tight back muscles?

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LittleMouse

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i seriously dont get whats going on! pony has a new fitted saddle and has had physio sessions, but today whilst grooming i noticed his back muscles have gone really hard and tight again (like they were before we sorted the saddle out)
could it be the new saddle thats done this? im also noticing thinning of hair and upturned hair when i take the saddle off...which could be the start of this saddle rubbing?? im quite sick of this...but theres no way i can tell as im obviously not trained haha!!
after he is ridden they tend to loosen up and go a bit softer, but not before. any suggestions on what to do? physio said last month that he was fine? im not convinced...
 
if the hips are tight, i always do a mini massage of the area (slow deep circles) and loosen them up before riding- i found it made a tremendous difference to mine when they are sore (including the one with severe muscular damage)

theyre a bit unsure the first time, but after they get the idea they all love it, so now i do it as standard before riding lol- literally only takes a minute or so

no comments re: fit of the saddle, but i would maybe get a thicker numnah or something :)
 
But he isn't fine in your opinion - so you need the vet to tell you why. You've already afforded a new saddle and several physio sessions, perhaps you should have got the vet out first:(
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
But he isn't fine in your opinion - so you need the vet to tell you why. You've already afforded a new saddle and several physio sessions, perhaps you should have got the vet out first:(
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but the vet wont have more knowledge about anatomy and muscles and massage then a McTimmoney physio will they? (i generally dont know :) )
 
One person has to study for several years and have a reasonable level of intelligence to get on to the course, they are extensively examined before being awarded their qualification. One person hands over their money and does a few weeks training and gets a certificate at the end of it.
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
One person has to study for several years and have a reasonable level of intelligence to get on to the course, they are extensively examined before being awarded their qualification. One person hands over their money and does a few weeks training and gets a certificate at the end of it.
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ok x not arguing or anything but im quite happy with the work of the physio, she is extremely knowledgable and really does help. i dont think ill get the vet out just yet :)
 
If the hairs are upturning and thinning then that to me would say the saddle is moving and needs adjusting.

Maybe worth getting a second opinion on your saddle??
 
Hi Littlemouse. Firstly well done for noticing there was a problem- Im not sure many 15 year old might have done!

Im in a very similar position but i looked at things the other way round- As money was pretty tight i got the vet first. I figured she could check all over and if there was a back issue she would know if i needed a physio of any sort or that his saddle was causing a problem.
I was wrong! Tbh i wish id got a physio first. The vet check gave him a clean bill of health and they assured me he was in no pain what so ever. Months later a routine back check showed he WAS in pain and it was right under his saddle and had been going on a long time.
Im not saying dont see a vet by any means. Im just saying if your instinct tells you things are not right even though the professionals say your wrong see someone else- get a second opinion.
Good luck x
 
If the hair on your horse's back is roughed up on one side or disturbed to one side etc after you have ridden then it sounds as if you may have a problem with the saddle fit or maybe the saddle and you. I had troubles fitting my horse's saddle as he has one enlarged shoulder. Got the saddle fitter out, new saddle, but still a problem. Once mounted the saddle slipped into the area behind the lesser shoulder whether it was me or the saddle fitter riding. Tried all sorts of things, and still have to get it right. But here are a few ideas to try:
Might I suggest that you ride with an ordinary numnah (thick numnahs just take the fit away) and see what the oil/dirt pattern says - is it heavier on one side, larger mark maybe? This will say something about the way you affect the saddle, the weight you put in and whether or not this is central or slewed to one side. Also do you have someone who can ride behind you, watch you trot, and then they can see if you are favouring one side and pulling the saddle over or its twisting a bit.
Girthing up- what type of horse do you have? Fat, round,skinny, high withered? My fatty has a very flat back which makes slippage very easy, so I was advised to girth up with straps 1 and 2 on one side and 1 and 4 on the other ( Have a special M&M saddle that has extra girth straps) since this would help the problem I have about a twist due to falling into the space of an underdeveloped shoulder. What type of girth do you use? Elastic one end or no elastic?
Did your saddle fitter watch you ride in the new saddle? Did the fitter ride in the saddle too?
You have to be sure that it isn't the saddle at fault or that you have a problem before any physical examination - even if your horse is perfect as far as the physio is concerned, an hour of riding in a saddle that pinches would put your horse straight back into pain again.
 
Was it a qualified saddle fitter who fitted the saddle? When did you get the saddle? Has the horse changed shape since having the saddle fitted? Have you had the saddle re checked? I too have had saddle / back problems with my horse & like you have worked with a master saddler & qualified horse physiotherapist to sort out the problem. We're getting there but it takes months to change the muscle & the 'memory' of my horse.
 
LittleMouse said:
i seriously dont get whats going on! pony has a new fitted saddle and has had physio sessions, but today whilst grooming i noticed his back muscles have gone really hard and tight again (like they were before we sorted the saddle out)
could it be the new saddle thats done this? im also noticing thinning of hair and upturned hair when i take the saddle off...which could be the start of this saddle rubbing?? im quite sick of this...but theres no way i can tell as im obviously not trained haha!!
after he is ridden they tend to loosen up and go a bit softer, but not before. any suggestions on what to do? physio said last month that he was fine? im not convinced...
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But you CAN tell, you've noticed the tell-tale signs that this saddle does not fit, because you are observant and are watching and 'listening to' your horse. That is far more important than a piece of paper.
I'd get the saddler back.
 
sounds a bit like my boy, had numerous vet checks, saddle, physio etc and i was sick of it! finally got a good fitting saddle, however noticed in the few weeks after he was tight and sore in the back area, called saddle fitter and vet checked him and was advised to ride him through it, after a few weeks he was fine and back to normal, also the saddle thinned the hair near the back of the saddle and this again went away. i do regular back stretching techniques/massages that physio showed me
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
One person has to study for several years and have a reasonable level of intelligence to get on to the course, they are extensively examined before being awarded their qualification. One person hands over their money and does a few weeks training and gets a certificate at the end of it.
Click to expand...

Actually an acpat physiotherapist has to qualify as a human physiotherpist first, thats 3 years and then does another full years practice.They then go on to do a masters in animal physiotherapy.More than a few weeks I think.
 
Ditto eahotson. It takes a lot to qualify as a mctimmoney chiro or an osteo or chiro or a saddler or Equine podiatrist for that matter. Its Not a weekend course for whoever can afford it!!! However there r unscrupulous people out there who claim to be trained/qualified who r not and give everyone else a bad name so please do ur research on who u use!

Saddles r tricky and the fit will change if the horse changes weight/shape. A saddLerner is a best person to check this but often needed with someone to treat any back issues. They cannot give u indication however as to if there is an issue with the saddle.
Hope u get it sorted. X
 
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