Saddle Markings?

codyntampa · 09-10-2005, 05:54 PM

A boarder at my barn was asking my why her horse recently developed white marks on his back, and I looked at her saddle and it sits up off her horses back, so I told her the saddle was probably rubbing and the hairs were turning white, and I suggested she use a bumper pad under the saddle so it sits better. They asked my instructor today, and she said they just appeared, if it was from the saddle, then there would have been open sores at one time..which is true? Why is he getting the white marks?

Dawn · 09-10-2005, 06:06 PM

It's from the saddle. Adding a pad will actually make it worse. From what you've said, the saddle is too small. It would be like having a pair of too small boots and wearing two pairs of socks. She needs to not use this saddle at all.

Jess! · 09-10-2005, 06:31 PM

Adding more saddle pads to make a saddle "fit" is a common misconception - it's just going to make it tighter.

She's probably going to need a new saddle.

Blistering Winds · 09-10-2005, 07:08 PM

My horse developed white without ever having a sore. MANY saddle marks develop without sores if the saddle is slightly too small, just enough to damage the hair follicles. If caught early and you solve the problem right away, the white spots MAY go away. Mine did. Thank goodness. As soon as I saw the shadow, I sold the saddle and got a new one right away, more aware of his odd-fitting body. Sure enough, they went away nicely!

You can only ADD pads to fit a LARGE saddle, not a small saddle. So in this instance, a new saddle is in order.

Kiwi Filly · 09-11-2005, 12:00 PM

Yup, sounds like the saddle is too small/narrow, it would be good idea to get onto this, before this horse develops soundness/behaviour problems.

rodeochic · 09-11-2005, 09:08 PM

You can tell how well a saddle/pad fits the horse, if when you take off the saddle/pad, there are NO dry spots. The back should be completely wet where the pad was. That is, if you rode your horse enough to work up a little sweat under the pad. As stated, it sounds like this saddle is too small. Anyway, if there are dry spots on the withers, that is where you can expect to see white hairs appear, if the fit is not corrected.

09-10-2005, 05:54 PM	#1
codyntampa Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,171 Images: 280 Blog Entries: 1	Saddle Markings? A boarder at my barn was asking my why her horse recently developed white marks on his back, and I looked at her saddle and it sits up off her horses back, so I told her the saddle was probably rubbing and the hairs were turning white, and I suggested she use a bumper pad under the saddle so it sits better. They asked my instructor today, and she said they just appeared, if it was from the saddle, then there would have been open sores at one time..which is true? Why is he getting the white marks? __________________ www.dunnrominfarm.com -Katie- Cinful - "Harold" - 8yr old 16h bay Thoroughbred gelding

09-10-2005, 06:31 PM	#3
Jess! Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 11,327 Images: 76	Adding more saddle pads to make a saddle "fit" is a common misconception - it's just going to make it tighter. She's probably going to need a new saddle. __________________ (¯`·._¤ Jess!·._¤ ´¯) ♥ Haute Couture Arabians♥ Purebred and Half Arabian Endurance Horses

09-10-2005, 07:08 PM	#4
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 32,425 Images: 864 Blog Entries: 18	My horse developed white without ever having a sore. MANY saddle marks develop without sores if the saddle is slightly too small, just enough to damage the hair follicles. If caught early and you solve the problem right away, the white spots MAY go away. Mine did. Thank goodness. As soon as I saw the shadow, I sold the saddle and got a new one right away, more aware of his odd-fitting body. Sure enough, they went away nicely! You can only ADD pads to fit a LARGE saddle, not a small saddle. So in this instance, a new saddle is in order. __________________ Can I have a midlife crisis now?

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09-10-2005, 06:06 PM	#2
Dawn Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 37,203 Images: 1580	It's from the saddle. Adding a pad will actually make it worse. From what you've said, the saddle is too small. It would be like having a pair of too small boots and wearing two pairs of socks. She needs to not use this saddle at all.

09-11-2005, 12:00 PM	#5
Kiwi Filly Full Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Island, New Zealand Posts: 279 Images: 8	Yup, sounds like the saddle is too small/narrow, it would be good idea to get onto this, before this horse develops soundness/behaviour problems.

09-11-2005, 09:08 PM	#6
rodeochic Full Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Nevada Posts: 89	You can tell how well a saddle/pad fits the horse, if when you take off the saddle/pad, there are NO dry spots. The back should be completely wet where the pad was. That is, if you rode your horse enough to work up a little sweat under the pad. As stated, it sounds like this saddle is too small. Anyway, if there are dry spots on the withers, that is where you can expect to see white hairs appear, if the fit is not corrected.