Uneven muscle solutions, please help! Must be common.

metalmare

metalmare

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 May 2005
Messages
2,600
Visit site
Hi,

I spoke too soon re. my pony's un-level back. I thought the saddle fitting had cured it but after a longer hack I'm feeling all the same issues.

To summarise, the saddle fitter confirmed that he has slightly uneven muscular development. She said that he will improve over time with balanced riding. She thinks crooked riding by his previous owner has led to uneven muscle development. But, she says the saddle is a good fit and his back is not a problem.

So, if all this is correct and, with balanced riding his muscles will even out long term, what can I do in the short term to make riding him feel pleasant? I still feel like my right leather is longer than my left (it isn't) and I want to keep moving the saddle to the left, because I feel like it's slipping (it isn't). The horse's muscle simply isn't filling out the saddle enough under my right thigh.
 
Last edited:
metalmare said:
Hi,

I spoke too soon re. my pony's un-level back. I thought the saddle fitting had cured it but after a longer hack I'm feeling all the same issues.

To summarise, the saddle fitter confirmed that he has slightly uneven muscular development. She said that he will improve over time with balanced riding. She thinks crooked riding by his previous owner has led to uneven muscle development. But, she says the saddle is a good fit and his back is not a problem.

So, if all this is correct and, with balanced riding his muscles will even out long term, what can I do in the short term to make riding him feel pleasant? I still feel like my right leather is longer than my left (it isn't) and I want to keep moving the saddle to the left, because I feel like it's slipping (it isn't). The horse's muscle simply isn't filling out the saddle enough under my right thigh.
Click to expand...

If it were me, I would get a few regular sports massages going, (normally every 6 weeks, this will loosen everything up in order that it can re build properly. Where about in the country are you? I or someone else may be able to reccomend someone. My mare had the same issue and her first massage made a huge difference to her way of going.
 
I think 70% of horses have a left shoulder which is bigger than their right. Is it not just the bigger shoulder throwing the saddle over?
 
You need to get a physio to look at him, the muscle wastage will not always just cure itself by a change of saddle, they will be able to encourage the muscle to come back into use which should make a great difference, you can also do exercises to help develop the muscle, lots of massage is useful.
 
I'm in Lincolnshire.

Okay, that's fairly unanimous - if that's the way forward I'll make some enquiries.

Any ideas what the usual recuperation time is, or is it very variable from horse to horse?
 
If you want a physio there is a thread in Vet which is stickied on how to find a qualified one, or else ask your vet :)


I have been trying to straighten out my horses's uneven butt for two years now. There is some improvement but it definitely isn't even yet!
 
You also wont cure this with a treed saddle that has been fitted to his current shape as the muscle has now where to grow into and the blood/oxygen supply is compromised (how most atrophy is caused originally) :(

Lots of inhand/longlining and slow correct work will build the muscle up but not under said saddle.
 
TigerTail - does it make a difference how much time the horse is spending working? He lives out 24/7 so is moving naturally most of the time and over winter will probably only be hacked once a week.

I did wonder how the current saddle would affect him, even if correctly fitted, as the fitter said that one panel was slightly flatter than the other...but it is Cair - apparently to redo Cair saddles is not worthwhile and it is easier to buy a new saddle?
 
Not to far down the road from me:

Saddle fitter, I would recommend Lorna from the tack box in Lincoln - I would imagine she will go up to Brigg/Market Rasen. Otherwise there is a chap from out Grimsby way. Not sure of his name, but seen it mentioned a few times on here.

Back people: Mctimoney Emma Hustler - does a fantastic job. Physio I have used Nicola Bagley and Felcity Begley, both are good.

Dentist - I use James Arkley, although there is a lady called Sharon from Grimsby who has a good reputation.

Hope this helps.
 
TigerTail said:
You also wont cure this with a treed saddle that has been fitted to his current shape as the muscle has now to grow into and the blood/oxygen supply is compromised (how most atrophy is caused originally) :(

Lots of inhand/longlining and slow correct work will build the muscle up but not under said saddle.
Click to expand...

But if the horse has regular saddle fits as well as regular visits from an equine physio as well as the correct work these issues are easily resolved in the vast majority of cases.
I am however somewhat concerned that the saddler told OP it was caused by the previous rider sitting crooked I don't see how a saddler can tell this without seeing that rider on the horse.
Many things cause muscle wasteage or lack of development from minor and understandable straightness issues in young horses to major issues like bone spavins .
If this wasteage/lack of development is considerable a vet and a equine physio will be needed to diagnose and advise the way forward.
 
What girth are you using? Try an old fashioned one without any elastic if you haven't already. This got my saddle to stay central.

Very uneven shoulders can be due to foot pain or even hind leg lameness, but if the horse is fully sound it should improve with a balanced saddle and rider.
 
One of my geldings has an uneven shoulder muscle and my physio told me to get some poles (10) and raise one end ,then get the horse to walk over the poles with the undeveloped shoulder stepping over the higher ends. Do this three times and then three times a week.

By doing this the horse has to make that side to work harder.

I have been doing this for three weeks now and have already seen an improvement.
 
TigerTail said:
You also wont cure this with a treed saddle that has been fitted to his current shape as the muscle has now where to grow into and the blood/oxygen supply is compromised (how most atrophy is caused originally) :(

Lots of inhand/longlining and slow correct work will build the muscle up but not under said saddle.
Click to expand...

Under saddle work in a treed saddle can and will help if the saddle is correct. I kind of agree with not fitting to the shape, but kind of disagree. I fit to the ribcage, which often looks a little wide, and then use either more flocking to give clearance, or, ideally, shims, to sculpt and lift the front. I will supply shims to customers to stitch to a pad, but actually a good sheepskin backed pad allows greater blood flow, and many of my clients buy Mattes correction pads for that purpose, and I trim the shims for them.

Flame_ said:
What girth are you using? Try an old fashioned one without any elastic if you haven't already. This got my saddle to stay central.
Click to expand...

Totally disagree. Not only does a non-elasticated girth not allow your horse to breathe properly but it also creates a moment of slack as the ribcage contracts, giving the possibility of instability. If you have the right saddle, and so many people with wide flat horses do not, then a wide padded girth with STRONG elastic at both ends is by far the best. I fit wide and flat horses day in and day out and see the damage caused by overgirthing with non-elasticated girths, or those with weak elastic that bottoms out.

And to anyone that says it's too easy to overtighten an elasticated girth - anyone tightening their girth should be checking it before and after, simples. You do not simply haul on the girth strap to see if you CAN tighten it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top