Saddle Fitting. . .

[Whoopit]

I'm absolutely gutted.

Been up to put to bed and the youngster has such a sore back I can barely place my hand on her, either side of her spine (found this out from brushing her), probably a little back from where the saddle would sit. She's no sore spots on her shoulders or ribs or at her withers.

She's a failed racehorse so broken but barely gets ridden, even though she's so ready to do more than i'm willing to at the moment. I've probably ridden her about four times and have used a saddle (I did all the usual checks on the saddle I use for tightness, levelness, how it sits etc etc) that does fit her but I would rather get a saddle fitter out for when I buy her one.

Now on Saturday we had a bit of a spat, she bounced to rear and slipped with a hindleg and dropped her shoulder and nearly tipped me out the side door and I'm now paranoid that she may have jarred her back or the saddle has had some mischief going on. She walks out fine - still tracks up -, is moving freely, picks up her feet as normal. . .

Without being mean to me about not having a saddle fitter out (my other horse has a saddle fitted by a Master so it's not like i'm scrimping), where does saddle back pain show? Is it as you run your fingers either side of the spine or is it more widespread where the panel sits?

 

[khalswitz]

Depends on how the saddle sits, where it is too narrow/wide/low/high and the angle the saddle sits at. Not being mean, but genuine question: if you've had a Master saddler out before, why not have even a standard saddle fitter out to your new horse? They will tell you whether it is your saddle that's the problem - only other real way of telling is getting out a physio, which is in my experience more expensive than a saddler...

 

[sbloom]

Being only lightly ridden it's unlikely that it's saddle related, though it's possible. I'd get out the vet or your physical therapist, under vet supervision/permission. I like McTimony chiropractors.