Sore Back

[pollypock1211]

My horse has a 'made to measure saddle' that was made a couple of years ago. It has never been a problem until recently it seems to have started rubbing at the very back where the lining is, and on both sides.

He hasent really put on weight or changed shape from what i can see, and his saddle seems to fit him like a glove still. It doesn't move when riding and looks balanced at both sides.
His hair has been rubbed short (but not bold) but underneath his hair, his skin seems to have rubbed off and even if you just to glide your hand over these areas hes flinches and jumps so its obviously giving him some bother but hes fine when i am riding him.

My RI told me to use his sheep skin nummnah and a cotton one underneath that (which i did do) but it seems to be getting worse. I have washed it with some medicated shampoo and Dermoline weekly and since been using Bio Oil (the horsey one) but still 3 weeks on now and its getting worse. There is also a lot of heat there aswell

should i give him a couple of weeks off riding then see.. does he need his saddle professionally checking? or is it time to call the vet before it gets anyworse. Surly heat indicates infection ? confused ? xxxx

 

[IzzieKing]

is the area that is sore on his back scabby or just bald and hot could try some aloe vera cooling lotion and a gentle wash to try and cool and soothe the area would be tempted to have the saddle professionally checked just to be sure. Hope this has helped

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Any new saddle should be reflocked approx 3-6 months after as the new flocking seems to sit a little which will make the saddle "sit down"

In any case I always have my saddles checked every 6 months as the horses do change shape, maybe getting a little more weight on in the summer, or getting more muscle depending on what work you are doing and sometimes I have had to get my saddle altered at 3 month intervals. To the naked eye it may look like your horse hasn't changed but I am sure after a template is taken by your saddler and then compared to 2 years ago I am sure you would be very surprised.

A very small change can make quite a difference to the fit of a saddle so I would get a saddler out to get it checked and I personally wouldn't use it again until I had it checked as the horse is obviously getting sore with it.

Putting a thicker pad under it will only make the front narrower for the horse which in turn makes the front sit up and then the back will be taking all the weight, also you need to make sure that any pad underneath is big enough to take all of the saddle with room to spare so that the edge of the saddle is not sat on the binding of the numnah as this can make them very sore too.

Hope this makes sense! Hope you get sorted soon.