Improving topline in older horses with saddle damage?

[Nudibranch]

The new mare we bought for novice OH to pootle about on is a little star but has some definite body issues! She arrived pretty fat, on a high sugar diet and we've managed to get a lot of weight off her. Already the new hoof coming down looks much better. However she is 17 and although well loved in the past, her shape is absolutely that of a horse with long-term poor saddle fit.

She's now in a dressage saddle (massive shoulders) with a Prolite for now. However she's really quite dipped behind the withers and I'm concerned that at her age we may never be able to resolve it. I'm just building up the length of hacks as the daylight hours grow longer, and keeping her long and low. Almost entirely in walk at the moment. I also do a fair bit bareback. You can't avoid hill work round here so hopefully that will help. Has anyone managed to bring an older ned back into reasonable fitness and shape?

 

[*hic*]

Yes, same as you though, lots of hacking long and low with no saddle. You have the advantage of hills. We don't have hills round here

 

[Tobiano]

Nudibranch you will be massively more expert than me, but I just thought I'd mention that my physio has suggested that I feed my mare hay on the floor to help her top line as she will be stretching down, rather than using a haynet. You probably already do that!

 

[Mellis]

The WOW air filled saddle pad- korrector was fantastic on my old boy. It's also great to ride on and totally adaptable.

 

[Archiepoo]

hi my horse was like this and after having a mctimony lady out she made a huge difference in the session but told me to do carrot stretches and belly lifts every day which have radically changed his shape and way of going .its only been a month and hes now had to have a new saddle due to his radical change of shape