feeling guilty ...saddle tightness ,youngster changed shape

[cellie]

My young horse whose 5( still has baby teeth so bit of question mark) was poor condition when I bought him so did plenty of hacking to build him up.He had normal back check, saddle, and teeth checked.He had bad laceration to his leg in june then splint so until recently I havent done much lunging.Ive just had first few lessons and he went bit lame at end of session although he worked brilliantly in lesson . Ive just realised his saddle is tight on wither .Back lady had me using prolite as he was uneven at cantle and I guess its made saddle too tight on wither.The saddle is also lower than I like on pommel so Ive booked saddle fitter for next tuesday and will buy new saddle if he needs one.
My question is would saddle tightness cause short striding in front.He looks off not lame although nobody else can see it.He is also finding it difficult to bend on right rein on lunge his quarters are in and head is out,its left wither thats very sore.Instructor says lunge on side reins to help balance and make him go forward into contact and tighten outside rein.
I stopped riding as soon as I realised he was off which was over week ago, then I retried him and discovered it was saddle.He doesnt want to go forward in trot ,couple of steps and I realised hes not happy and I wont push young horse, his back was coming up and he was being nappy which is just not his way.Much happier in saddle without the pad even in walk but still sore.
Ill have back lady out on 25th and fitter is booked so do I leave him alone or lunge hoping to release back tension. Im massaging and doing stretches and can see hes not stretching so well on right.
I dont fancy leaving him with no work and finding him very hot when saddler visits its bit of catch 22. Basically Im unsure how long he will be sore from saddle pinching and probable bruising.Any thoughts guys or help appreciated

 

[Wheels]

Yes, a tight saddle can cause the horse to not want to go forwards. If she is particularly stiff on one rein then this could also cause her to not want to go forward.

I probably wouldn't be doing much lunging or riding before she is seen by a professional (what type of back lady are you getting out?) I would do some carrot stretches, possibly some in hand work, possibly some in hand hacks depending on how bad I thought she was.

Is the saddle fitter due before or after the back person?

 

[cellie]

Im waiting for call back from mc timoni who I regularly use, his back was good last time she came out only month ago. I think I can arrange for her visit day before fitter as she is in area then.Im not going to ride although my instructor said his saddle was ok hes to sore . I really feel prolite pad has made difference and caused damage.Im already doing carrot stretches which should help, hacks arent option in hand as too many main roads although hes fine in company ridden. I can walk him round the yard perimeter. I have dentist booked as well just to tick all boxes.Id forgotten how many ups and downs you get with youngsters !!!!he was complete blank canvas basically only been sat on. Just been rather unlucky with accidents.

 

[Bantry]

Ideally he should see a physio/vet first and then have as much time off as they recommend. Then get the saddle fitter before you start riding again. If you're getting a new saddle you'll need to ride in a few during the saddle fitting process which wouldn't be advised the day after a rehab session. Can you not just turn him out everyday until he's ready to start working again?

 

[cellie]

Ideally he should see a physio/vet first and then have as much time off as they recommend. Then get the saddle fitter before you start riding again. If you're getting a new saddle you'll need to ride in a few during the saddle fitting process which wouldn't be advised the day after a rehab session. Can you not just turn him out everyday until he's ready to start working again?

He is turned out and I'm not working him at all . Just going to do stretches . I've worked out since I brought the pad that he's actually only been ridden in it over 2 week period . I'm suppose it's enough time to make him sore hopefully not long enough to have done lasting damage . The muscle although sore is soft and he's responded to massage . I had rung vets and we discussed rest and danilon before I realised it was saddle I had inkling things were off as he felt different .

 

[Horsemad12]

I had similar saddle issues this summer. My back lady recommended massage with arnica for a few days after she treated her, may help while you are waiting?

 

[cellie]

I had similar saddle issues this summer. My back lady recommended massage with arnica for a few days after she treated her, may help while you are waiting?

That's great idea and I have some in tack room . I'll do that tonight after his stretches thanks . How long did you rest your horse for ? I realise they are all different and feel I have noticed very quickly that he was uncomfortable .

