Shock at damage a seat saver has done - Thermal images

[Goldenstar]

I would completely agree on the horse, that cool spots are signs of reduced blood flow. But the saddle? Reduced blood flow is still blood flow, and whilst comparatively on the horse it would come up cool, compared to cold leather it would still come up warm, just not quite as warm as elsewhere on the saddle? And if it was the saddle causing the pressure leading to reduced blood flow, wouldn't you see the saddle area as hotter, as it has more contact with the body, which is supplying the heat that is read off the saddle?? Does that even make sense? Just basing this off my understanding of physics...

It would depend on how big a difference in temperature there was and how the ability of area under the points to retain heat was affected verses the rest of the flocking .
I am not saying definitively I know what caused that and it may be that all saddles look like that under the points it's certainly interesting to see .
It the area was cool on the horse it might figure the saddle covering that area would have cool spots .
As that's what interested me from the image the 'cool ' spots that looked like they corresponded to the points and the fact the two sides of the saddle had clear differences .
The differences are there so now Op just has to hunt down the reasons for them.

 

[khalswitz]

It's definitely interesting. I would be interested to see the next set of images, especially since I'm sure I read that the saddle is getting reflocked? Might address some of the differences. At least you have some avenues to explore to help your horse, OP!

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

A pity, but I wasn't able to access your images, don't know why.

I had a similar situation recently when I had my two's saddles re-flocked; the guy asked me where I stored my saddles. On a metal bracket in the tack-room says I. I thought so says he, look there's an indentation on both of the saddles where the metal from the hanging brackets has, over time, made an uncomfortable ridge.

I immediately saw what he meant; there was a pronounced ridge all along where the metal edge of the bracket has obviously been digging into the saddle as its been placed on its hanger.

He said the thing to do was to get some of the insulating stuff that plumbers use for insulating water pipes, and wrap that around it. An easy fix; but how many people (like me) hang up their saddles on a metal rack, not realising?

The single pole hangers are OK, where there's a single pole which goes down the gullet bit of the saddle.