Hair disturbance under saddle - help?

[KJ_0912]

Just last week my mare was fitted with a lovely ideal impala mono jump saddle. However i have noticed their is minor hair disturbance under the saddle, but only on her left side. Its mostly behind her shoulder and a little to the left of her spine, possibly just beneath my left seatbone.

I think I’ve established that i ride unevenly and tend to rest more weight in my right stirrup and have a loose left leg (this is something I’m sorting out with a physio asap) and I had been having similar issues with the previous saddle, which was too wide for her apparently, but assumed this may stop when she was fitted with a new one. Hence why I’m starting to wonder if its my riding rather than the saddle?

 

[Green Bean]

What is the difference in width between old and new saddle? What made you decide to change saddles? Have you checked your saddle pad? Sorry for all the questions, but as you are looking at your seat, just thinking of what else it may be

 

[KJ_0912]

What is the difference in width between old and new saddle? What made you decide to change saddles? Have you checked your saddle pad? Sorry for all the questions, but as you are looking at your seat, just thinking of what else it may be

The old saddle was one I borrowed from her last owner which was a wide, her new one is a medium wide so a little narrower. I had to change saddles as I a) didn’t have one and b) I have ridiculously long femurs and have to ride in a jump saddle. Her saddle pad is brand new Le mieux and the dirt(not hot enough for sweat) is possibly a tiny bit more on the left of her spine and which is what makes me think I’m leaning to the right making the saddle squint. I haven’t started physio as my local one isn’t up and running yet but it’s something was going to do anyway as I have issues with one leg feeling longer than the other.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Is there any muscle wastage?

It could be it needs a shim to help balance if she had been in a saddle that's not fitted and caused muscle wastage. Just until she balances out.

Of course your unevenness won't be helping however see if you can youtube any pilates exercises to help you straighten up.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Can I ask how does a jump saddle help your long femurs?

 

[KJ_0912]

Can I ask how does a jump saddle help your long femurs?

I physically cannot have a shorter stirrup in a GP saddle as the knee roles push me back into a bad position. In particular the Ideal impala has nothing in front of the knee but instead has a solid block the sits above the knee, therefore allowing a shorter stirrup aswell as providing security. I mainly hack and jump(I do do flatwork but not to a high level) so with only being able to have one saddle, the ability to have jump length stirrups outweighed having a GP that would only be suitable for the occasional flatwork lessons. essentially a jump saddle is my GP saddle.

 

[KJ_0912]

Is there any muscle wastage?

It could be it needs a shim to help balance if she had been in a saddle that's not fitted and caused muscle wastage. Just until she balances out.

Of course your unevenness won't be helping however see if you can youtube any pilates exercises to help you straighten up.

She looks pretty even and the saddler seemed happy with the fit so doubt it’s that. I’ll give some Pilates a go until I can get a rider assessment. Another point is she quite young and hasn’t done a lot of proper schooling for most of this year so do you think she could be a bit squint too? She’s pretty much only hacked for the last 8 months!

 

[Wheels]

Try a different saddle pad just in case but contact the fitter as well and ask them to come back out and check the flocking is even

 

[KJ_0912]

Try a different saddle pad just in case but contact the fitter as well and ask them to come back out and check the flocking is even

same with all saddles pads and with her last saddle which is why I though it might be more me. Ive contacter the saddler but unfortunately she wouldn’t be able to come back out due to where I live but hopefully she will give some advice.

 

[Shay]

I get that you needed to change saddles as the other one was borrowed. But why opt for a monoflap jump particualrly? Particularly on a young unschooled horse not primarily for jumping? I would have thought a hunt type might have worked for the combination of long femur and hacking? You should not need a shim to balance a correctly fitted saddle - especially not a new one.

Its likely that the hair disturbance is becuase she is not even, especillay as she is young and unschooled. You don't give her age beyond saying she is unschooled and only hacks. I hope you were warned that she is likely to need a new saddle once she is fully fit and in work?

 

[KJ_0912]

I get that you needed to change saddles as the other one was borrowed. But why opt for a monoflap jump particualrly? Particularly on a young unschooled horse not primarily for jumping? I would have thought a hunt type might have worked for the combination of long femur and hacking? You should not need a shim to balance a correctly fitted saddle - especially not a new one.

Its likely that the hair disturbance is becuase she is not even, especillay as she is young and unschooled. You don't give her age beyond saying she is unschooled and only hacks. I hope you were warned that she is likely to need a new saddle once she is fully fit and in work?

A mono was not my first choice either. But due to where I live I’m limited to what I can buy. We only get saddlers up locally twice a year an even then they can only bring a certain amount of saddles, no second visits. She is 6 but has showed and done plenty schooling with her last owner(her backer). I will be primarily jumping over the next year but at the moment with Covid it’s slowed everything down. Right now I’d be hoping to have her schooling properly and jumping well. She did go to a show jump yard as well last year before I got her so it’s not like she’s a newly backed green horse. I’m aware she’s likely to need a new saddle in the future but for now the mono is the best option for both of us.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Drawing a blank here, but what is wrong with a monoflap saddle in this application?

