Saddle rolling !

[kayleigh26]

Right when i bought my Tb gelding abour 8 months ago he came with a synthetic wintec saddle. He had kissing spine and has had a back op also before i bought him so ive always worried im not looking after his back correctly. I ride with a padded saddle blanket also. My saddle has started rolling :eek:when i mount from the ground (i know this isnt the best idea for his bac but he wont stand and a mounting block and there isnt always someone for a leggy up) and im concerned that the saddle doesnt fit him now. Thing is i dont know an alot about saddles never mind synthetic ones , do they need restuffed etc:confused: ? Also ive had a back massage lady out for horses says he has a sore back, which im now concerned is because of his saddle? She has said it might be from a past saddle that has causes it, or from his op? and she is going to have a look at his saddle for me but i think im going to try and get a saddler to look at it. Any advice would be much appreciated. :o
Kayleigh

[newforest]

the causes of kissing spine can be



i would probably find out if your vet thinks the horse is sound to be ridden before thinking of saddles etc. you will need to make sure that the horse is not in pain, moving around when tacking up could be there of saying don't get on i hurt.

sorry can't be more helpful.

A broken, twisted or stretched tree will create this problem. As the horse moves the tree will spread creating pressure at the base of withers and where the rider sits.
Riding a horse in a hollow frame.

Riding too many lateral movements, especially leg yielding.

Rider that moves around too much or is too heavy for the horse.

Horses's back conformation.

Slipping or twisting.

An error or imbalance, especially while jumping.

If the saddle is causing the problem, remove it immediately.Saddle pressure and bruising takes approximately 3-4 weeks to resolve with therapy treatment.
When the kissing spine is located, apply cold/ice treatment to the area, especially if swelling is present. A frozen bag on peas placed on the spine with an elastic surcingle for 8-10 minutes twice a day.
Depending on the condition and vet recommendation either rest or hand walking.
Perform the thoracic lift exercises. This tones the abdominal muscles and strengthens back muscle. Opens the spinous processess to reduce and alleviate kissing spines.

(Taken off website "saddle fitting") as my link was not working.

[kayleigh26]

New forest i dont think you read my post correctly Lol
He has had an op for his kissing spine , he is fully recovered and has no pain from it now, My question was to do with synthetic saddles, what causes them to roll and do they need restuffed etc.
Thanx Anyway

[Sticky's GF]

Hi there. :) I'd defo get yr saddle checked by a reputable person asap. It shouldn't roll and if he is fidgeting/reluctant for you to mount from block that is a fairly good sign that he is trying to tell you something.

Also generally speaking a well fitting saddle should be ridden with a thin numnah that is all, just to keep saddle clean etc.

As far as I know synthetics can be reflocked like a normal saddle so it might not be too expensive for you!!!

[S_F_S]

I do wish people would acknowledge or attribute a source rather than just copying and pasting a website; or did you write this one, Newforest?

http://www.saddlefittingnz.com/kissingspine.html

[HorseManiac]

Wintec on a TB! NOT A GOOD IDEA!( or on any kind of horse really!)

My horse had a horrible sore back with only around 10 rides in it....and it was 'professionaly' fitted !

6 months off and a different saddle, its like having a new horse!

[kayleigh26]

ive just phoned his previous owner to find out it is actually a jumping saddle :confused:. I just assumed it was gp and never really questioned it lol.
Now i have a new question ! Should i sell it and get a gp, could being ridden in a jumping saddle cause a sore back ? Like riding in it in a daily basis for schooling. I really should have done more research on this saddle.

[Sticky's GF]

From my understanding.... riding a jumping saddle with longer stirrups i.e. if you are dressage orientated CAN upset balance of the saddle. However would strongly recommend you get it checked out by someone that knows.

No point in dishing out loads of money on a horse only to knacker its back with a saddle!! (thats my way of dealing with all the expense....)

