At 21:40:58 on 27.08.11, jesiandwadi wrote:
Hi there, My pony isn't showing any signs of problems due to his saddle, but I have heard you should get your saddle checked every 2 years or so, is this true? And do people tend to come out to the yard to check the saddle? Thanks!:)

At 13:26:04 on 30.08.11, Flicka wrote:
I would probably get mine checked more often than that, especially if a horse has a workload that varies, has time off or changes weight from one season to the next. In the UK people come to your yard and charge a visiting fee which I imagine is the same in most countries? I tend to go by the rule that if my horse is happy and moving well, and I feel I am balanced in the saddle and not struggling to sit straight, then the saddle is probably ok. If my horse starts to get uptight when I go to put the saddle on or girth up, seems reluctant to jump, is moving with a choppy stride in front, hollowing, not engaging throwing her head, is bucking, rearing, being nappy, running off etc then I would always check them out physically by running my hands all over them to see if they have any areas of soreness or tension. If I found areas of soreness in the back (or anywhere else) then I would do some equine bodywork (I do Equine Touch) on my horse. From that I would decide if the new behaviour or way of going was caused by the saddle or from the horse straining itself whilst being ridden or slipping in the field. The following video gives a very basic but useful way to check your horses back. Obviously equine bodyworkers have other methods as well. Just watch out for anyone who really pokes their fingers or anything else into your horses back and then when it flinches tells you that his back needs doing or he needs a new saddle to get some money from you. It is natural that a horse will dip away from intense pressure in this area. I had a saddler do this to my horse once, even told me that she probably had kissing spine, but he knew someone who could sort it out. I certainly didn't use him again!

At 11:51:41 on 31.08.11, jesiandwadi wrote:
Thank you for your help! Wadi is probably fine, he isnt showing any signs of pain and moves perfectly fine. Thank you for sharing the video, it was very informative!

At 21:19:06 on 07.09.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
I got my saddler to show me how to check it myself to save calling him out every time which costs me money and him time :P to check it take all pads/saddle cloths off and put the saddle on without tdoing up the girth first, check the clearence between the spine and the tree of the saddle, you should be able to see some daylight through it and get 3 or 4 fingers between the whithers and the pommel. If thats all good then put your hand flat under your saddle at the top and run your hand down under tha saddle flaps on both sides, you should be able to do this without too much effort but it shouldn't be too easy or your saddle is too wide. Then girth up and get on still saddle pad-less and check clearence with you on, there will be less clearence but it should still clear your horses spine, if so its all good so far, now ask a friend to mount up or watch you and check when the horse moves that the saddle isn't restricting movement in anyway, and there you go, one saddle checked hehe if it needs altering then you should ring your saddler :)

At 22:02:00 on 07.09.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Also if you think there may be a problem with your horses back i would get the vet out (even though physiotherapists can do a good job) because i have seen too many horse owners pay to get there horses back fixed and have multiple sessions because they get told it is a tight muscle and really it is something like a twisted pelvis or kissing spine which grenville had but i got the vet out straight away to get x rays first which i think is the best way to go, check bone structure first then muscles if that is not the problem :)

At 19:40:45 on 16.09.11, jesiandwadi wrote:
Thank you very much! This was very useful, I'll give it a try!:)

At 18:05:26 on 27.12.11, King09 wrote:
Hi, i recently clipped my horses out fully and one since is showing signs of being cold backed/: he used to arch his back when you first got on him and he'd been in for a while but fine after you put him out. Now he is fine mounting and grooming and tacking up; he has been out but when you sit on him he's arching his back and feels 'Springy' in trot and lowers his head and badly arches/broncs in canter/: his teeth were checked 2 weeks ago vet's been for jabs and general check over, saddle was checked at our last show (about 3 weeks ago) and he had physio about a month ago, he is due his feet but it's never caused a problem before, im thinking of putting a sheepskin padded numnah on him instead of his usual saddle pad, just wondering is he cold backed or is it something else and any advice? Thanks Kate x