As for jump or AP or whatever else, it doesn't matter what the saddle is, as long as you're comfortable and effective in it ??‍ type can vary based on your shape and preferences.

 

[Shay]

Nothing wrong with it. I didn't mean to suggest the choice was wrong - I was only trying to get at whether it was a considered choice or a bit more fashionable. I've seen several PC teens recently decide to buy monoflap saddles becuase "the professionals use them" without considering if they are actually suitable. I was trying to dance about the question and in hindsight gave rise to an implication I did not mean - sorry OP! In any event you did answer my not quite posed question - it was a deliberate and advised choice.

Monoflaps do give closer contact and that might mean you have to have the saddle altered more frequently; and indeed that she might grow out of it altogether. Our baby connie managed to grow out of his saddle 3 times between 5 and 7. I was expecting once and got an adjustable tree - but not 3 times in 2 years! Obviously much more difficult where you are OP with more limited saddler options. And if you can't get a professional out to check fit you might well need to use a shim or other adjustment. I guess I'm spoilt living in the South East with relatively easy access to saddlers and services!

 

[Wheels]

same with all saddles pads and with her last saddle which is why I though it might be more me. Ive contacter the saddler but unfortunately she wouldn’t be able to come back out due to where I live but hopefully she will give some advice.

Ah right ok. Well either one or both of you are wonky. Taking steps to rectify that are essential otherwise your hair disturbance might well, over time, turn into a muscle or ligament strain.

Do you have access to a physio for yourself? Do you have access to a physio for your horse? The right type of exercises for horse and for rider can often fix these issues better than anything else. Shimming the saddle in the right way can also help but I would have expected your saddle fitter to notice this hair disturbance issue when you tried the saddle and offered advice at that point

 

[KJ_0912]

Drawing a blank here, but what is wrong with a monoflap saddle in this application?

As for jump or AP or whatever else, it doesn't matter what the saddle is, as long as you're comfortable and effective in it ??‍ type can vary based on your shape and preferences.

this was partially why I went for it. The impala is the first saddle that has ever put me into to a “good” position. Everything else makes me go into a chair type seat! As well as that I’m planning ahead in that I will be jumping and doing more schooling very soon.

 

[KJ_0912]

Ah right ok. Well either one or both of you are wonky. Taking steps to rectify that are essential otherwise your hair disturbance might well, over time, turn into a muscle or ligament strain.

Do you have access to a physio for yourself? Do you have access to a physio for your horse? The right type of exercises for horse and for rider can often fix these issues better than anything else. Shimming the saddle in the right way can also help but I would have expected your saddle fitter to notice this hair disturbance issue when you tried the saddle and offered advice at that point

We have a local physio who does horse and rider assessment and gives exercises etc to fix the problem. The hair disturbance isn’t every time I ride, only when I do longer/faster rides which puts me out of balance a bit(lots of hills on a jogging horse isn’t easy)

 

[KJ_0912]

Nothing wrong with it. I didn't mean to suggest the choice was wrong - I was only trying to get at whether it was a considered choice or a bit more fashionable. I've seen several PC teens recently decide to buy monoflap saddles becuase "the professionals use them" without considering if they are actually suitable. I was trying to dance about the question and in hindsight gave rise to an implication I did not mean - sorry OP! In any event you did answer my not quite posed question - it was a deliberate and advised choice.

Monoflaps do give closer contact and that might mean you have to have the saddle altered more frequently; and indeed that she might grow out of it altogether. Our baby connie managed to grow out of his saddle 3 times between 5 and 7. I was expecting once and got an adjustable tree - but not 3 times in 2 years! Obviously much more difficult where you are OP with more limited saddler options. And if you can't get a professional out to check fit you might well need to use a shim or other adjustment. I guess I'm spoilt living in the South East with relatively easy access to saddlers and services!

Yup. There are many times I’ve questioned if the Northern isles are ever a good choice but so many more pros outweigh the cons. I have got pretty decent (I like to think) at noticing changes in flocking and fit, so I’m usually very quick to contact a saddler and ask what I can do till they are out next. Shimmable numnahs and half pads are very useful.
Like I said before, mono isn’t my first choice but it was more the impala style that sold it for me, I might in the future get one that isn’t a mono.

 

[Slightlyconfused]

She looks pretty even and the saddler seemed happy with the fit so doubt it’s that. I’ll give some Pilates a go until I can get a rider assessment. Another point is she quite young and hasn’t done a lot of proper schooling for most of this year so do you think she could be a bit squint too? She’s pretty much only hacked for the last 8 months!

The fact she hasn't done alot of schooling this year could also mean she isn't working totally straight either, I would go back to walk / trot schooling and plan a rehab type plan to see if that helps.

