disunited canter with specific saddle

[clairekat]

Just wondered if anyone else had experienced issues like this
My horse inherited her saddle just before Christmas last year. I have had it checked and adjusted flocking a couple of times since as I felt it was slightly unbalanced and tipping forwards and we've had a bit of weight loss.
By April she had developed ulcers and was treated , clear by July.
In October she started showing signs again of ulcers and was retreated, she is now no longer showing any signs but I didn't have her rescoped. Before she would always pull faces when having girth done but now she doesn't. However what she does do is move to back of stable away from saddle which is new behaviour.
I was having a lesson 2 weeks ago and she was really fresh and full of it so I decided to lunge first. In canter, both reins she kept going disunited. So we took the saddle off and she was fine. Put saddle back on and went disunited. Off and she was fine. I then tried another old saddle that saddler said fits and she was fine in that.
I have arranged for a saddler to come out in Feb but she wanted vet to check as its a welfare issue. Vet came out and said if he hadn't seen her lunged with tack he would have said nothing wrong, however once he saw her lunged with saddle he has advised don't ride until saddle has been checked and then take it from there.
Funny part is my old horse always went disunited in canter too using same saddle and I put it down to her arthritis and age and stopped cantering her.
Saddle is about 10 years old and I would have said good condition. It has had flocking adjusted by a Master Saddler

 

[muddybay]

I have a horse who goes to the back of the stable when I bring the saddle! I realized my old one was a very poor fit and now he's borrowing one off a pony he isn't doing it at much. I'm now awaiting the saddler to come and fit him properly but it has taught me the importance of getting a saddler out immediately and not just waiting! I think if his old saddle had fitted better he wouldn't be as tough to mount but we all learn!

 

[HeyMich]

Well done for listening to what your horse is telling you - she's screaming it loud and clear, so please don't ignore her. The saddle needs to be changed.

 

[clairekat]

Well done for listening to what your horse is telling you - she's screaming it loud and clear, so please don't ignore her. The saddle needs to be changed.

Yes saddler has suggested examining saddle and bringing other saddles to try, I have sent photos already to help her as its not my usual saddler, who has a minimum 3 month wait for appointments. I've not used this particular saddler before but so far she has been very professional, asking lots of questions and insisting on vet check to rule out lameness etc

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I wouldn't put that saddle on her again.

 

[Green Bean]

That is quite bizarre that a saddle would have that sort of impact, most especially without you in it. Have you checked for kissing spine, sacroiliac, had a chiro out to check back generally? I would be nervous on blaming it totally on a saddle, especially if you have had it fitted before so it is assumed that it isn't miles out. The reason I ask all of this, is that I been down this corridor myself and ended up with a KS diagnosis (after a two week trial of Regumate, both saddles checked by master saddler, scoped for ulcers and finally x-rayed).

 

[Goldenstar]

Listen to the horse .
I would seriously consider x-rays to the back .

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Listen to the horse .
I would seriously consider x-rays to the back .

I would agree with this, except another horse has had the same reaction to this very saddle. I think I would ask the saddler to strip it down to find out what is wrong with the saddle. Of course if nothing is, back to x-rays

 

[clairekat]

I would agree with this, except another horse has had the same reaction to this very saddle. I think I would ask the saddler to strip it down to find out what is wrong with the saddle. Of course if nothing is, back to x-rays

I have a plan in place with vet and saddler to check saddle fit, strip down and see if there is anything hidden wrong with it, then progress to x-rays. Just very odd that I had the same issue before with my other horse using this saddle unless I am the one causing the issue in the first place. I will add getting myself checked out to the plan.

That is quite bizarre that a saddle would have that sort of impact, most especially without you in it. Have you checked for kissing spine, sacroiliac, had a chiro out to check back generally? I would be nervous on blaming it totally on a saddle, especially if you have had it fitted before so it is assumed that it isn't miles out. The reason I ask all of this, is that I been down this corridor myself and ended up with a KS diagnosis (after a two week trial of Regumate, both saddles checked by master saddler, scoped for ulcers and finally x-rayed).

The vet has checked her and wants saddle checked first as until we put the saddle on she showed no signs of discomfort. If there is no obvious saddle problem then will proceed looking at spine and investigate SJ. My vet made same comments as you have.

I am not riding her at moment until we get to the bottom of what is causing this although I do have another saddle (which doesn't look as good a fit) in which she canters normally.

 

[HobleytheTB]

Do you know what the root cause of the ulcers was both times?