POST REFLOCKED SADDLE PROBLEMS

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Basically I had my saddle reflocked last Saturday by a reputable saddle fitter who came out to the yard and reflocked it after seeing it sat on my horse. Since Saturday my horse has changed behaviour slightly although he has had good days as well. I have noticed he is swishing his tail and also swapping or attempting to swap his hind legs in canter. I went for a group lesson last night and it was a complete disaster and I had to come away as my horse was trying to canter on the spot and when he did canter he wouldn't go foward and was continually bouncing and swapping his hind legs. I wasn't sure if this was a behaviour issue, ie excitement due to all the other horses in the lesson (first group lesson of the year). I took him back to the yard and got on him in our school and walked trotted and cantered and he was fine although a little tail swishy in canter. My friend is a vet physio and earlier in the week detected a very slightly sore spot where the back of the saddle fits, but this could have been there before the saddle was reflocked. Of course it may be that my weight is being distributed in a different place now as the saddle has been altered with flocking at the back.

I have contacted the saddle fitter to discuss with him but does anyone know what I should say exactly? Should I get him out to see the saddle and horse with a view to maybe taking out some of the flocking or should I get the vet to have a look at him? I am really dissapointed as I got the saddle reflocked to prevent problems and not to cause them, he was fine with the saddle before I had it reflocked, but both the saddle fitter and another saddle fitter and personal friend who I bought the saddle off both agreed it did need reflocking on the back panels.

I am taking him to the riding club tonight with a view to riding him in both snaffle and pelham and seeing how he goes to see if its a saddle issue.
 
Sounds like the saddle is out of balance or is overflocked and putting pressure on. I would ring them up and point out the behavioural change and they SHOULD come out ASAP and sort out the problem.
Good Luck
 
Did he watch you ride after the reflocking? can you check that the panels are even and that there are no lumps or bumps? Assume he has overflocked the back of the panels rather than a full reflock - sometimes this can cause the flocking to settle unevenly as you have added new soft flocking to the existing harder locking.
 
Hi guys

Thanks for your replies. He didn't watch me ride after the reflocking no. But I got on the horse shortly after he'd left the yard and felt he was more 'on his toes' than normal. The day after he was a little worse and has been progressively worse since then. Before the reflock I didn't experience any problems at all. Anyway I spoke to the saddle man this morning following my post on here and he said to see how he goes tonight at the riding club when I ride him and if he is still reacting then he will come out on Sunday afternoon to have a look at him for me as he is passing the yard which I thought was very kind of him. Hopefully this problem will remedy itself quite quickly, I feel confident that with his help we will get to the bottom of it if he indeed plays up tonight.

Thank you once again for your advice. x
 
Maybe the flocking is lumpy, uneven or too hard? Definately get him to see the saddle again, with you riding in it.
 
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