Exercise saddle

[Angel/olive]

My ottb has recently been diagnosed with kissing spine, and also had saddle fitter out unfortunately I don't have the £800 rn to buy the right saddle, once my boy has been given all clear to be ridden again can an exercise saddle be a good fit? He was broken in with one and ridden in one up intill he was 2 and a half he's now 4, only wondering as I currently own an exercise saddle given to me by the racing yard I got him from

 

[Vodkagirly]

I think the saddle fitter is the best one to answer this

 

[Gamebird]

I think in general they're not always a great fit. You see a lot of horses in racing with sore backs. It's very much a one-fits-all scenario. It would also depend whether it's a half or full tree. Half trees have a pressure point under the seat where the tree ends. They all also tend to err on the narrow side, which is not ideal for a horse that has back problems. They are also designed to be ridden in for very short periods, and we would normally use at least 2 pads under them.

I do like exercise saddle in the right circumstances, and have a lovely one myself, but I do not think this is the right circumstance. Horses with kissing spines benefit massively from unridden rehab to improve posture and build supportive musculature. There is masses of groundwork you will need to do to rehab your horse for riding, so why not concentrate on this for now, and meantime save up for a saddle that really fits.

 

[rextherobber]

I wouldn't bezl worrying about saddles at this point, KS rehab takes months and months, depending on the cause of the KS, of course

 

[McGrools]

I like using a racing saddle well padded up, they are nice and light and inoffensive

 

[Angel/olive]

I think in general they're not always a great fit. You see a lot of horses in racing with sore backs. It's very much a one-fits-all scenario. It would also depend whether it's a half or full tree. Half trees have a pressure point under the seat where the tree ends. They all also tend to err on the narrow side, which is not ideal for a horse that has back problems. They are also designed to be ridden in for very short periods, and we would normally use at least 2 pads under them.

I do like exercise saddle in the right circumstances, and have a lovely one myself, but I do not think this is the right circumstance. Horses with kissing spines benefit massively from unridden rehab to improve posture and build supportive musculature. There is masses of groundwork you will need to do to rehab your horse for riding, so why not concentrate on this for now, and meantime save up for a saddle that really fits.

I belive it's a full tree? It's an old mill exercise saddle, im having to sell his other saddles to get the one he needs but I'm currently struggling to save up £800 to get the one he needs, so in short time the exercise saddle won't be used much, as idk if he will be cleared for hacking only, or if he can return to full ridden work, so I currently don't want to go and spend that type of money atm for him to not to be able to use it, if you get what I mean? I'm trying say this without sounding rude

 

[Caski]

I would wait until you have a clear health prognosis, as you say, he may not be a ridden horse again. Also, his fit may change significantly upon return to work so you might be wasting your money.

Is the saddle fitter aware of his current condition?

 

[Angel/olive]

I would wait until you have a clear health prognosis, as you say, he may not be a ridden horse again. Also, his fit may change significantly upon return to work so you might be wasting your money.

Is the saddle fitter aware of his current condition?

Yeah she's fully aware of his condition, im to get back to her once he's been cleared, and once I have the saddle she's recommends which now won't be till late 2026 I'll get the saddle as it's just way to expensive for me

 

[humblepie]

When you do look the part synthetic saddles are so good now and light. Good luck with him

 

[Nocturnal]

I would also wait. Once his rehab is completed his back musculature may be quite different to how it is now.

 

[Gamebird]

Old mill saddles sell well second hand so it might be worth looking at selling that to go into the kitty.

 

[sbloom]

I like using a racing saddle well padded up, they are nice and light and inoffensive

Many would beg to disagree, and would point to race saddles of various kinds being at least part of the reason so many have KS. I would absolutely not recommend one.

Groundwork first and foremost, riding can wait. I direct my customers to the Slow Walk Work (featured posts within it) on Facebook as it's so gentle it is unlikely to be contraindicated (though of course you can check with bodyworker/vet first) and is postural, paying really close attention to observation and knowing HOW the horse should do the move, and what to do if they can't. So much groundwork is just "do this, do that" without enough context and understanding.

You could use a bareback pad IF it has spinal clearance, otherwise a good, used treeless, or wait. It could cost you a lot more than £800 overall/long term if you get it wrong.