Basically if she has only been hacking then she hasn't been asked to work properly as you would for schooling.

So look for straightness type exercises, be very aware of how your are sitting in the saddle and ask for everything as half or quarter speed but don't loose the oomph. They find it easier to go faster, slowing everything down means you can find 5ye weak points and get working on them correctly for both of you.

 

[KJ_0912]

The fact she hasn't done alot of schooling this year could also mean she isn't working totally straight either, I would go back to walk / trot schooling and plan a rehab type plan to see if that helps.

Basically if she has only been hacking then she hasn't been asked to work properly as you would for schooling.

So look for straightness type exercises, be very aware of how your are sitting in the saddle and ask for everything as half or quarter speed but don't loose the oomph. They find it easier to go faster, slowing everything down means you can find 5ye weak points and get working on them correctly for both of you.

i don’t have access to a school/flat field at the mo but will give that a go out hacking on some straight roads. Ironically the car has stopped working just as lessons have begun again! Just my luck but should be fixed soon

 

[Slightlyconfused]

i don’t have access to a school/flat field at the mo but will give that a go out hacking on some straight roads. Ironically the car has stopped working just as lessons have begun again! Just my luck but should be fixed soon

It will work out hacking too. A have a few friends who only have undulating ground to work on and with a bit of tweaking it works.

The key is to not rush and slow everything down so it's hard work but you can actually get to see what is not going on.

 

[sbloom]

You should not need a shim to balance a correctly fitted saddle - especially not a new one.

Its likely that the hair disturbance is because she is not even, especially as she is young and unschooled. You don't give her age beyond saying she is unschooled and only hacks. I hope you were warned that she is likely to need a new saddle once she is fully fit and in work?

Most horses are asymmetric, the degree to which this is true, or if they're underdeveloped or have muscle wastage, determines whether even a newly fitted saddle may need to be shimmed. However even relatively symmetrical horses can send a saddle sideways, as can a rider, if it's not bang on in the fit, with stable/flat enough rails etc. Ruffled hair on one side indicates the saddle is slipping to one side.

I would go back to the fitter, ask her which photos and video she'd need to advise on the fit overall, saddles do not always work out, even if everything looks brilliant on the day of fitting, and under European law you probably have the right to cancel your order, under distance trading regulations, within 14 days, and return the saddle within another 14.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My current dressage saddle, while not new (I've had it since new for 2 years or so) was sitting slightly off on my horse. After some examination and measurement with a flexible ruler, the saddle fitter and I noted some asymmetry.

He gave me two options:

Use some shims in my half pad, and pay close attention to the muscle building back up and when to remove them.

Or he could add some flocking to that side/balance the saddle out with wool.

The second option would require him to come back sooner, should the horse fill out. He was open to whatever I preferred.

I also made notes about my riding and what could cause the asymmetry, had a physio evaluation, and changed farriers (not because of that - different issue but ended up all being linked in the end). The change that helped the most was the new farrier.

With asymmetrical horses, it makes me pay closer attention to my rider, involve a physio, and be attentive to proper trimming and shoeing.

FWIW I prefer monoflaps. I like close contact, I like having one flap, and it is less to clean ? I've used them on young green horses just fine. I've not had to adjust them anymore than any other saddle/non monoflap. I just ordered a new saddle and while I did look at a bunch, I once again got a monoflap. I can't go back tbh. It's not a "big thing" but apparently I've developed a preference.

 

[KJ_0912]

My current dressage saddle, while not new (I've had it since new for 2 years or so) was sitting slightly off on my horse. After some examination and measurement with a flexible ruler, the saddle fitter and I noted some asymmetry.

He gave me two options:

Use some shims in my half pad, and pay close attention to the muscle building back up and when to remove them.

Or he could add some flocking to that side/balance the saddle out with wool.

The second option would require him to come back sooner, should the horse fill out. He was open to whatever I preferred.

I also made notes about my riding and what could cause the asymmetry, had a physio evaluation, and changed farriers (not because of that - different issue but ended up all being linked in the end). The change that helped the most was the new farrier.

With asymmetrical horses, it makes me pay closer attention to my rider, involve a physio, and be attentive to proper trimming and shoeing.

FWIW I prefer monoflaps. I like close contact, I like having one flap, and it is less to clean ? I've used them on young green horses just fine. I've not had to adjust them anymore than any other saddle/non monoflap. I just ordered a new saddle and while I did look at a bunch, I once again got a monoflap. I can't go back tbh. It's not a "big thing" but apparently I've developed a preference.

I definitely am asymmetrical (people have told me I sit a little squint, particularly in walk) so that’s something I’m definitely going to sort out. I’ll most likely get my mare a physio too then to check her aswell, at the moment I have no idea if our local one have started doing appointments yet but I’ll find out.

I agree on the easier cleaning! Much nicer however the girth is a little fiddly once you’re on