Hi everyone! I have a problem that I'm trying to solve. I have a 6 year old QH mare. A few months ago, I started noticing after riding she has big swellings on her back behind her withers.
I chalked it up to her saddle pad bunching and pinching her. I was using a smx air ride pad and it is 3 years old. I also used a 1" think felt pad with the same outcome and am impact gel pad that seemed to work but not when I compete. When I compete she still gets the big swelling lump like bumps. I am wondering if it has something to do with the cinching up tighter to run barrels vs. everyday riding where the cinch is snug but not tight.
I always try to make sure I can fit a finger under the latigo. I made sure the saddle is in proper placement and sit it up on her withers and let it slide back to a natural position and I can fit my hand behing her elbow between where the cinch is placed. As far as the saddle goes, I have a pozzi pro racer that is also only 3 years old. I placed it on her bareback and she has even pressure all the way around except for behind her shoulder. It is a little snug there but nothing extremely noticeable and my hand still passes under it without any fight.
I feel like it has to be uncomfortable for her and I don't want her to associate pain with running barrels. Any suggestions or advice is greatly wanted!!!
Thanks in advance!
Attached are some photos of her back to maybe help?
Posted 2014-08-03 10:52 AM Subject: RE: Saddle fit???
Accident Prone
Posts: 22277 Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR
cgraham - 2014-08-03 10:32 AM Her sire is Brimmerton and her dam is a Prodest Effort/Barnstorming Bug mare
Reason I asked is because I've never seen one swell up like that from saddle pressure (and I've got one that swells big at the least little thing), so it made me wonder if she had any HERDA genetics hidden in her pedigree.
Saddle fit???
