Sore rub patches

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Nannon

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my horse has had bald patches from the back of his saddle the past month or more, literally where the coat has rubbed (fully clipped) and there has been no soreness, heat or anything - back lady didn't notice anything when she came out.
The last 2 weeks he hasn't done much schooling wise, mainly hacking and a bit of lunging but yesterday he wouldn't really go on one rein on the lunge, kept stopping and turning in a generally looking unhappy but absolutely fine going the other way. I stretched him with carrot stretches after but when grooming him he was exceptionally sensitive on the bald patches, really dipping away from the touch and bring grumpy. Today the bald patches were also hot.
Could it be that he has got sore despite not really having been ridden, or maybe sunburn (black skin showing)? I'm at a bit of a loss to what to think - no lameness or anything!
 
I would get the saddle checked out although you have not used it for a few weeks the rubbing has already happened so he could still be sore, you say you had a back lady I am surprised she didnt mention the rub marks is she a qualified physio?
 
I pointed them out before she started as I got her out because I was worried about them, but she found no soreness at all, just literally the hair had rubbed off - the skin itself is intact with no damage.
 
Sometimes the muscles become more sore once the cause has been removed or not used so much, in your case the saddle, they relax and then the pain shows, I am surprised the physio found no reaction though but it may be that the work she did released some tension, when she comes back to see him this time she may find more going on that she can treat, it is why they always do a follow up a week or so later to see how the horse has responded to treatment, or if it has got worse for some reason.
It amazes me how many physios seem to just do one treatment and say everything is fixed, my physio always comes back to check, sometimes they have responded well and require no further treatment at times they are worse and need another one or two but unless it is a routine check she never fails to do a follow up.

Your saddle needs looking at if it is rubbing, they do sometimes get bald patches at coat change time but it should not be enough to make them sore, certainly not flinching away from you touching him.
 
Thanks - he had it adjusted in feb as it was new in October so might need looking at again.
The thing that's really confusing is the amount of heat there? Literally you can feel the heat coming off the skin at the patches!
 
Alongside getting your saddle checked, as it is probably moving, what sort of saddle blanket do you use?

If the saddle is rubbing and you are using a synthetic one, then that would explain the heat. Like wearing nylon socks - if you walk a lot they sort of burn your feet and if your horse is clipped then doubly so.
 
The saddle is slightly too wide so we pad it out under recommendation of saddle fitter, and he definitely has been building muscle so will be getting it checked
I have been using a premier equite correction square - maybe I should try going back to my old le mieux and see if that makes a difference?
 
Nannon said:
Thanks - he had it adjusted in feb as it was new in October so might need looking at again.
The thing that's really confusing is the amount of heat there? Literally you can feel the heat coming off the skin at the patches!
Click to expand...

I think that is because there is no hair to stop the heat escaping if you know what I mean hard to explain!
 
Something I was taught that doesn't seem to be followed much these days is to always leave the saddle area unclipped to protect the horses back.

These are friction burns so it's not surprising the skin is hot. Currently your saddle is not fitting, I see you had the saddle looked at in February, I wonder if too much stuffing was added under the waist area and the saddle is now pivoting front and back. You also say it's a little wide and has extra padding under to compensate, this could also be adding to the problem as the saddle is not truly stable.

Ask someone to look for you, to see what happens when you rise up and down as in trot. Look to see if the saddle lifts at the back as you rise. If it is then you need to get the stuffing sorted. A well fitting saddle doesn't lift.

The lifting, along with the muscle movement is what causes the friction burns.
 
I did leave a saddle patch when I clipped him, but just not quite far back enough - the saddle has literally rubbed just behind the unclipped bit!
I had a friend look when I was hacking out to see if it was moving because it didn't feel like it was and she said she couldn't see that it was moving excessively? He does rub exceptionally easily - reins, girth, Pessoa all rub him!
Had another look this evening and the skin looks lumpy? I can see what you mean about the heat and the hair though!
 
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