[newforest]

New forest i dont think you read my post correctly Lol
He has had an op for his kissing spine , he is fully recovered and has no pain from it now, My question was to do with synthetic saddles, what causes them to roll and do they need restuffed etc.
Thanx Anyway

even if the horse has had the op and has recovered it was a serious condition to require an op and you do need to be careful with saddle fit, work etc. they need time to build up muscles the same as after any injury, more so if they have had an op. how do you know he has no pain now? the horse is moving around which to me is trying to tell you something, possibly the saddle.

yes synthetic saddles do need flocking why would the material on the outside make any difference. if you have flocking it needs checking. if you have the cair system, that is air. if the saddle is moving is is likely the wrong size, type or requires flocking.

[newforest]

I do wish people would acknowledge or attribute a source rather than just copying and pasting a website; or did you write this one, Newforest?

http://www.saddlefittingnz.com/kissingspine.html

yes i copied and pasted. my link was not working.

[kayleigh26]

even if the horse has had the op and has recovered it was a serious condition to require an op and you do need to be careful with saddle fit, work etc. they need time to build up muscles the same as after any injury, more so if they have had an op. how do you know he has no pain now? the horse is moving around which to me is trying to tell you something, possibly the saddle.

yes synthetic saddles do need flocking why would the material on the outside make any difference. if you have flocking it needs checking. if you have the cair system, that is air. if the saddle is moving is is likely the wrong size, type or requires flocking.

the operation was 3 years ago.
My only issue at the moment is the saddle. And i appreciate your opinion i dont appreciate you getting snippy with me for asking a question. Im aware that is was a serious conditon but he has had it checked several times it his spine is not causeing his any discomfort, he saddle may be im already aware of that i was simply asking other peoples opinions.

[newforest]

i'm not being snippy, the words don't always read as they would be said. you have asked for opinions and my opinion is the saddle is the problem, in most cases saddle fit is the biggest problem we all have as owners, since horses change shape. you've said that it's jumping one and your considering a gp.

i've known a few horses with kissing spines one had op one didn't, even after the op she were never 100% sound and needed regular back checks etc. she was kept as a light hack. :)

[baileyboy]

You are right mounting from the ground is not great for your horse or the saddle as you are putting strain onto one side. My mare used to hate standing still at a mounting block but I just kept going over it again and again trying to keep calm even when it could take at least 10 minutes sometimes til she would stand still with a look to say 'what has all the fuss been about':DIf your saddle is rolling it may be too wide at the mo as we have just come out of winter. Though wintec's can have this problem depending on the type of horse. Yes as already said you can have them reflocked.

[Pink's lady]

Rolling is a sign off a poor fit. Whilst it can be because it's too wide it can also be because the tree's too curved or the panels don't match the horses back shape. I had a wintec that used to roll terribly, to the extent I couldn't canter without sliding off the side:eek:

Synthetic saddles need reflocked regularly like any saddle, more so if anything - the flocking used inside cheaper saddles tends to be crap and balls and becomes lumpy really quickly. If the saddle has cair in it the air bags can distort and collapse.

Using a thick padded saddle pad can make the fit worse if the saddle was fitted without - it make them wider so the saddle becomes too narrow and pinches.

If the saddle is rolling when you try and get on then its dragging on his withers and spine - a Bad thing at the best of times but esp so if he's had an op for Kissing Spine!

Any saddle will slip a bit when you get up from the ground - how much depends on how good you are at getting on;) but for him esp it would be very worth while teaching him to stand for a mounting block so you don't have to pull on his back.

The cause of his sore back is hard to tell without seeing him but if he's fully healed from his op and it was 100% sucessful then he shouldn't have no remaining soreness. if you are worried get a vet out to check him over again - kissing spines can be progressive, depending on it's cause.

And I'd def get a GOOD (so are just rubbish!) saddle fitter out to check your saddle over

[Jillybean]

Echo PL - a saddle that fits PROPERLY won't slip, move forward or budge. I should know - my Highland is (and I quote from one of the owners) "the widest and most flat backed pony the Native Pony Saddle Company have ever fitted for". I was showing today, so no numnah or sticky pad (with a clean pony with super soft coat) and saddle didn't budge.