Could a poor fitting saddle cause unsoundness symptons?

[sonjafoers]

One of my horses has gained weight since the spring and her saddle has become a bit tight for her. She has seen the saddler and is getting a new saddle which should be ready in 10 days or so. She will then have 2 saddles so she can change between the 2 depending on her condition.

I need to give a bit of background so apologies if this goes on a bit - I'll keep it brief:

Her saddle is always checked regularly and was last checked in February when she was thin. She is a cob x who hunts so when hunting finishes she does tend to gain weight as she is a very good doer - however she is also a sparky girl and very forward going.

During the spring ( so once she had started gaining weight ) I started to feel her back end wasn't quite right. She wasn't lame, didn't appear unsound but I just had a feeling something wasn't right although it was very subtle. She still whizzed round hunter trials with her usual gusto but I decided to give her some time off in case she had pulled something whilst competing.

She had about 8 weeks off and during this time she was checked by her usual osteopath who couldn't find anything wrong. She did say that she didn't feel she was starting with arthritis but if I wanted to fully explore that route I would need to consult my vet. My farrier said he didn't feel she was as he hadn't noticed anything when lifting her back legs to shoe.

I then saw my saddler who advised her saddle was too tight but until her new one was ready I could ride her very gently in it. He changed the flocking and I am using a thinner numnah than usual and we are riding out in walk & trot now. I did canter her in the school during the saddle fitting and she would only do a few strides before pulling herself up.

Whilst riding her I sometimes still get the feeling something isn't right but it is very, very intermittent and quite subtle. I seem to notice it when going down steep hills or if I trot up a steep hill and she gets tired towards the end. She looks completely sound when in the field in all paces.

Yesterday I asked my YO to have a quick look at her trot up (very experienced old horseman) and he said straightaway that she looks completely sound but my saddle doesn't fit. He said that if I am feeling something it's being caused by my saddle catching her when not on the flat as it's moving.

Do you think this could be the case? Could a too tight saddle cause me to think she is unsound in the back end?

Sorry it's long!

 

[Miss L Toe]

Yes

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yes, definitely and I would advise you not to ride in your current saddle until she has lost weight again, in case the saddle causes longer term damage.
Fortunately your new saddle will be ready soon.

 

[be positive]

Yes it could, I would get a physio out ,her muscles will probably be sore as she holds herself against the tight saddle.
I had a pony come in for schooling with a badly fitted [by a saddler] saddle,he was lame on 3 legs,had 2 physio treatments and some careful rehab came totally sound and cured his schooling issues!

 

[**Vanner**]

Yes - definately don't ride her in that saddle

 

[Booboos]

Yes an ill fitting saddle can cause all sorts of problems. You've had a feeling for a while your horse is not right, why not call a vet out? You seem to have consulted all sorts of people, but surely an experienced equine vet should be your first port of call. If she has back pain a new saddle won't necessarily resolve this, you need a vet to diagnose the problem, prescribe a treatment, check that she has recovered and then get back on her with a well fitting saddle.

 

[sonjafoers]

I haven't actually 'consulted' all sorts of people Booboos, I've had the osteopath out which is the first thing I would do for any back type issues. If she then found a problem I would call the vet out.

My concern with calling the vet is that I know from experience they like to do nerve blocks, scans, etc etc as soon as unsoundness is mentioned and I don't feel this situation warrants it. If I actually felt she was lame or if the osteopath said she felt something was wrong I would call the vet in an instant.

However I won't ride her at all until the new saddle arrives and I will get either the osteo back out or find a physio for her. If after this I feel the slightest issue in the new saddle I will call the vet.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I feel slightly relieved now knowing it is probably the saddle and nothing more sinister.

 

[Firewell]

Yes. My old saddle was pinching my horses shoulders and restricting them which made him look bridle lame especially on the left. New saddle and a couple of osteo visits and perfectly straight and sound now .

 

[sonjafoers]

As an update I decided to contact a physio to get a secondary opinion as she has already had her usual osteo out who can't find any problems. As I've never had a physio before she needs to be referred by the vet so I am taking her up to the vets anyway!

