sore back, saddler or physio first?

Physio, let them sort the back out then the horse/pony will be right for the saddler to put the saddle right if needed. Physio will probably know if its the saddle causing the problem and be able to recommend saddlers if u don't already have one.
 
Id go physio :) mine is excellent and would tell me if the saddle was an issue from the way he is muscled- i know because she has done before!
If anything a good physio will pick up things sooner than a saddler because they should be more estute to it :)
Having said that, depends how good the physio and the saddler are!
 
I went physio first she also had a quick look at saddle fit and advised that wearing it shouldn't cause the treatment she'd given to reverse and that the saddle was a highly unlikely cause of his soreness. Yes your supposed to have a vets permission in my experience this can be given over the phone.
 
I would have both, just in case, its up to you who you have or to your horses, you do not need to ask your Vet.

A physio needs a vet to approve treatment, if they do not ask for this before treating you are probably using an unregistered practitioner and if there is an underlying problem that needs veterinary treatment your insurance may be invalid.
 
For the first time possibly ever I have to disagree with cdm and say that I ask for the back person to come out first - hopefully they can correct the issue so that I can see a straight moving horse to fit the saddle to. If it IS likely to be the saddle they can usually advise, and give some treatment in the meantime to improve things before I come out. If it is a longer term issue then at least we know what we are dealing with and, if the horse needs to stay in work to rehab, I can make sure the saddle is doing as good a job as possible, knowing what the issue is.
 
Find a good physio, registered with ACPAT http://www.acpat.org/

This means they are a fully qualified human Chartered Physio with a post-graduate qualification in Animal physiotherapy. They should be able to tell you if the saddle is an issue.

And yes the vet needs to give permission but a Chartered physio will tell you this and may even contact your vet themselves to discuss.

Avoid anyone else calling themselves an Animal or Veterinary physio. They aren't properly qualified.
 
My physio asked for my vet details and contacted them himself but as the vet hadn't seen our pony they wouldn't give permission for the physio and I had to get the vet out first to give the pony a once over.
 
Hi, I'm a physio and I would highly recommend getting a physio out that your vet recommends. Once they have seen and treated the horse, a saddle can be fitted to a correct, balanced horse again.

Hope that helps!
 
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