Stumped!! Help please!!

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Kelly1982

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So about 4 months ago I had saddler out as saddle was dropping at front, all reflocked and sorted.

Then bout 2 months later my horse started being tense and shooting off, put pad under saddle and he was back to his normal self again. Called another saddler out (heard bad press bout previous one) and he said saddle fitted fine but the flocking on the back left of the saddle was too hard and causing saddle to rub. Sorted flocking so is now lovely and soft but advised to use pad still to give extra padding.

Had physio out next day too (as I'm paranoid) and she said he was absolutely fine apart from soar patch left by saddle.

Had no problems since!!!

Until I took him XC Friday, he was a very good boy and worked very hard. Next day his back was soar again on his left side!! Left him a few days and that seemed to do the trick. Rode him for next few days, jumped him, hacked him etc and all has been fine.

Took him out on 2 hour hack last nite and this morning his back was a bit soar again (although not as bad as after XC). Rode him and he was fine but I have notice he doesn't like to stretch out on that rein and tries to bend round instead, this is something he has always done though and he also doesn't like you putting the saddle on but once it's on he's fine!!

So my question is, do you think this is just an old injury that hasn't healed 100% so in hard work it flares up? Or is this an issue with the saddle, despite 2 saddlers saying it fits??
 
When you phoned the vet to get the ok with the physio, what did they think of his symptoms?

I'd say get the physio, but ask if they felt there may be something that needs investigating further going on.
 
All symptoms point to the saddle, the soar patch is exactly where back of the saddle sits and about the same size.

I rode him bare back the other day and someone on the yard commented on how happy and content he looked.

If he is not ridden the soar patch goes, it only flares up when he is ridden for a long time? So my gut is saying saddle also but I'm stumped as to if its down to the previous issue or if the saddle is still causing him issues.

The saddler is coming to the yard next week so I'm not sure if I should get him to look again?
 
I would also have a look at yourself. Get someone to watch you ride, get them to look if you put more weight into one stirrup or sit to one side. You'd be surprised how much we influence our horse. Perhaps a chiropractic session may highlight any wonkyness you may have.
 
sounds like a saddle issue that is causing back problems. I had a lovely GFS genesis for Shy, fitted so well when I got it - but a few months later, he started to buck me off (!). It was the saddle pinching his withers. i bought three new gullet sizes, but nope, that saddle didn't belong with Shy. :rolleyes:

We are now treeless full time, and he is a different pony.
 
Ella19 this had crossed my mind also, my instructor said I do collapse through that hip. And the physio also mentioned it to me when I had my car accident but on our hack we only walked??
 
We had exactly this problem with a reactor panel saddle with a little cob mare we had backed and were scholng. She didnt really like to have any saddle(or person) on her back until we got her a treeless saddle and hey presto! she became the kind and obliging pony we had always expected.
 
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