Chumsmum
Well-Known Member
Hi - Just wondering if anyone has any experience of remembered pain and does it sound like this is what my horse may have - I wont know for definite until next week until Mctimoney lady comes back if he still has a sore back but I'm trying to get ideas together on what to do next if she says it is better.
Trying to cut a long story short.. I bought him last August - he came with a perfect fitting saddle but it was a WH and I found it difficult to ride in and wanted more support. I have an Albion VSD that was made to fit my older pony - saddler came and checked all my saddles and with a bit of reflocking, the Albion fitted my new horse.
After a couple of months it became apparent that saddle was slipping to the right hand side - however, I was taken ill just as the saddler was due back out so I had to cancel the appointment and didn't ride for a couple of months - this took us in to December and by then the rubbish weather was upon us and I didn't start riding again with any consistency until February. Noticed that saddle was still slipping so got saddler out - she said it looked a fairly good fit but made some small adjustments. Pony was also built up slightly more on left side (no more than the average horse) and I have a problem keeping weight in stirrup on left side so we thought that this was contributing to the problem.
Saddle seemed okay for a few weeks. He had a couple of weeks off from flatwork when we moved yards end of March and then all hell seemed to break loose - he started bucking and was v spooky though was maybe in part due to move and spring grass. Instructor rode him and said he felt v stiff on right side and saddle even slipped with her so knew that it still wasn't right. Decided to get all checked out - discovered that his shoulders (particulary left) and behind the saddle and muscles over his bum (particulary right) were very sore - back lady thinks mainly due to saddle
So I had to lunge for two weeks and then ride him in walk only for two weeks then she would come back. After a couple of weeks of him lunging okay I decided to lunge him in his original WH saddle before getting on. He would barely go forward. Bronced on the spot if I tried to make him canter. Got a friend to watch to see if she thought he telling me something or being arsey - lunged first without tack, absolutely fine, put saddle on - it was like someone had flicked a switch - really didn't want to go forward, was all hunched up and tense.
Now obviously original saddle could no longer fit him either but surely this wouldn't put the brakes on like this? Or could his back still be so sore with just the weight of the saddle on him - I pressed my hands over his back etc and no reaction but wont know for sure until Mctimoney lady comes next week.
Does this sound like remembered pain to you - if so what do I do next? Mctimoney lady has suggested lunging him in a sircingle and then maybe a roller and see his reaction - will do that either later or tomorrow.
How do I go about getting a new saddle sorted if he reacts like this?
How do I find the best saddle fitter in the world?
He has never been cold backed and never showed any problem with the saddle (even though slipping sideways occasionly) up until this. We were doing lots of flatwork and occasional jumping.
He is a lovely pony who can be a little cheeky but generally loves work - all my instructors love him and he never argues - if you press the right buttons he just does it - please help me get him right again.
I'm so fed up because I have spent thousands on saddles and saddle fitters over recent years and I still end up with problems
Trying to cut a long story short.. I bought him last August - he came with a perfect fitting saddle but it was a WH and I found it difficult to ride in and wanted more support. I have an Albion VSD that was made to fit my older pony - saddler came and checked all my saddles and with a bit of reflocking, the Albion fitted my new horse.
After a couple of months it became apparent that saddle was slipping to the right hand side - however, I was taken ill just as the saddler was due back out so I had to cancel the appointment and didn't ride for a couple of months - this took us in to December and by then the rubbish weather was upon us and I didn't start riding again with any consistency until February. Noticed that saddle was still slipping so got saddler out - she said it looked a fairly good fit but made some small adjustments. Pony was also built up slightly more on left side (no more than the average horse) and I have a problem keeping weight in stirrup on left side so we thought that this was contributing to the problem.
Saddle seemed okay for a few weeks. He had a couple of weeks off from flatwork when we moved yards end of March and then all hell seemed to break loose - he started bucking and was v spooky though was maybe in part due to move and spring grass. Instructor rode him and said he felt v stiff on right side and saddle even slipped with her so knew that it still wasn't right. Decided to get all checked out - discovered that his shoulders (particulary left) and behind the saddle and muscles over his bum (particulary right) were very sore - back lady thinks mainly due to saddle
So I had to lunge for two weeks and then ride him in walk only for two weeks then she would come back. After a couple of weeks of him lunging okay I decided to lunge him in his original WH saddle before getting on. He would barely go forward. Bronced on the spot if I tried to make him canter. Got a friend to watch to see if she thought he telling me something or being arsey - lunged first without tack, absolutely fine, put saddle on - it was like someone had flicked a switch - really didn't want to go forward, was all hunched up and tense.
Now obviously original saddle could no longer fit him either but surely this wouldn't put the brakes on like this? Or could his back still be so sore with just the weight of the saddle on him - I pressed my hands over his back etc and no reaction but wont know for sure until Mctimoney lady comes next week.
Does this sound like remembered pain to you - if so what do I do next? Mctimoney lady has suggested lunging him in a sircingle and then maybe a roller and see his reaction - will do that either later or tomorrow.
How do I go about getting a new saddle sorted if he reacts like this?
How do I find the best saddle fitter in the world?
He has never been cold backed and never showed any problem with the saddle (even though slipping sideways occasionly) up until this. We were doing lots of flatwork and occasional jumping.
He is a lovely pony who can be a little cheeky but generally loves work - all my instructors love him and he never argues - if you press the right buttons he just does it - please help me get him right again.
I'm so fed up because I have spent thousands on saddles and saddle fitters over recent years and I still end up with problems
