Gel pad or saddle reflocked?

[madginger]

Hi

Just after some opinions really, I went out on a sponsored ride yesterday and rode for about 3 hours, when I got off and sponged off my horse she was very sensitive in parts of her back, particularly on one side towards the back of where the saddle went, basically where I sit :0).

I am wondering whether to try a gel pad to help relieve the pressure a bit or to get her saddle chacked? I last had it reflocked about 18 months ago (the saddle is only about 3 years old).

She is not normally sensitive when I ride for about an hour so I think it may have just been the amount of time that I spent in the saddle - do you think it would be worth investing or just egtting her saddle checked?

Thanks

 

[TiaPony]

Get her saddle checked - better safe than sorry. You can discuss putting a gel pad under it with your saddler as this will affect the fit of the saddle. Even a mature horse can change shape vastly in 6 months, never mind 18! Hope you get it sorted

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Definitely saddle check. Cheaper than gel pad followed by vet and physio.

 

[Nanolol]

Agree-saddle check all the way.

 

[vinnie]

Saddle checked to be on the safe side.
But if you are going out on a 3 hour ride I would put a sheepskin pad underneath the saddle anyway just to ease the pressure for that long period of time.

 

[moosehunter]

Gel pad. Your rear was bouncing enthusiastically on its back a long time.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ehm, don't think the time factor (i.e. longer ride than normal) is excessive TBH, after all a day's hunting would be more than this.

Think you'd be well advised to get saddle checked ASAP by someone qualified; and an equine physio to check if anything's going on.

Then YOU the rider need checking too with a physio/osteo. My lady does both human and equine - coz very often something like this will be caused by uneven-ness or back problems in the rider as well.

So get both of you (plus saddle) checked ASAP.

 

[sbloom]

I would recommend an osteo or McTimoney chiro first - if she is off it is very hard to fit a saddle correctly as good saddle fitting is about dynamic fit. Unless there are very obvious issues with the flocking or othe aspects of the saddle, she'll need to be "right" to be able to be observed ridden in walk trot and canter. Once she has the all clear (she might even need time off) then you can get the saddle checked, by a good saddle fitter, whether "qualified" or not. If you don't know of one, best to get a recommendation on here.