Lobsided horse

Wagtail

Wagtail

Horse servant
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2 December 2010
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I have a problem that has me at a loss as to what to do. My horse has a correctly fitted saddle (three of them in fact) all checked by two different saddle fitters. But they all sit slightly to the left on him which means I have to ride with my left stirrup a hole shorter and it is having a bad affect on my posture. I ride five different horses on my yard and don't have the same problem on them, nor have I ever had to ride one hole shorter on one side on any horse before. But the horse in question is the one I ride most, as he is my own. He has had his back checked by a physio and a chiropractor and both say he is very good through his back. He had an operation on his left hock 8 months ago to remove a bone fragment and is now sound. What ever lobsidedness he has is not visible to the eye. He looks perfect and well muscled on both sides. The saddles are general purpose and one is a dressage so it can't be his shoulder. When I ride him and look down, I can see that I am centred to the right of the pommel and I have started to collapse my right hip and raise my left heel. If I sit straight on him I feel as though I am tipping left.

Any ideas?
 
Hmmn sounds like what I have just dealt with...

I had saddles slipping right though....saddles just would not stay put despite using master saddlers etc etc, back checked by osteopath and vet...all said fine....

However..one saddler noticed a slightly different shape to the right side of the back comparted to the left...it sloped very slightly almost impossible to see.

Treatment suggested by a friend worked amazingly and was supported by vet and osteopath..

6 weeks of groundwork! Get the pressure off the horses back (no saddles or riders) so as the muscles can relax and circulation is good whilst exercising. I did long reining over poles and lots of halt to walk, walk to halt transitions, lunging with loose sidereins (just making a contact), walking in hand up and down hills, horse walker....all work done evenly on both reins.

This worked miracles! The back recovered from the uneven pressure (of weight being on one side) which had not allowed muscles to remain even.

I have now got him in a Barefoot Cheyenne saddle which fits great and doesnt slip when you are riding...though you need to get on from a block. This is a treeless saddle which allows good circulation under the saddle and enables muscles to develop and rejuvenate whilst riding....I recommend it.
 
One of my mares was lopsided, I bought a sheepskin half pad with shims and built up the weaker side (also put a thin shim on the opposite shoulder to prevent pinching). She has now evened up through schooling and I have dispensed with the shims.

If you just shorten your stirrup to compensate it will not stop you sitting squint, you will just feel more straight and you will never be able to build up the weaker side this way.
 
Marley&Me said:
Hmmn sounds like what I have just dealt with...

I had saddles slipping right though....saddles just would not stay put despite using master saddlers etc etc, back checked by osteopath and vet...all said fine....

However..one saddler noticed a slightly different shape to the right side of the back comparted to the left...it sloped very slightly almost impossible to see.

Treatment suggested by a friend worked amazingly and was supported by vet and osteopath..

6 weeks of groundwork! Get the pressure off the horses back (no saddles or riders) so as the muscles can relax and circulation is good whilst exercising. I did long reining over poles and lots of halt to walk, walk to halt transitions, lunging with loose sidereins (just making a contact), walking in hand up and down hills, horse walker....all work done evenly on both reins.

This worked miracles! The back recovered from the uneven pressure (of weight being on one side) which had not allowed muscles to remain even.

I have now got him in a Barefoot Cheyenne saddle which fits great and doesnt slip when you are riding...though you need to get on from a block. This is a treeless saddle which allows good circulation under the saddle and enables muscles to develop and rejuvenate whilst riding....I recommend it.
Click to expand...

Thanks. He has had six months off riding followed by ground work and I have only been riding him now for three months. He is not the best on the lunge. I may try long reining though as have not tried it with him. Pole work sounds a good idea too. :)
 
Amaranta said:
One of my mares was lopsided, I bought a sheepskin half pad with shims and built up the weaker side (also put a thin shim on the opposite shoulder to prevent pinching). She has now evened up through schooling and I have dispensed with the shims.

If you just shorten your stirrup to compensate it will not stop you sitting squint, you will just feel more straight and you will never be able to build up the weaker side this way.
Click to expand...

Is it the lemieux pad? I have been thinking about investing in one.
 
My mare has slightly less muscle on her right side than left and i've bought a lovely saddle that moves to the right. As it is a marginal difference the saddler recommended that instead of buying an expensive pad, I cut some fibregee (or however you spell it!) and stitch it to the top of my numnah. This will then raise the saddle a little to allow the muscle to come up to the same level as on her left side. Maybe worth a try?
 
D'sMum said:
My mare has slightly less muscle on her right side than left and i've bought a lovely saddle that moves to the right. As it is a marginal difference the saddler recommended that instead of buying an expensive pad, I cut some fibregee (or however you spell it!) and stitch it to the top of my numnah. This will then raise the saddle a little to allow the muscle to come up to the same level as on her left side. Maybe worth a try?
Click to expand...

Good idea. Thanks
 
My friend had a horse that seemed to "roll" his saddles onto one side. I.e the way he moved he seemed to step through more one one side and so the saddle would roll.
Friend ended up selling me the saddle (Ideal Jessica!!! :D ) and buying a wow because there was nothing wrong with the horse physically, his conformation just wasn't great!
 
hi
I don't think anyone or horse are exactly symmetrical. I have same problem to.

yes get yourself a correctional pad, like LeMieux pro-sorb system or Mattes correctional pad and put the extra pads it comes with down the left side. This lifts pressure off weaker left side and allows blood flow and muscle to develop evenly.

Alterntively if it is only a slight / minor difference just use fybagee or something similar to put under left shoulder to balance saddle. Cut a piece or fold it in two for double thickness. It works well if it only a tiny differnce. You have to experiment a bit with it to get it right

.
 
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