Grass belly?

Bea_millard said:
I don’t want to say their name on here, just in case they or someone they know sees! They were recommended to me by a friend who said they were great.

Ah, they’re the wrong side of Nottingham 😔
Click to expand...

They will travel.. my saddler does week days of different locations and travels hours a way. Worth a ask?
When was the saddle last fitted? If recently and pony is still unhappy, a second opinion is vital.
 
Aimeetess said:
They will travel.. my saddler does week days of different locations and travels hours a way. Worth a ask?
When was the saddle last fitted? If recently and pony is still unhappy, a second opinion is vital.
Click to expand...

Oh, fair enough. I will drop them a message and see. Thank you.

It was a few weeks ago which is when she said to me it’s too wide, to get a smaller gullet and get to come back out to change it/see it on him. Which is also when she put the towel under, which got removed after 5 minutes. So he’s still how he was before the saddle fit at the moment. Before that, I am honestly not sure. Genuinely not sure if he’d have had it done at his old owners
 
I wouldn't ride on the saddle the way it is it doesn't take long to damage the muscles, but it takes a he'll of a long time to put them right, I know your taking steps to find a decent fitter, but sometimes just changing the gullet doesn't always means it will fit, the saddle as a whole needs to be right, I hope you manage to find someone to put it right for you, don't panic about ulcers and such at the moment, get your saddle right first and if his still unhappy next step would be the vet.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I wouldn't ride on the saddle the way it is it doesn't take long to damage the muscles, but it takes a he'll of a long time to put them right, I know your taking steps to find a decent fitter, but sometimes just changing the gullet doesn't always means it will fit, the saddle as a whole needs to be right, I hope you manage to find someone to put it right for you, don't panic about ulcers and such at the moment, get your saddle right first and if his still unhappy next step would be the vet.
Click to expand...

Okay - I will just stick to lunging him for now. I’m going to guess the muscles have already been damaged as, like I said, I’ve had him since January in the same saddle and his previous owners had him for a few months and it’s the same saddle. Not sure about the owners before. If we have collectively damaged his muscles, I’m guessing that’s a physio thing?

Are wintec gullets as easy to change as people say? That way, I can change it before the saddler comes so they can fit it with the smaller gullet instead of the one that’s too wide.

Sorry for all the questions, that are probably stupid ones, I want to get this right as I don’t want to damage him any further and I want him to be comfortable
 
There are no stupid questions if they are asked by someone who genuinely wants to learn!

You sound like a fab owner who wants the best for her pony. I agree that I wouldn't ride the pony until you get the saddle changed to fit and you have his back checked. Give him a couple of weeks of work, especially ridden work, to let the bruising from the ill-fitting saddle get better, then if you have the gullet you could try fitting it yourself. I'm sure there are videos on You-Tube to explain how!
Just in case his tummy is uncomfortable, try giving him Aloe Vera juice, which you can get easily from Holland & barrett or online, which I found settled my mare who had a similar problem your your pony's.
If after all that you still think he is trying to tell you that something hurts, get the vet.

Well done for listening to him, when others around you are not doing.
 
Muscles can be repaired if damaged hopefully it's just a bit of bruising the time off from riding will probably do it good, it might be an idea to get a physio to have a look they can tell if he has muscle wastage and give you stretches and work to help get it back.

It's easy done similar thing happened to me years ago I didn't know much about saddle fit, and my horse had wastage but with a good fitting saddle, physio and proper riding he was all fixed.

I don't know much about wintecs never had one but if your not sure about it I would wait for a saddler to do it.

Can you put some pictures on here of him with it on and some of his back, we could maybe get a better idea of the issue, I have a fairly good idea of saddle fit and I know what a unhealthy back looks like.

There you go pearl says there are videos on changing the gullet I didn't know that give it a go!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
There are no stupid questions if they are asked by someone who genuinely wants to learn!

You sound like a fab owner who wants the best for her pony. I agree that I wouldn't ride the pony until you get the saddle changed to fit and you have his back checked. Give him a couple of weeks of work, especially ridden work, to let the bruising from the ill-fitting saddle get better, then if you have the gullet you could try fitting it yourself. I'm sure there are videos on You-Tube to explain how!
Just in case his tummy is uncomfortable, try giving him Aloe Vera juice, which you can get easily from Holland & barrett or online, which I found settled my mare who had a similar problem your your pony's.
If after all that you still think he is trying to tell you that something hurts, get the vet.

Well done for listening to him, when others around you are not doing.
Click to expand...

Thank you - I feel so awful that I’ve not listened to him sooner.

I’ll give him a while off until I can get his saddle properly fitted. I’ll try and get a master saddler in the area to come and check it, hopefully before 17th June and cancel my current appointment.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Muscles can be repaired if damaged hopefully it's just a bit of bruising the time off from riding will probably do it good, it might be an idea to get a physio to have a look they can tell if he has muscle wastage and give you stretches and work to help get it back.

It's easy done similar thing happened to me years ago I didn't know much about saddle fit, and my horse had wastage but with a good fitting saddle, physio and proper riding he was all fixed.

I don't know much about wintecs never had one but if your not sure about it I would wait for a saddler to do it.

Can you put some pictures on here of him with it on and some of his back, we could maybe get a better idea of the issue, I have a fairly good idea of saddle fit and I know what a unhealthy back looks like.

There you go pearl says there are videos on changing the gullet I didn't know that give it a go!
Click to expand...

Cool, thank you. I’ll get a physio out ASAP, to check his back. I’m glad it’s not just me, and I’m hoping I’ve not damaged him too much. This is a definite learning curve!

I will upload photos when I go and see him later this evening. Just one with the saddle on and one of his back? From above? Or looking down from his bum?

I will try changing it before the saddler comes then. Thank you! I feel I need a checklist of what I need to do haha
 
Chippers1 said:
I'm in South Notts and have used a saddler in Melton, they were good for me - S.Milner and Son
Click to expand...

I was going to use them originally, but person who recommended the one I ended up using dissuaded me from using them. I have sent them a message. Thank you!
 
Bea_millard said:
Cool, thank you. I’ll get a physio out ASAP, to check his back. I’m glad it’s not just me, and I’m hoping I’ve not damaged him too much. This is a definite learning curve!

I will upload photos when I go and see him later this evening. Just one with the saddle on and one of his back? From above? Or looking down from his bum?

I will try changing it before the saddler comes then. Thank you! I feel I need a checklist of what I need to do haha
Click to expand...

Just want to say well done for being a great owner and listening to your pony, lots of owners (and professionals!) these days just ignore the issues.. kick harder, whip harder, 'hes so naughty!!' and make them do it rather than listen to what they're trying to tell us.
I wouldn't panic to much about muscle damage, it may only be minor. Correct work with a good physio and fitted saddle can help that tremendously. Some time being long lined/lunged long and low to build up top line in the mean time would do him good helping his back muscles.

All the best. Do let us know how you get on!
 
Good luck! I have a 6yo connie and he has went through 4 saddles since I got him at 4 (and this is with time off!). He started off in a Wintec and is now in a made to measure Ideal saddle. I always lunged / freeschooled / hacked in hand when saddle-less and my braver friend rode bareback. My other horse as I said became girthy when his saddle stopped fitting him - it was too wide for him and pressing down on the withers and shoulders. It caused muscle wastage and I remember the saddler at the time telling me I could use a tea towel to lift the saddle up a bit. Anyhoo. Fast forward a year or so later and this has now been resolved after a new saddle from a master saddler & lots of physio.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top