Hair rubbing off under saddle?

[spotty_pony]

The Friesian I ride is losing his hair in two patches at the back of the saddle. This always seems to happen at this time of year but I have noticed the skin looks quite dry and a bit flaky. I am hoping this will disappear as his summer coat grows but is there anything I can put on it to help the dry skin?

He has a sheepskin numnah to prevent rubbing which is washed regularly, I’m washing the saddle area off after he’s been ridden, have been applying baby oil before riding to help to prevent rubbing and today I put e45 cream on it after it had dried. Anything else I can do?

The area is not bothering him at all and saddle has been checked.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Sounds like the saddle isn't a good fit. I'd get a reputable saddler out to check it.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Kay Hastilow did a blog about this.

 

[spotty_pony]

Kay Hastilow did a blog about this.

could you send me a link please?

 

[spotty_pony]

Sounds like the saddle isn't a good fit. I'd get a reputable saddler out to check it.

it has been checked by a reputable saddler. I may get another opinion but seems odd it would only happen at one time of the year?

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Here’s the link: https://kayhastilowmastersaddler.bl...CizcFJhmcTFs7e0LeQG0eJMtfbfCEilv1jKQCdmzE&m=1

 

[Bernster]

Was having this very conversation this week. I’ll book a saddle check just in case but I think it’s more to do with coat change.

 

[Ossy2]

This has happened to me on about 3 different horses now. I managed it by using sheepskin numnah ect, talc underneath back of saddle helps also. Have had people constantly tell me saddle doesn’t fit but yet saddler is more than happy with fit.
It didn’t make any sense until I went for for one of these mechanical horse biomechanics lesson. The instructor pointed out (which was confirmed by The print out from that machine) that I sat with my weight to far back in the saddle causing two pressure points. I needed to straighten out my thigh and push my bottom forward. The rubs are seen at this time of year because of the coat changes but was a year round issue. This winter I’ve still got a tiny bit of rubbing but not nearly as bad as it has been I’m hoping by next winter I’ll have sorted myself out completely that I won’t get any.
So for me absolutely nothing to do with saddle fit and all to do with where my bottom was.

 

[Hackback]

Here’s the link: https://kayhastilowmastersaddler.bl...CizcFJhmcTFs7e0LeQG0eJMtfbfCEilv1jKQCdmzE&m=1

Thanks for sharing this, very interesting and reassuring. My horse always gets rubs this time of year - not just from the numnah, but where the reins touch his neck, my legs touch his sides and even a bit on his face despite him having an especially soft leather bridle. Very interesting to read that sheepskin can actually make it worse. What a sensible article this is.

 

[spotty_pony]

This has happened to me on about 3 different horses now. I managed it by using sheepskin numnah ect, talc underneath back of saddle helps also. Have had people constantly tell me saddle doesn’t fit but yet saddler is more than happy with fit.
It didn’t make any sense until I went for for one of these mechanical horse biomechanics lesson. The instructor pointed out (which was confirmed by The print out from that machine) that I sat with my weight to far back in the saddle causing two pressure points. I needed to straighten out my thigh and push my bottom forward. The rubs are seen at this time of year because of the coat changes but was a year round issue. This winter I’ve still got a tiny bit of rubbing but not nearly as bad as it has been I’m hoping by next winter I’ll have sorted myself out completely that I won’t get any.
So for me absolutely nothing to do with saddle fit and all to do with where my bottom was.

I have considered this but it doesn’t happen with me on my other horse, I only ride the two these days but it’s never happened on any others either. This horse does have a dressage saddle though and I ride quite short which could be a factor. ?

 

[spotty_pony]

Next question is do you think the hair will start to grow back as I ride or is he going to need time off for it to grow?

 

[Squeak]

Next question is do you think the hair will start to grow back as I ride or is he going to need time off for it to grow?

I've always found that the hair grows back no problem once the coat starts to come through and so there's not been a need to not ride.

