Saddle rubbing

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poiuytrewq

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My daughter is able to ride a lovely pony for someone else. We brought her back into work the last two months but ive noticed her hair is getting rubbed on her back- evenly either side, where the back of the saddle would sit.
At first I thought it was the numnah which had thick edging and seemed to sit on the rubbed part so I got her a larger one but its still happening.
She's still in full winter woollies so maybe is more obvious than it may have been previously or of course may just have changed shape.
I obviously cant go out and buy a new saddle as its not our horse but wondered if there is any kind of pad that would help? I keep a check on it and its not getting worse but not better either. I mentioned it too the owner who said not too worry as she's not sore.
Now if this was my horse id be getting a saddler out etc etc....but its not and I have to respect the owners opinion.
Is there anything available to make her more comfy?
 
That doesn't sound good, I take it the owner is not riding the pony themselves? I don't want to be melodramatic but its funny how that sort of thing is less important when its someone else riding (been there, ended in injury!).

Hard to say if any pads will help without knowing why it doesn't fit, I'm sure saddle experts will know more.
 
First thought, to be fair, is always the saddle doesn't fit.

However one of my ponies who i have had a few yrs now always gets rubs at coat changing time and being a roan he coat changes 4-6 times a yr rather than just the usual two, they are perfectly symmetrical right under the seat bone area of the saddle both sides. I have had 6 saddles in total and tried every conceivable pad/corrective pad/padding etc on the market and nothing has stopped them and he has never been sore in that area, checked by vet, chiropractor etc.

In fact the worst pads to do it are expensive sheepskin and soft fleecy types, the best are bog standard cotton pads.

Just to add, this pony has very swingy hip action and this does seem to accentuate the rubbing effect as the saddle does move to a certain extent as he swings back and forth under it.
 
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Are you sure it's not just the moulting hair coming out quicker although it shows the saddle is moving a bit it's often not such happens at this time of year .
Is it rubbed to the skin or is it marked hair you're seeing ?
Its hard when it's not your pony I would normally say get a saddler to look but clearly you can't.
 
Goldenstar said:
Are you sure it's not just the moulting hair coming out quicker although it shows the saddle is moving a bit it's often not such happens at this time of year .
Is it rubbed to the skin or is it marked hair you're seeing ?
Its hard when it's not your pony I would normally say get a saddler to look but clearly you can't.
Click to expand...

We had this and when we called the saddler out she said it was where he was moulting. He also has it on his neck where the reins lay.
 
Well I did wonder if it could be something to do with moulting ( or at least made worse by)
The patches are kind of frazzled looking?! Dull and messy bits. Not the best description sorry but her coat everywhere else is fluffy but very clean and shiny. I'm a bit anal about my own horses saddles so am quite worried.
They are absolutely lovely people but don't seem hot on tack fit tbh
 
Are there any patches anywhere else, as with mine on the neck where the reins sit or maybe around the chest where a rug sits or even where the rides legs are on the pony? If there are more bare patches In these places it's probably moulting but it's always best to check although I know that's difficult in your situation.
 
It's difficult to say exactly what the trouble is without seeing it but at this time of year I tend to go with the fact that the coat is changing & that is why you are getting a bit of coat loss at bthe back of the saddle. The coat, when changing, gets brittle & the coat shows this at this time of year. One of mine has this every year & I spoke to my saddle fitted & vet about it & they said it was nothing to worry about. Get an opinion though by someone who can actually examine your horse because as I've said without seeing it you can't be 100% sure.
 
I know of a horse who this happens to every year and the owner was advised to spend less time in walk as apparently it is the movement of the horse in the walk which is most likely to cause this, especially if the horse has a big walk - I can't remember any more detail but hope that helps
 
I got this this year - saddler advised it's the coat change. He's not sore, or tense, he's just going bald! It's happening in one or two places on mine, but no sign of any damage to anything other than the hair, thankfully :)
 
Is it a ginger? they do seem to be more prone to rubbing sometimes

We have this problem at this time of year, although saddle definitely fits. Best solution in the past has been to full clip as nothing for the hair to snag on then. Otherwise I change his sheepskin to a polypad and use some of my super cowboy magic conditioner on the area.

ditto the walk comment from scheherazade, not with F but with a big walking arab we used to have (also ginger :p)
 
My arab currently has rub marks at the end of her saddle, although the summer coat is coming through nicely now. She is never sore, and there is no pressure from the saddle, merely that she really swings her hips in walk, thus moving her back under the saddle. She started getting the marks around the middle of january. I find that spraying the patches with coat shine allows the saddle pad to move over the hair rather than catching it.
 
She's bay and no there are no other patches like it other than a tiny one on either fore leg (front/side) where the bottom of her rug rubs when she walks so maybe this is it?


Ok thank you all! With any luck its just to do with her coat changing!
 
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