Re: ? on sore or touchy back

["Sullivan's" <greymare@jps.net>]

I think it's great you are aware of this and trying to solve it (so many horse owners are clueless about saddle fit).  Does sound to me that his back is sore, saddle is first place to look.  If he was fit, and already accustomed to that distance, hills, etc-the saddle is my best guess.

 

I do have a pinto also, no extra sensitivity in the back; thin skinned little arab, no back sensitivity; my saddles don't seem to cause problems.

 

Our new mare did have a very slightly sore back after the longest ride she had done (we have had her 5 months at that point).  I also might have cinched too tight on that ride.....next rides we added a thin closed-cell foam pad over the skito pad......and no problems after than.  I do think her back muscles toughed up some.  Then again, the time she was sensitive was when they were shedding out the most.....

 

Karen (still riding sport saddles and happy with them)

----- Original Message -----

From: DAldr94141@aol.com

To: ridecamp@endurance.net

Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2001 7:50 AM

Subject: RC: ? on sore or touchy back

Hi. I've been going over and over something in my brain (which I don't claim
to be very big) and I'm stumped. I've been worried about my high withered
horse for some time. I ride in a Boz saddle. He was never sore until he shed
out and I rode him in a 25 mile endurance ride. He had sore withers at the
end of the ride and the next day he had a sore back. Well, things have come
up and I wasn't able to ride hard for the next couple of weeks and I'm
talking once a week for 2 1/2 hrs. not hard at all. Recently went a week and
a half without riding and went to use a hard brush on my horses back. He was
so touchy all the way down to past the croup. What's up with that? He's a
pinto.  Is this considered a horse with thin skin? Sensitive skin? What if I
go to ride in a CTR and they run their fingers down his back and he flinches?
Am I s--- out of luck and have points taken off? Are some horses normally
like this? I rode for 2 1/2 hours yesterday for 11 miles and he was fine but
I used a gel pad underneath this time. Is it just because I rode the 25
miles?
Am I missing something besides brain cells? Thanks. Deb