Saddle pressure marks / white hairs?

chessy

chessy

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Hi all!

My mare is a bay roan, she is now shedding her winter coat. While grooming her this week I've noticed some white areas on her back where the saddle would sit, they look like pressure/rub marks to me... I've never noticed this before and am a bit concerned. I read somewhere that the white hairs are permanent - thank god she's a roan so it's less noticeable!

She does become a lot lighter in Spring and these marks were not visible on her darker winter coat...

Could marks like this be due to a saddle that just needs re-flocking? Or does it look like I'll need to fork out for a new one :( She's had this saddle since May last year and hasn't had any problems with it until now.

I've been in touch with a good saddle fitter, no answer from his phone so had to leave a message. Does anyone know a good saddle fitter near Epping, Essex?

Pics:

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I feel like a bad horse owner! :(
 
I would be very suspicious as they don't look natural. Would be worth the callout fee of a good saddler who isn't just out to flog you a new one but will give an honest opinion. Don't feel bad on not picking it up, horses will tolerate a lot & not show any signs. At least you've noticed it now & can get it checked out.
 
I bought 3 horses from the same place, and all three of them have saddle rub marks, (Because some idiot thought it was okay to start 2 year olds in badly fitting saddles). Thing is, the marks on my boys are symmetrical on each shoulder rather evenly spread out like yours, if could PM a picture if you like?

If it is a saddle rub, it's worth considering that your mares coloring makes it look worse than it is, but I'd still get a saddler out ASAP
 
OP, that looks like natural variation in her coat to me. she has similar patches of white over her shoulder, and rump.
white hairs around withers from saddle or rug rubbing are very obvious, very white, usually with bare skin at first from the rub which then has white hairs grow back over it.
i'd definitely get her saddle fit checked BUT if you can still get 2-3 fingers' width under the pommel, still see clear down the gullet with a rider on, and she's happy in it (no twitching, ears back, jibbing etc) i really wouldn't panic.
 
I used to work with a saddle fitter so check my own now, however they should be checked every 6 months. In honesty I would say it is a combination of both her colouring and possible saddle rubs. It is suspicious that she has big shoulders AND has white lines where the saddle goes.

Make sure you put the saddle in the right place!! ie find her shoulder and fit 1 t 2 inches BEHNIND it. I may be wrong but it looks as though like most people you sit it too forward

Don't feel bad, you noticed it and are not ignoring it!!!! you would be suprised how many people do ignore it!

You are doing the right thing getting it checked
 
My horse got white hairs from saddle pressure. She is bay and the white hairs were evenly spaced where the panels touched. More like flecks than big white areas. Turned out the saddle was too small, she never got any rub marks or hair loss and the hair all grew back brown when I changed the saddle.
 
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