Saddle fitted,but rubbing, any experience???

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eatonbraynat

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I have had a T4 Cob saddle since before xmas, bought new. It is regularly seen by the saddler and the gullet is changed as soon as needed by my saddler, (i am not confident to do it myself). However recently we have been working quite hard and have been doing much more canter and jump work as he is now fitter. I noticed a bald rub patch at the back of the saddle on the off side. I took him over to the saddler who did a thorough check on everything, she even took a photo from the back of me riding so that she could show me what i looked like. We decided the patch was being caused by me sitting slightly over to the off side, backed up by the photo and we girthed up on different girth straps to level things out.

I also bought a soft sheepskin numnah so that it was softer for him.

I am now working on my position and have improved however the other side is now beginning to rub the hair also, in exactly the same place on the other side. So i now have rub patches at the back evenly on both sides. Although i guess this is better than it being uneven i know it is still not good!! It doesnt hurt him and he is not fussed about it at all, but i was wondering if anyone has had this problem? Any advice would be great Thank you.
 
Have you had his back checked by a physio? That would confirm whether or not the saddle is causing discomfort.

Saddle rubs are never a good sign and usually means that the saddle is moving about and therefore not sitting properly. Have you got someone maybe to take a video of you riding in it to see how much it moves?
 
I can't put a numnah on my mare at all - even with a saddle just fitted/checked etc, it WILL rub her from the first ride.

Simple answer is I don't use a numnah on her, haven't for years now. I do use a non elasticated leather girth with it, and we stay centre, and rub free.
 
Thanks for replies, i do have his back done regularly and he is having his back checked again on Saturday. Hasnt shown any tenderness at all ever through his back or on patches. Maybe will try no numnah and see how we get on. :)
 
what sheepskin is your numnah?

I did have issues with my new saddle to start... basically because previous saddle hadn't been making contact at all. I also sit to one side so that rubbing was more pronounced to the right

I did have a nuumed numnah on it but I think the longish length of the wool was trapping the hairs causing rubbing.

I bought a lemieux lambskin numnah (badminton bargain!) and it has been much better. I also havent had to wash it yet (despite daily use on a very sweaty cob!) as it brushes clean every time so has probably saved me its money on washing machine use. :)
 
My numnah is just a shires one, £12.99 so its just the fake stuff. Dont know what else to do other than try without one to see if the helps for a while.
 
You should never use a fake sheepskin one - it is nylon and can cause serious friction. if you use a sheepskin - make sure it is a genuine sheepskin. The shires ones are cheap for a reason. Sheepskin is a natural product agains the fur so you would probably find that that was Ok. the nylon ones tend to go lumpy and thick in places and cause pressure points.
 
I had maybe a similar problem with my boy who is short backed and short loined. As the saddle was a tiny touch too long for him and I was sitting slightly too far back whenever we did any faster work his back end would cause the cantle to push up and rub resulting in 2 rub patches (and loads of back tightness). Frankie didn't really show as being sore apart from I noticed he started resting a leg a bit more. None of this probably applies to you (sorry) but might it be worth having a different saddle out for their opinion?
 
dilbert said:
I had maybe a similar problem with my boy who is short backed and short loined. As the saddle was a tiny touch too long for him and I was sitting slightly too far back whenever we did any faster work his back end would cause the cantle to push up and rub resulting in 2 rub patches (and loads of back tightness). Frankie didn't really show as being sore apart from I noticed he started resting a leg a bit more. None of this probably applies to you (sorry) but might it be worth having a different saddle out for their opinion?
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This is what i am so worried about, making his back hurt, he doesnt show any pain at the mo but if left im sure he soon would. Have just spoke to my saddler who would like to have another look, i am taking him to see her on Tuesday. She said she may need to adjust flocking. So will see how i get on, fingers crossed
 
could he be a smidge overweight? If my oh mare puts on a few lbs then it can throw her fit out a bit and she gets a bit of a rub mark where you are describing (evenly though). Goes again when we get the weight off, so it is usually just a prob for a couple of weeks in spring!
 
where the saddle goes rub in either surgical spirit or methalated spirits..............both toughen up the skin, we use it on the shoulders and mane in the winter when they get rubbed my rugs!
 
We had the same problem with the saddle for our Fjord rubbing on one side. This was due to the rider being slightly lopsided which was confirmed by a physio. Our saddles are checked at least 2 a year and more if we think there is a problem. The saddler adjusted the flocking and now it's perfect.
 
My saddle started to do this after a long ride having been fitted by a "qualified" saddler after a few days. I'm not saying your saddler isn't good but I trusted this guy and had been given reccomendations. Got another saddler out who found my original saddle was missing a bolt for the head plate, the riser he had fitted made it tip back causing sore patches and it swung from side to side as it was a cair and she's flat back, this caused the rub patches.

I now have a fantastic saddler and saddle with no rub patches. I thankfully couldn't leave mine any longer as she was incredibly sore, she had as a result 3 lots of physio and over a month off, I felt incredibly guilty but you almost always trust a "professional".
 
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