Saddle rubs

AFlapjack

AFlapjack

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 March 2010
Messages
1,346
Location
Devon, UK
Visit site
Pony is fully clipped out (no saddle patch) and saddle has started rubbing him where the panels meet his back and he now has two nearly bald patches either side of his spine (I've added a photo so you know where I mean **It isn't my pony's back in the photo I just took it from the internet**).

This also happened last year when he was clipped out and it doesn't rub in the summer. Is it just because he's been clipped out or is the saddle not fitting him properly? (He is due for a saddle check soon anyway).

He is ridden with a numnah and a Gel-Eze wither pad.

saddlerubs.jpg
 
My horse gets this every year in second half of the winter. It is not so bad this year as only clipped once. He also goes bald where the reins are on hes neck. I have had saddle checked every 6 months and it isn't because of it not fitting properly. It seems to be just winter baldness!!!:D
 
Lobelia_Overhill said:
I can only suggest using a numnah, or leave a saddle patch when you clip...
Click to expand...

I do use a numnah and was planning on leaving a saddle patch but my lines went terribly wrong.

Sam100 said:
My horse gets this every year in second half of the winter. It is not so bad this year as only clipped once. He also goes bald where the reins are on hes neck. I have had saddle checked every 6 months and it isn't because of it not fitting properly. It seems to be just winter baldness!!!:D
Click to expand...

Hmmm it's odd isn't it!! I will ask saddle fitter about it when they come as well. Thanks
 
This is very common - I see it on lots of the horses that I work with. It happens most when the coat is beginning to change, or on horses that are clipped out. I do not believe that it means that the saddle doesn't fit, as I have palpated many horses around the area where they have a bare patch and have found no relationship between bare patches and soreness. This is not to say that a horse that has a bare patch isn't sore - he might well be - but I don't believe that the soreness is related to the bare patch.
Hope that makes sense!
Sue
 
SheadonSaffron said:
This is very common - I see it on lots of the horses that I work with. It happens most when the coat is beginning to change, or on horses that are clipped out. I do not believe that it means that the saddle doesn't fit, as I have palpated many horses around the area where they have a bare patch and have found no relationship between bare patches and soreness. This is not to say that a horse that has a bare patch isn't sore - he might well be - but I don't believe that the soreness is related to the bare patch.
Hope that makes sense!
Sue
Click to expand...

Interesting - thank you! :) He has started moulting so maybe it is because of the change in coat? I will keep an eye on it. Thanks again
 
I've seen it happen quite a bit on clipped horses, also under the reins etc. In fact it also seems to happen on some unclipped horses when they have their winter coats so it may not even be as simple as just the clip.

Two possible options, on either end of the spectrum . . . If you're confident about the saddle fit (as you are) it might be worth trying a thin non-slip pad. Some horses hate them though, so be forewarned!

Otherwise, try a proper sheepskin against the skin (not over another pad). That's a pretty time honoured way of reducing problems from friction.
 
mine has them exactly same place - she has had physio check her as routine and found nothing in back and also had saddle checked and fine, just coat - she does have saddle patch but is thin skinned 7/8th TB so i dont worry - i am sure will grow back in summer
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top