My concern with this is that they will start to do things which may not be necessary as I have already mentioned, and it's really not a route I want to go down.

Don't get me wrong, I frequently call the vet out and I would rather spend a fortune on getting something checked unnecessarily rather than letting something go that needs attention. However in this case it is so slight that I'm not sure a full vets investigation into 'lameness' is the way to go. Anyway it's done now - lets hope he just checks her over then refers me to the physio!

 

[Snoopy1]

I have just been through this with my boy and would say absolutely yes. My horse was showing intermittent lameness on his off fore - sometimes he was all but sound and other days looked very lame. Had vet out who said sore in back but could find nothing of concern which he felt warranted further investigation at the time. He felt he was sore in his back and saddle was probably the issue. He recommended a course of physio and saddle check. Turned out that the saddle was sitting too low so had probably bruised his back. Physio gave us a programme of work and exercises to stretch him out and strengthen him up. Would definatly not ride until new saddle was here as you may do further damage.

 

[Booboos]

I haven't actually 'consulted' all sorts of people Booboos, I've had the osteopath out which is the first thing I would do for any back type issues. If she then found a problem I would call the vet out.

My concern with calling the vet is that I know from experience they like to do nerve blocks, scans, etc etc as soon as unsoundness is mentioned and I don't feel this situation warrants it. If I actually felt she was lame or if the osteopath said she felt something was wrong I would call the vet in an instant.

However I won't ride her at all until the new saddle arrives and I will get either the osteo back out or find a physio for her. If after this I feel the slightest issue in the new saddle I will call the vet.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I feel slightly relieved now knowing it is probably the saddle and nothing more sinister.

Your post seemed to indicate that you had consulted your osteopath (who should not have seen the horse without a vet referal anyway), your farrier and your YO as you were worried. To me this sounds odd, as your first port of call should be the vet. The vet will not do nerve blocks and scans just like that, indeed if the problem is caused by the saddle there is no need to do nerve blocks and scans. Don't rely on random strangers on the internet for a diagnosis either, while the saddle could be causing a problem even the range of problems it could be causing are huge (from soft tissue injury, to neurological, to exacerbating kissing spines, just to mention a few off the top of my head) and who knows if it's the saddle anyway???

 

[CHH]

Yes absolutley.

Agree with the others, don't ride in the old one, simple.

I wouldn't.

Yes horses can display 'symptoms' that can make you look in the wrong area, but a pinching/rubbing/hurting saddle will affect the whole horse, yes the 'triers' will continue to do their job the best the can. They will just adapt their way of going to avoid pain.

Others - well just explode.

I'd give her a thorough MOT (back checked the whole lot) prior to working her, you have time waiting for the new saddle.

I've seen a horse guarded about their back after a very ill fitting saddle (poro thing had HUGE white marks from it) and he would appear lame at the back, but it was how he was holding himself because of the saddle.
This horse was sound on the lunge minus the saddle but very different under saddle.
Did learn to relax after some time with new caring owner though! Yours doesn't sound that bad.

Hope it all goes OK, and enjoy the new saddle!
OH and agree with BooBoos - speak to the Pros

 

[sonjafoers]

Your post seemed to indicate that you had consulted your osteopath (who should not have seen the horse without a vet referal anyway), your farrier and your YO as you were worried. To me this sounds odd, as your first port of call should be the vet. The vet will not do nerve blocks and scans just like that, indeed if the problem is caused by the saddle there is no need to do nerve blocks and scans. Don't rely on random strangers on the internet for a diagnosis either, while the saddle could be causing a problem even the range of problems it could be causing are huge (from soft tissue injury, to neurological, to exacerbating kissing spines, just to mention a few off the top of my head) and who knows if it's the saddle anyway???

Yes I did consult my osteopath as stated. I would hardly call the other 2 a consultation!!

I'm surprised you see it odd that I would consult an osteopath for a back check, she comes out to me on a regular basis for check ups and is my 1st port of call for anything stiffness related that is non-urgent. Not once has she consulted my vet prior to visiting and my vet is fully aware that I use her.

I am not relying on random strangers on the internet for a diagnosis, purely asking for an opinion which is what most of us do on here isn't it??