Advice pls! Marks on back?!

[tika]

Noticed today my boy has 2 strange patches on his back, on on each side where hair is missing. Kind of towards back of saddle area on either side of spine! It seems to have worn in stripes!! I was wondering whether saddle suddenly started rubbing?! Hes put on bit of weight since got him 6 months ago. He also had a lump behind withers under saddle area, that the top has come off and is broken skin.
Would it suddenly start to rub?
Surely his stable rug wouldnt rub on his back?
What should I do, get saddle fitter out?
Where do I find a good saddle fitter?

[kas]

Get a good saddle fitter out. Tell us where you are and maybe we can help with recommendations. Stop riding in that saddle maybe...
What saddle have you got?

[Cara]

Hi Tika

Read the thread sore back up today, lots of people mentioned they've paid lots of cash for fitters to come out only to find that they're not so good at their job. Defo get a recommendation

[tika]

Anyone know any Lancshire/North West area?
If it is the saddle would it rub where I mentioned? Or would it be more around shoulders/ withers?

[BeTheBest]

Maybe get his back checked as well
I would probably use a thick numnah as a temporary measure adn dont do too much work
hope you get a saddle sorted i have had an awful time with saddles

[kas]

To be honest, if you are seeing worn patches on his back, and a possible saddle sore with broken skin then I would say don't ride at all until this is sorted out. Not with a thicker pad, which could make the problem worse, don't ride at all.
Yes Tika, a saddle could quite easily cause the rubs you are describing, it all depends on the saddle, the horse shape etc etc.
Put a thread up saying something like Saddle Fitter Lancs/N West?? to get people's attention.
Really, you should stop riding I think.

[jen1]

hi i have answered on the other thread,after raeding this one though id go with what kas has said,to be honest i dont know of ANY good saddle fitters in our area , though i am a contrary mary and would probably disagree with most of the things saddle fitter say, even the posh place at parbold havnt always got it right and as for layland i have first hand that they just SELL saddles,im a treeless fan ,pm me if you would like to have a go in my saddle on my horse,think you should just get his back checked first,

[samcspottyhorses]

My boy hasn't got as far as marks on his back, but I'm sure his saddle doesn't fit properly and don't want the local saddler to come out. I wouldn't know where to start finding one I thought was any good, so I'm going treeless!
Sounds like it will be a 'journey' for you to sort this one out.
Hope you get sorted soon.

SamC

[jen1]

up for laura

[kas]

Don't want to rain on your parade Sam, just bear in mind that if you can it's worth getting your treeless saddle seller to fit it for you. There are plenty of problems with treeless saddles too.

[annahindley]

OP, I would reiterate the advice here. I would not ride in the current saddle; I wouldn't ride in any saddle until the sores are completely healed. I also think a thick numnah is more likely to make the problem worse (Thick socks in too small shoes analogy).

By the time this sort of pressure mark has appeared at skin level - assuming it is from the saddle, there is already some degree of necrosis at the bone level - that means than directly under where you see these sores, the bone is literally dying. This occurs quite a long time before the saddle galls appear.

SamC, take heed! If you think you have a problem, it may already be causing pressure on the bone. Get it checked.

I f any horse has been ridden for a prolonged period in a misfitting saddle, it is likely that they will have developed compensatory changes in their spine, ribs or in the muscular system. I would always recommend a visit from a well trained therapist before you commence work with a horse that has got saddle galls.

I had a master saddler as a patient this evening, and I asked him about saddle fitting. He said that if you call the association (or is it federation?) of master saddlers, they will send you a leaflet listing the master saddlers, and also those saddlers that are trained in saddle fitting. It also has some other info in it about whether they are prefered suppliers etc all of which tells you about the standards they work to.

Good luck.