 

[Horsemad12]

That's great idea and I have some in tack room . I'll do that tonight after his stretches thanks . How long did you rest your horse for ? I realise they are all different and feel I have noticed very quickly that he was uncomfortable .

Mine had a couple of weeks "off" / without a saddle post treatment but that was due to waiting for the saddler to come out. She was ridden bareback and lunged in that time.

If she is very tight and sore then I would be tempted to wait until she is treated.

Mine was slightly different in that it was the back lady that spotted the tightness and thought it may be saddle related. There was no change in stride etc involved and only in hindsight a very slight drop in stretch over a larger fence. I suspect with mine the soreness had been developing for a few weeks.

 

[cellie]

Thanks that does help, hes very wimpy tb if he knocks his leg hes lame .I used arnica tonight and hes much better on that shoulder didnt flinch when I massaged. Its shoulder below wither thats sore so muscle area and he didnt threaten me with ears back and nipping this eve.Ive found before that if hes uncomfortable he doesnt go forward, he had splint and did same thing and when he stood on stone came in on 3 legs ,3 days later he was fine lol just wanted to see the vet !!!.Im not riding bareback hes very green only backed this year and done very little so he can rest

 

[ironhorse]

If he's sensible enough to lunge without side reins there's no reason that you shouldn't lunge him a little as soon as the shoulder stops being sore. It will probably even help free him off a little and you can also monitor how comfortable he is. I lunge my youngster on as big a circle as possible - our indoor is 25x25 and we use all of it - and walk in large circles with him so he's not turning tightly. If he's been regularly lunged in the days going up to your saddle fitting, you could lunge him before the fitter arrives so he's warm and a bit tired and happy to stand still while she fiddles about with the saddle.
If you are buying a new saddle have you considered one with an adjustable gullet? They are great when horses are changing shape.

 

[CBAnglo]

I would recommend that if possible you keep lunging until the saddle can be fitted. The worst thing to do is to let them down and lose all topline, then fit a saddle that is going to be too narrow once you have been working a while.

I would much rather fit the saddle wider and use a hlaf pad for a couple of weeks until the muscle can develop.

Is he lame/not happy to work on the lunge? if he is turning out, then he is not stepping under with the inside leg and this is more likely to be a balance thing than anything else.

 

[cellie]

I would recommend that if possible you keep lunging until the saddle can be fitted. The worst thing to do is to let them down and lose all topline, then fit a saddle that is going to be too narrow once you have been working a while.

I would much rather fit the saddle wider and use a hlaf pad for a couple of weeks until the muscle can develop.

Is he lame/not happy to work on the lunge? if he is turning out, then he is not stepping under with the inside leg and this is more likely to be a balance thing than anything else.

No hes not lame and is also more comfortable now in shoulder ,think it was bruising and Ive been doing stretches. He wouldnt lunge on right at all originally but is straight now going forward rather than stepping under, hes unbalanced altho when ridden he worked well with inside leg on so can do it.Ill lunge in morning his topline has really improved like you say shame to let it drop off.Last time I lunged he was swishing his tail so I stopped ,its good indicator and he was sore at that time.

 

[cellie]

If he's sensible enough to lunge without side reins there's no reason that you shouldn't lunge him a little as soon as the shoulder stops being sore. It will probably even help free him off a little and you can also monitor how comfortable he is. I lunge my youngster on as big a circle as possible - our indoor is 25x25 and we use all of it - and walk in large circles with him so he's not turning tightly. If he's been regularly lunged in the days going up to your saddle fitting, you could lunge him before the fitter arrives so he's warm and a bit tired and happy to stand still while she fiddles about with the saddle.
If you are buying a new saddle have you considered one with an adjustable gullet? They are great when horses are changing shape.

His saddle has gullett but might be little low in front , think the pad I was using caused problem as hes added topline and muscle all round.Hes just muscled up very quickly ,bit of maturity and good feed I have chambon so could use that to make him work long and low he doesnt really like side reins as hes getting used to contact.Hes good lad and is missing his work.