If it was raw or sore then that would be a different scenario but for just hair loss at this time of year I keep riding.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Every year, with every saddle, my horse gets this. Sometimes he'll rub on the shoulder too from the front edge of the pad. He also gets a little bit of rubbing from his blanket, or anything else that touches him this time of year. It all goes away when his summer coat comes through.

I just put Megatek, lotion/vit e, or some other moisturizer on the areas.

 

[Ossy2]

. This horse does have a dressage saddle though and I ride quite short which could be a factor. ?

This would be the main factor to consider for me yes.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My 2 both get weird rubs at coat change and it always grows back in a matter of weeks.

 

[sbloom]

The instructor pointed out (which was confirmed by The print out from that machine) that I sat with my weight to far back in the saddle causing two pressure points. I needed to straighten out my thigh and push my bottom forward. The rubs are seen at this time of year because of the coat changes but was a year round issue. This winter I’ve still got a tiny bit of rubbing but not nearly as bad as it has been I’m hoping by next winter I’ll have sorted myself out completely that I won’t get any.
So for me absolutely nothing to do with saddle fit and all to do with where my bottom was.

So many saddles are built to deliberately sit you there, however it would be rare that you sitting on the back of the saddle would cause side to side movement which is what causes rubbing. Not impossible but rare. It would be good, if you could, to find a saddle that helps you more - fighting the saddle means tension. The right saddle should sit you in the right place, certainly at rest, and help you stay there.

Dressage saddles are designed for a reasonably long stirrup, if you compress your joints with a shorter stirrup then, depending on your build and the space in the saddle, you'll end up being pushed backwards. If the saddle is right for you then this shouldn't happen, full stop. You shouldn't need to ride shorter than the saddle can accommodate - too often a deep seat and big blocks make this issue much worse. Better to have an open seat that has enough curve to correctly support the pelvis, and then a flap cut, block placement, that allows your natural leg position, NOT pushing it back, or encouraging a chair seat (though a too forwards flap is seldom the only, or even main, reason for this).

Rubbing at this time of year is super common. The coat has gone completely dormant while the summer coat is getting itself ready, and is weak and dry. Colder dry air in the winter means the skin will also be drier and more vulnerable though that's seldom a factor as rubbing, under a well fitting saddle, is usually mild. If it's going right through the coat please at least talk to your fitter. It's not good them saying the saddle's been checked recently so it's fine, that's a box ticking exercise. Many horses will need a thicker pad or shim pad to correct the rubbing - it's often about actually changing the fit, supporting the front of the saddle better, in some cases lifting it, and not just finding a pad with less friction.

And yes, the coat will regrow, almost certainly, if it's just from saddle rubbing.

 

[Ossy2]

So many saddles are built to deliberately sit you there, however it would be rare that you sitting on the back of the saddle would cause side to side movement which is what causes rubbing. Not impossible but rare. It would be good, if you could, to find a saddle that helps you more - fighting the saddle means tension. The right saddle should sit you in the right place, certainly at rest, and help you stay there.

Dressage saddles are designed for a reasonably long stirrup, if you compress your joints with a shorter stirrup then, depending on your build and the space in the saddle, you'll end up being pushed backwards. If the saddle is right for you then this shouldn't happen, full stop. You shouldn't need to ride shorter than the saddle can accommodate - too often a deep seat and big blocks make this issue much worse. Better to have an open seat that has enough curve to correctly support the pelvis, and then a flap cut, block placement, that allows your natural leg position, NOT pushing it back, or encouraging a chair seat (though a too forwards flap is seldom the only, or even main, reason for this).

Rubbing at this time of year is super common. The coat has gone completely dormant while the summer coat is getting itself ready, and is weak and dry. Colder dry air in the winter means the skin will also be drier and more vulnerable though that's seldom a factor as rubbing, under a well fitting saddle, is usually mild. If it's going right through the coat please at least talk to your fitter. It's not good them saying the saddle's been checked recently so it's fine, that's a box ticking exercise. Many horses will need a thicker pad or shim pad to correct the rubbing - it's often about actually changing the fit, supporting the front of the saddle better, in some cases lifting it, and not just finding a pad with less friction.

