound on the lunge, thought it was initially because she was unshod, so put fronts on her, no change, had the vet and the back lady out, both confirmed that she was sore in her back due to the saddle, had a really hard time trying to persuade the saddler that it WAS the saddle and not the horse, bought a new saddle (from another saddler) and lo and behold - sound horse!

 

[Libbyn1982]

The lameness does seem to be worsened after running in the field but covering all bases. Prob worth the back lady looking at him as well then.