Update on new saddle problems

[Birker2020]

Hi. As you may remember I won a new saddle from Barnsby. My horse changed his way of going (for the better) but then put in a little buck. Ears forward when ridden, head much lower, so maybe stretching.

Anyway I went ahead and had my jumping lesson yesterday, he went lovely on the flat, did a grid without about 5 bounces and a small cross pole, about three strides after landing he just accelerated and then bucked, came off after the second buck, then when I was off he continued broncing around the arena with me on the ground.

I got back on cantered a few strides but had really hurt myself so couldn't continue so watched my instructor ride, was fine when I sat down but when I stood up I was really struggling to walk. It hurts to bring leg forward or lift up and it brought tears to my eyes, took me ages to walk down the ailse to my stable. Guessed I was badly bruised but my friend kindly took me to A&E as due to an already prolapsed disc I wanted to check I hadn't done further damage to it or another one and my skin has gone numb also. Fortunately all disc spaces were normal apart from the already damaged one of course! (thank you God).

My physio friend says she will look at my horse and watch me ride him, hope to be back on my Wednesday. Feeling very sore, and hard to walk but once I'm walking its not too bad. On Diazepam, Co-codamol, diclofenac, gabapentin and ibuprofen and having tramadol when I can get the prescription that the hospital sent through to the doctor!!! Feel nice and high! Hospital told me to walk and not sit or lie down for long periods so going for a walk to the shop in a bit before lunch.

Still don't know if it was high jinks or pain related. The saddle has been templated to my horse then made in a factory so i am at a loss to know what to think.

He was ok for my instructor, although looked very fresh, but then he was okay for me to walk trot canter and jump half an hour after the saddle was delivered last Monday!!

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Not sure if it'smuch help but my homebred youngster who had never bucked or bronked in her life started doing so last year. Her saddle had become too wide at the front and was making her uncomfortable. Swapped saddles and she was back to her old safe self.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Can you go back to the old saddle for a bit and see how he behaves?

Poor you!

 

[mandwhy]

Hmm, well I'd be telling whoever fitted your saddle about this and getting them out again asap! It may not be constant but it has only started since the new saddle right?

Be careful and don't push yourself more because the pain killers mask the pain!

 

[philamena]

Firstly - ouch!

Secondly - I had a horse who started bucking / humping her back after landing. Instructors kept putting it down to 'freshness' or high jinks. Turned out saddle wasn't comfortable behind shoulder and we suspect points of the tree were digging into shoulders with the downward force of landing. Never uncovered whether it was because it was too tight, or because the points were too 'long', as changed saddle at that point anyway. It makes sense if you think of the movement of jumping I suppose.

Hope you get it sorted and stay pleasantly high until so!

ETA she also began to think twice about going into grids, predicting the discomfort. Would be better over one fence as could 'shake it off' afterwards, but when she saw a grid she'd begin to worry (again, instructors put down to high jinks) but made perfect sense once we knew what was going on.

 

[Shysmum]

Blimey, it sounds like you are in a lot of pain - I have disc problems too, and know that nice high feeling (especially tramadol !!) Just wanted to say, I had a micro-discetomy, and it helped me so very much.

As for the saddle, it really does look like the horse is telling you it does not fit. Shy did the very same thing, when i was cantering in a circle - it pinched him, and that was it, broncs, and I was off (hurt my leg for a week, urgh). On a thorough checking, it was just pinching his withers, and after several adjustments, I am selling it (and sticking treeless).

Definitely get that saddle checked before you get back on