The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Troubles with saddle fit... creating bumps?

6K views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  angie22d 
#1 ·
Well my horse I admit is getting older sadly...but his back hasn't change much from when I first got him. I use a western saddle on him and have done a lot in it so its pretty broke in at this point in time. From the past year or so I've noticed (especially when I do longer rides) when I take the saddle off there is a bump... or two that happen along a certain point on his spine.

Here is the general area... note this is not my horse... I snatched the photo off the internet to show you.



Now could this be from worn out saddle blankets? Do I need to renew the foam under neath the saddle? I know for a fact that my saddle fits him pretty good (its a tad to narrow for him but nothing too horrible).

The bump that happens along there is small and is sometimes in a different spot in the circled area in the photo. It is about not bigger then an inch and is hard to touch. Within the twenty minutes of the saddle being off the bump will go down and his back is back to normal. Sometimes he is sensitive for me to touch it and mess around with it... and other times he has a high pain tolerance or something.

My questions are... what is this from? I think it might be from the saddle resting on his back.... could I fix it by getting the saddle off his back more with blankets? Or are there fancy lifting devices that I can by to put between the saddle and the blankets? Or should I get my saddle re foamed underneath?
 
See less See more
1
#3 ·
English or Western saddle? What kind of pad/blanket are you using? What are the sweat marks like for shorter rides?

Can you take some pictures? With and without the pad (lightly girthed). Take a full side shot, a rear shot (stand on a short stool if you need to), and a 3/4 angle showing his WHOLE shoulder and the front edge of the saddle.

When you have the saddle on him without a pad (lightly girthed) feel underneath it. Run your hand from the very front to the very back. You should feel even pressure the whole way, no tight or loose spots.
 
#4 ·
I dont know much about this but I know its always a good Idea to get saddles repadded every year or 2. :) I hope this helps
Ah thanks. I never heard that fact and now I know :-D. I will look into doing that since I think that might be the biggest issue.


As for luvs2ride1979 .... I don't have a camera to take a picture of it at this moment in time but I do know it fits him fine like I said in the OP. It is a western saddle like I said also. Sweat marks are fine when I ride, just that little bit narrowness which will never go away. I think its just the saddle that is resting on his spine.
 
#5 ·
If it's too narrow, anywhere, then it definitely does not fit fine. And no, it won't go away.

I would get a better saddle pad like a Skito saddle pad or Supracor pad, or add a ThinLine western half pad over your saddle blanket/pad. A better shock absobring pad will help relieve that pressure and make your horse more comfortable, until you can find/afford a better fitting saddle.

I would check the saddle fit without your pad, lightly cinched. Just run your hand under it on each side like I explained above, and see for yourself how it really fits on your horse's back.
 
#6 ·
Saddle pads generally make matters worse when a saddle doesn't fit. It's like if you were to put on bigger socks for when you wear a pair of shoes that pinch. Riser pads are generally used for saddles that are too wide, but they weren't intended to be a miracle cure. Horses almost never fit "perfectly" in thier saddles, so the pads are there to make a decent fitting saddle fit better, kinda like a nice pair of insoles in your shoes.

Since it's western, poke around under the fleece behind the forks. Often there are screws, bolts, or nails there holding the saddle together. These things sometimes have a nasty habit of coming unthreaded or working themselves out when the saddle's older or seen a lot of use. You may need to have your fleece replaced. You might also double check and make sure the tree didn't somehow get broken.

For an older horse, you might like the treeless trail saddles. They make them in western, too. They're like glorified bareback pads. I have friends that bought them and don't ride in anything else since getting them. They look funny, but I hear they're wonderful!
 
#7 ·
I ride english, and notice the occasional bump after a long ride on misty's back. I have never thought it to be anything to worry about since I can poke around and it doesn't hurt, and its gone by the next day and it isn't often that it happens. :-p
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top