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  Discussion on Withers/hair being rubbed off by blanket
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Member:
Nadia

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 9:13 am:

I have a high withered horse and recently started blanketing him for the winter. I noticed that his hair on his withers are getting rubbed off, but I don't think there is any chafing skin of his skin yet. I will have to get a different blanket, but not sure what kind is good for him. Any suggestions? He is outside during the day and it seems like the blanket is getting pulled to one side alot (pasture buddies and rolling in the mud). I ride about 4 days a week - has given me only few attitude problems - but does a small buck the first stride when I ask for the canter at times. But last night he was extremely difficult to ride. He fought me the whole hour - even just trotting - throwing his head - mini bucking - raising a hind leg while walking. When I saddle, I always pull up the saddle pad over his withers so they don't push down on them - but it seems after about 5 mins, the pad is laying against his withers anyway. I am wondering if his withers are bothering him. Do the felt wither pads work? Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Member:
Westks

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 10:25 am:

Hi
weatherbeeta makes several selections with TB cut, here is a link to a turnout you can see. I have 6 of these and use them in pasture so they are durable.
The TAKA high neck should solve your problem if you can afford a taka. If you want one of these I will find the cheapest sale price on net for you.
RIDERS INTERNATIONAL SUPREME PLUS TURNOUT
this one also has a higher cut same outer material as the weatherbeeta and priced around $150.
hope this helps
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:11 am:

Hugs International....VERY comfortable for the horse. It wraps around the neck, sort of like an apron...no restriction. I love them!! Dover Saddlery has them.

Member:
Shirl

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:20 am:

I love the Hugs blankets also. Have a heavy one that I got through Dover, and a light weight that I ordered directly from Hug (it was on sale last year. They are wonderful.
Good Luck, Shirl
Member:
Westks

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 11:28 am:

for a saddle pad I have a TB with very high withers here are some selections for you to look at: english pads
DOVERS WITHER RELIEF PAD
javascript:PopupWindow('2Z%2D1979');
SUPRACOR COOL GRIP PADS
javascript:PopupWindow('2Z%2D19081');
COMFORT PAD WITH RAISED FRONT
javascript:PopupWindow('2Z%2D19164');
WINTEC COMFORT PAD
javascript:PopupWindow('2Z%2D19227');
GRIFFIN NUMMED SHAPED PAD
javascript:PopupWindow('2Z%2D19255');
WESTERN PADS
Southwest Saddle Pad-Built Up/Cut Back
https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=2e87bf5d-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204 ae5
Old Mac's Therapeutic Saddle Pad
Western Built-Up
https://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=90476&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2C dept%5Fid%3D198%26Tree%3D%2CComplete%20Catalog&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D122%26 Tree%3D0%2CEquine&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D85%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CSadd le%20Pads%2C%20Blankets%20%26%20Bareback%20Pads&Gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=F6 16ED8B8A8E400AB09BE3D985B013FE
Sway Back Pad
https://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?pf%5Fid=90257&gift=False&0=dept%2Easp%2C dept%5Fid%3D198%26Tree%3D%2CComplete%20Catalog&1=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D122%26 Tree%3D0%2CEquine&2=dept%2Easp%2Cdept%5Fid%3D85%26menu%5Fid%3D%26Tree%3D1%2CSadd le%20Pads%2C%20Blankets%20%26%20Bareback%20Pads&Gift=False&HSLB=False&mscssid=F6 16ED8B8A8E400AB09BE3D985B013FE
High Wither Numnahs and Pads
https://www.numnah.co.uk/highwither.htm
I hope these will help you to move in the right direction for padding.
On horse blankets do not order a size too small to leave room for movement.
weatherbeeta turnout horse blankets are the only ones I do not add 2 " to measurement. All the other brands I do add 2".
Member:
Cara2

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 12:04 pm:

Hi, my horse has high withers and is narrow across the shoulders. She's terrible to fit rugs with as she is also long backed. I see alot of horses with very sore withers that have been caused not by the cut of the rug but because they are done up too loose across the chest and have slipped right back as a result. If your saddle cloth is slipping out from under the saddle too I'd have the saddle fitter out. A bit more stuffing either side of the pommel can make a huge difference. I thought my saddle fitted ok until I changed it and had the replacement professionally fitted. Now my saddle cloth never slips!
Member:
Jjet

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 12:32 pm:

Janette: Thanks! You're helping many of us with all this info. I have a related question about blanket fit. I have a couple of quarter horses that are really large in both the fore and hindquarters for their height, that alone isn't too hard to address; the real problem seems to be that their necks come out of their shoulders in a lower position than average (low headedness is supposed to be a balance advantage for working cattle I suppose). Most of the blankets I have tried are cut out too far back at the wither and too high under the neck, so when the blanket slips back as far as it is going to go, it's harder for them to put their heads down to eat.

It's hard to deal with because if they fit over the rest of the body size they are cut wrong for the neck. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your time, Jan
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2003 - 3:38 pm:

Thanks for your suggestions. I do have a HUG. "I" really like it, but that's the one that is rubbing his withers. I keep trying to tighten the elastic straps so it will stay at his neck, above the withers, but it seems to slip back down every day. Maybe the damage has already been done to the hair and there is no new rubbing, but I can still see it and he is giving me signs of back soreness (whips his head around at me when I am starting to saddle him. He did that about 2 years ago when he had a different saddle and I think it was hurting him - he got a white spot right on his withers a few months later.) I bought a new saddle at that time, they came out to do the fitting.) My saddle pad isn't slipping out from under the saddle, it's just that when I put the pad on, then the saddle, I pull the pad up under the pommel so that it isn't laying across his withers. But after a few minutes, it seems the pad is stretched more tightly. Is that expected? I can't see how I can prevent this.
Member:
Nadia

Posted on Tuesday, Dec 23, 2003 - 8:48 am:

To everyone, thanks for the suggestions. I bought a high neck Rambo. It looks like this is better for his withers-no new rubbing. He still seems a bit sore, but hopefully, he'll back to normal soon!
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