And yes, the coat will regrow, almost certainly, if it's just from saddle rubbing.

I don’t necessarily agree with all the above, a suitable saddle for both horse and rider is essential but they’re not miracle workers, they’re not going to automatically make you look like CDJ on a horse. And I certainly wasn’t in my own saddle on the mechanical horse when the read outs were done. I’m very happy with my current saddles and have worked hard on my own posture, which has completely changed how I sit.
I do agree that too short a stirrup on a dressage saddle with big knee blocks is going to push your bum to the back of the saddle, which could very possibly contribute to the rubbing.

 

[Lady Jane]

My saddler agrees with Kay Hastilow

 

[sbloom]

I don’t necessarily agree with all the above, a suitable saddle for both horse and rider is essential but they’re not miracle workers, they’re not going to automatically make you look like CDJ on a horse. And I certainly wasn’t in my own saddle on the mechanical horse when the read outs were done. I’m very happy with my current saddles and have worked hard on my own posture, which has completely changed how I sit.
I do agree that too short a stirrup on a dressage saddle with big knee blocks is going to push your bum to the back of the saddle, which could very possibly contribute to the rubbing.

I can only go on my experience of 13 years as a saddle fitter. And I never said a saddle was a miracle worker, the science of what riders actually need (and I mean individual riders, we're all different) from a saddle is only just emerging. Unless you know the shape of your pelvis and conformation of your hips (something I have only learned how to assess in the last year), you can only go from trial and error to find what actually supports your pelvis in neutral, and what allows you to more easily carry weight down your thighs. Not something that most saddle fitters address, nor is it something that biomex trainers are aware of.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Sorry didn't think of coat change earlier.
If the horse isn't clipped under saddle , then I wouldn't be surprised to see some hair loss where the winter coat falls out first from areas under the most pressure.
My horse has a bald looking patch where I use my leg and it looks like he's been booted - but it's just where the winter coat is coming off first.

 

[sbloom]

It's more from movement than pressure, the late winter change in shape leads to slightly (or a lot!) more wagging at the back, and the coat is in a particular phase, a complete dormancy, and is very weak so more vulnerable. Lifting the back of the saddle would reduce any excess pressure under the back of the saddle (ensuring it's done correctly!) but wouldn't necessarily fix the rubbing. In my experience.

 

[spotty_pony]

He isn’t clipped under the saddle (or much at all on fact) so I am really hoping it’s that. He also has a slight patch of hair missing from where my lower leg has been so he is obviously prone to rubs. The horse is not mine although I do ride him a lot. Frieisans are really hard to fit saddles to anyway or so I am told, and a Dressage saddle suits their movement more. He is quite sharp and spooky at times hence my reason for riding short, but my legs are quite long, particularly from hip to knee.

 

[sbloom]

He isn’t clipped under the saddle (or much at all on fact) so I am really hoping it’s that. He also has a slight patch of hair missing from where my lower leg has been so he is obviously prone to rubs. The horse is not mine although I do ride him a lot. Frieisans are really hard to fit saddles to anyway or so I am told, and a Dressage saddle suits their movement more. He is quite sharp and spooky at times hence my reason for riding short, but my legs are quite long, particularly from hip to knee.

They could look at better amino acids in the diet (protein building blocks, Forageplus have one or two good articles explaining). Probably not the easiest breed, but I'd always say tree shape is the most important factor, the straight cut of the dressage saddle occasionally offers benefits in the fit, but not nearly as often as many people think.

But yeah, don't panic

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Mine is like that at the moment - where the reins touch his neck, my heels touch his flanks and two spots under the saddle. He's always OK once the summer coat grows in. He has a nuumed saddle pad and saddle checked twice a year (he's due in a few weeks).