Lumps under the saddle - any ideas?

[CLB]

I have had my warmblood gelding, for just over 3 years and have had his saddles checked regularly, however recently he is getting a lump (approx 1 inch long) come up after I ride. The lump sits just to the right of his spine, and goes within 40mins and does not seem to hurt him when i press it.

I have even tried using sheepskin pad, gel pads, no pads etc. under my saddles, but nothing seems to stop it coming up - originally it just happen with his GP saddle but now his dressage saddle is doing the same. He has not significantly changed shape, and I do have the saddler coming out this week but didnt know if it could be anything else. My GP saddle was re-flocked a couple of months ago and my dressage saddle was re-flocked about 4 months ago - any ideas or similar experiences?

thank you

 

[kerilli]

yes, i have one horse who has the same thing.
it was explained to me by a master saddler: it is a weakened blood vessel which passes over the top of the spine, and the pressure on each end of it from the saddle causes it to leak a little into the surrounding tissues, which swell up. this swelling gradually dissipates when there is no pressure there. there is no pain associated with it at all.
hope that helps, it stopped me from panicking about it.