Erehwemos
Well-Known Member
As Ellie's winter coat has come through, we've noticed a large spattering of white hairs, just on one side, around the front of the saddle area. Now, we know she was ridden in an ill fitting saddle way before we got her, as the poor girlie already has some white patches in the same kind of area. This white patch, however, has only begun to appear since her coat has been changing.
Her saddle was checked and re-flocked this time last year, just routinely. During the winter we then had some trouble with her back after being clipped right out - the vet thinks she suffered a mild form of rain scald from a damp rug - again, this was right on her saddle area. So what I am wondering is, are these new white hairs likely to have been caused by her saddle needing looking at last year, by the rainscald/allergy she suffered last winter, or by her saddle not fitting correctly now? How long would it take for a saddle problem to show itself in her coat? Alternatively, she has had several white hairs come through in patches over her body this time any way - is it actually nothing more than a sign of ageing?
I'm only really asking as she exhibits no signs of pain or discomfort under saddle, and to mine and my mum's untrained albeit experienced eyes, her saddle looks like it fits fine. She is happy to be tacked up (except being girthed, but she's always been a moo bag in that respect
), she is happy in all paces as well as jumping under saddle, and she does not give any of the signs (bucking, rearing etc) that one would expect of a horse with back or saddle pain.
It may be worth mentioning that when I had it reflocked last year, the saddler flocked it specifically so that I could use my sheepskin half pad with the saddle (ie. less flocking so that it wouldnt be tight). The saddle was custom made for Ellie four years ago, when she was ten years old.
Once she is sound, I will get the saddler out as routine anyway, just to be sure that everything is ok with my saddle. I just wondered whether anyone has experienced anything similar though - if so, what did you put the white hairs down to?
Many thanks in advance!
Her saddle was checked and re-flocked this time last year, just routinely. During the winter we then had some trouble with her back after being clipped right out - the vet thinks she suffered a mild form of rain scald from a damp rug - again, this was right on her saddle area. So what I am wondering is, are these new white hairs likely to have been caused by her saddle needing looking at last year, by the rainscald/allergy she suffered last winter, or by her saddle not fitting correctly now? How long would it take for a saddle problem to show itself in her coat? Alternatively, she has had several white hairs come through in patches over her body this time any way - is it actually nothing more than a sign of ageing?
I'm only really asking as she exhibits no signs of pain or discomfort under saddle, and to mine and my mum's untrained albeit experienced eyes, her saddle looks like it fits fine. She is happy to be tacked up (except being girthed, but she's always been a moo bag in that respect
It may be worth mentioning that when I had it reflocked last year, the saddler flocked it specifically so that I could use my sheepskin half pad with the saddle (ie. less flocking so that it wouldnt be tight). The saddle was custom made for Ellie four years ago, when she was ten years old.
Once she is sound, I will get the saddler out as routine anyway, just to be sure that everything is ok with my saddle. I just wondered whether anyone has experienced anything similar though - if so, what did you put the white hairs down to?
Many thanks in advance!
