saddle fitting?

[LittleMouse]

hiya x my pony has an oval shaped rub on either side of his spine (below the back of the saddle) i think theyre called loin rubs.
so anyway...do they mean the saddle doesnt fit. i have previously posted but need to ask more questions ahaha. so:
1. is it just his coat? he has just finished molting and has his just about summer coat
2. will i need a new saddle? its a winter ( :/ ) and i would looovveee a leather one
3. do we need to call a saddler to check it? (presumably not the one who fitted it) where from? and how much? (chobham/surrey area)
4. will he need physio?!?! if so how do i find one, and how much?? (i have to pay for this myself and im 15!!)
5. does talcum powder get rid of it? (someone said haha)

so a bit of info about the 'rubs'
they are pretty even, one has a tiny lump under the skin (could be unrelated??)
they are not sore and do have thin, dark hair covering them. he does flinch a little it i press them hard or brush them very hard.
he is a chunky connemara so if this sadddle doesnt fit could it have ********* up his back!
wil post pics after taking some tonight.
manythanks xxxxx
anyadvice (even if not mentioned) will be welcomed xxxxx

 

[sbloom]

When was it last checked? Obviously horses do change shape so don't write off the fitter who sold it to you, it might just be due an adjustment. Very minor rubs are often nothing to worry about - do check the numnah binding etc - but if the coat is actually rubbed away, and it lasts into the new coat (yes they are more likely to get very slight rubs when shedding) then I'd get it checked. I'd avoid talc I think - and it does sound like it might have caused a slight issue so I'd be getting it checked. A saddle can only be fitted properly if you can w-t-c on a horse with a good back, so best check the back first and then the saddle. A physio will cost very roughly from £30-£50 and may charge a call out fee or mileage on top of that.

I fit a lot of Connies and they tend to be very flat - many saddle will be too curvy from front to back, or the panels too sausage shaped, and side to side wagging, or slipping one way or both, is not uncommon. You need a really flat tree for most of them.

 

[ZondaR]

My horse gets those rubs every year and I've had him 10 years. He gets them in about Jan or Feb every year, about the time of year he starts to lose some weight. I've had his saddle checked and have been reassured it's fine, he has other back issues so he is treated by a neuro muscular therapist about every 5 or 6 weeks. The rubs dont and never have caused a problem. I read somewhere once that the hair breaks off easier at this time of year because it is more brittle. I always give him a break from early or mid May until July and the rubs never appear again before Jan. He is dark bay and his summer coat grows in black at first on the rubbed parts. He is part Connie so interested to read that might have something to do with it.

Basicly, I wouldn't worry too much. Saddle fitters are more concerned with the front of the saddle as a badly fitting saddle will press on withers or pinch them or inhibit shoulder movement so if your saddle is fitting properly there it's probably fine, but it would do no harm to talk to a saddle fitter and have him/her watch you ride so s/he can see what's happening. The only thing is that you may be sitting on the cantel and causing due pressure on a part of the saddle not designed to carry weight, you should be able to fit your hand behind you and the back of the saddle, if you cant, you may need a new one.

It's only in the last 2 years that I've had his back treated regularly, he never needed it before even though he had the rubs.

Hope this helps.