How long to settle with new saddle?

[AAHorse]

Hi,

Just wondering how long people would give their horse to settle into a new saddle after one that doesn’t fit?

I bought my horse a few months ago without tack, had a saddle fitter out for ‘fit’ a new one and unfortunately he sold me one that was too long for her, and her behaviour during tacking up has been getting worse and worse. I’ve had her scoped for ulcers, ovaries checked, lameness work up, dentist, physio and massage therapist - all showed up fine except early arthritic change in one hock. She’s had this injected and vet is much happier with how she’s looking.

Her behaviour relating to the saddle specifically has continued to get worse though so I’ve had a couple of saddle fitters out and have now bought a new one. I’ve only used the new saddle a couple of times but she actually kicked me a couple of days ago after I’d unpacked, while walking away from her with the saddle.

She does seem to be having a particularly bad season over the last few days which she’ll hopefully be out of soon, but she’s an absolute sweetheart in all other ways, unless she sees the saddle.

How long would you give her to get used to this new saddle which is hopefully more comfortable for her?

Thank you!

 

[Wizpop]

Maybe wait until she’s not in season any more and then try the new saddle again? Is there any chance of you riding her in a saddle pad to see if she’s any different?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would wait for season to finish and try again but it's worth considering that an I'll fitting saddle can cause muscle wastage and be really sore, I would get a physio out and maybe speak to your fitter about using a therapeutic pad of some sort to get her comfortable, you may not need it for ever but they can be useful after saddle damage as most horses will need a more remedial approach to saddle fitting afterwards.

 

[Barton Bounty]

If I were you, Before thinking of sitting on her, I would tack her up and get her long reigning under tack, do this for a couple of weeks and just take things slowly

 

[sbloom]

Please talk to your saddle fitter asap, in writing, if only to say you might be having issues. I would consider having your "team" look at it, at least the fitter and the bodyworker. If they work together it's more likely they'll get to the bottom of it. Of course you may need the vet at some point. And yes, after damage horses generally do well with groundwork to restore posture and function, and a therapeutic pad under the saddle. It's very hard to pinpoint one cause in horses especially as body and brain have to really be treated as one, and they are very good at masking.

 

[Jellymoon]

I would expect a horse to ‘like’ a new saddle immediately, if it’s been fitted properly and there is not other pain.

 

[soloequestrian]

I'd agree with Jellymoon.

 

[Red-1]

Did your horse have a break between being sore from one saddle and being ridden in a new one? Mine outgrew the saddle we used for the first camp in April, he was working beautifully and developed amazingly quickly. I put him out of work for 2 weeks (TBF this was also whilst waiting for a fitter), then started gently with the new one and he got better and better as he had space to keep developing.

If he wasn't happy, I wouldn't have kept riding him. Instead he would have had more time off, in-hand work, saddle re-checked and a gentle introduction.

 

[Ali27]

My pony had an issue with a badly fitted saddle which made her so sore! Got new saddle (an Equipe) which fitted beautifully and she she was fine jumping in arena but wouldn’t jump x cross country! I had her scoped and ovaries scanned but all fine! Gave her a couple of easy months with light hacking/ schooling and my physio treated her. 3 months later back to normal and flying x country! Definitely a sore back from rubbish saddle! Equipe saddle still on her and fitting beautifully, 5 years later ?