worth getting the back woman out?

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Megibo

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my mum's friend got her new horse a saddle fitted today and whilst he was there we got my mares saddle checked. now i'm too big for the saddle as mare is 13.3 and we had the saddle fitted when i was 11 so it fit fine then. however now i've grown and 6 years on my bum doesnt really fit in the saddle seat now and saddler said it sits too low at the back and as a result my pelvis was tipped back and my upper body was tipped forward to compensate.
now i have to ride her in a prolite, back raised up and that way it'll fit her just fine again.
however, he said that as she is a tough little mare she hasnt complained about the saddle pressing down at the back and she's just gotten on with it but now she should be able to work much better through her back etc etc
my point is, i've no idea how long the saddles been like that so is it worth getting her checked by the back woman to rule out any problems that may have been caused by the saddle being lower at the back ?
Also i've been losing weight recently (currently 12st) but was just wondering if being about 3st lighter would take alot of pressure off of the saddle and make it more comfy for her? i asked the saddler but he brushed me off and said the saddle is fine as it is without weight being lost etc
 
I guess it wouldn't be any bad thing for her to be checked out, better to be safe that sorry? If she hasn't shown signs of being in pain/lame then I wouldn't worry too much, but I think it's a reasonable thing to do :) xx
 
Yes it certainly wouldn't do her any harm to have her back checked but i wouldn't worry too much about her back if she isn't showing signs of lameness or soreness: if she starts reacting to being ridden then i would deffinately have her back checked.

With regards to your weight, i know plenty of larger riders that can ride the finer horses and ponies because they ride lightly and in balance with the horse. you are much easier to carry regardless of your weight when you ride lightly and sympathetically. Also, if the horse's back muscles have been built up correctly and they are strong, she should be able to cope with extra weight.

Best of luck
 
Yes, I would certainly get her back checked. And I think she will be loads comfier when you lose the weight as 12 st is a lot for a 13.3 pony. Is that her in your sig? Lovely looking girl, but she does go along with her back quite hollow (if that's her normal way of going?). She could do with lots of stretching exercises so that she lifts her back and works long and low.
 
I would definitely get her back checked - horses are brave little things that don't like to complain and try to please - my horse has recently been going better than ever, but had the physio a couple of weeks ago and she said he was really sore down one side and under the back of his saddle, so (after consultation with the saddler) I changed the saddle headplate for a wider one, and have the saddler coming on Thursday to check him out.
He was in pain, but I had no idea, and now feel incredibly guilty that he's obviously trying so hard while in pain.
In my opinion if the horse is struggling with ridden work and/or is lame, then you've left it too late, prevention is better than cure!
 
JenniferLA said:
Yes it certainly wouldn't do her any harm to have her back checked but i wouldn't worry too much about her back if she isn't showing signs of lameness or soreness: if she starts reacting to being ridden then i would deffinately have her back checked.

With regards to your weight, i know plenty of larger riders that can ride the finer horses and ponies because they ride lightly and in balance with the horse. you are much easier to carry regardless of your weight when you ride lightly and sympathetically. Also, if the horse's back muscles have been built up correctly and they are strong, she should be able to cope with extra weight.

Best of luck
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shes not reacted to being ridden really, but when i rode her in the pro she definitely had a "ooh that feels better!" moment which made me laugh. she does have a very strong back, well muscled. i ride her as light as possible and am balanced :)
 
Wagtail said:
Yes, I would certainly get her back checked. And I think she will be loads comfier when you lose the weight as 12 st is a lot for a 13.3 pony. Is that her in your sig? Lovely looking girl, but she does go along with her back quite hollow (if that's her normal way of going?). She could do with lots of stretching exercises so that she lifts her back and works long and low.
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she doesn't have any trouble carrying me and she can still be fizzy if she wants! she's a very tough welsh mare but i do think that i should lose weight now rather than get heavier and heavier...
that is her in my sig, and that was taken about 2 years ago. she doesnt go like that at home, when she is fit and schooled properly she goes like:
moo2642009.jpg

the reason she was like that was cause we were both tense, she was fighting me and rushing under cause it was stressage and thats not her thing! :rolleyes: i was also holding her tightly with rigid elbows!
 
Splish & Masons mum said:
I would definitely get her back checked - horses are brave little things that don't like to complain and try to please - my horse has recently been going better than ever, but had the physio a couple of weeks ago and she said he was really sore down one side and under the back of his saddle, so (after consultation with the saddler) I changed the saddle headplate for a wider one, and have the saddler coming on Thursday to check him out.
He was in pain, but I had no idea, and now feel incredibly guilty that he's obviously trying so hard while in pain.
In my opinion if the horse is struggling with ridden work and/or is lame, then you've left it too late, prevention is better than cure!
Click to expand...

i do feel guilty as i thought she was the type to complain but shes been putting up and shutting up! :mad: so i do feel very bad :(
but now its sorted i feel much better and im sure she will too, she isnt struggling with ridden work nor is she lame but i'll definitely look into getting the back woman out now and probably tell you if there are any findings. also, i plan to start doing good old carrot stretches! and lunging her, cause shes tubby :rolleyes:
 
Your pony is gorgeous! I am worried about your saddle though and have to say I don't think your saddler knows what he's talking about! If a saddle is tipping back it is almost ALWAYS because it is too narrow. Using a riser pad will just shift the weight to the front. It sounds as though your mare has filled out a bit and the tree is now too narrow for her forcing the front upwards and tipping it low behind. The riser pad will make it sit level but will force your weight downwards through the front of the tree causing pain (and probably muscle wastage too) behind her withers.
 
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