Sweat marks on a horses back after riding

[Rowena]

What's your take on the sweat marks left by the saddle on a horses back after riding?
I have this notion that evenly placed sweat marks (symmetrical on either side of the horses spine) is an indication that he/she was working properly through the back, the saddle fits well, and the rider was balanced.
Especially an indication of the saddle fit...

What are your thoughts on this?
Nonsense or makes sense?

 

[Alfies-slave]

Quite right! You can tell a lot from sweat/scurf marks.

How well the saddle fits, any pressure points.

How the horse is working and how balanced the rider is.

Even and symetrical marks on the numnah with no dry bits (pressure points) is good.

Even marks on the horses back indicate that the saddle isn't slipping and that te rider is balanced!

However, if things are getting excessively sweaty might be worth concidering a sheepskin or wool numnah as these wick away the moisture better than synthetic or cotton.

 

[daveb]

Even sweat marks are a great indication of good fit. If you don't see even marks, try lounging our horse in it's saddle until it works up a bit of a sweat. Check to see if the marks are even (dry spots often indicate pressure points).

If your saddle is uneven, you can try to adjust it or use pads to even out the pressure. Once your saddle is even, check for even marks after you ride -- if you know where you are putting excess pressure, you can work to fix it.

 

[Rowena]

Check to see if the marks are even (dry spots often indicate pressure points).

Thanks for both of these reply's.

Please can you explain further daveb...
I had imagined that that the dry spots were places where the saddle was bridging over the horses back, or the horse was hollowing away from the saddle...

How is it that the point of direct pressure can stay dry?

 

[daveb]

Dry spots can indicate too much pressure causing a reduction in sweating.

Of course if you have too little pressure in one spot, you invariably have too much pressure in another.

If you feel between your horse and saddle, you can usually tell which is the case. If there is too little pressure in one or two spots, you can cut a piece of foam or cloth and stich it onto the saddle pad in the right place.

 

[doris]

Check also for any signs of the hair being rubbed up the wrong way as this could also indicate that the fit isn't right and/or the saddle is moving or rubbing.

 

[joey_olop]

Wow I didnt know that, learn something new everyday at least I know my horse's saddle fits properly then.