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Discussion on Sore saddling?
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2006 - 10:34 am:
My sweet, lovely,17 yo American Saddlebred mare has been reluctant to be girthed up for the past couple of years. I have had her since she was five. She jumps cross country in paces and a little hunting, trails mostly now, though.
I don't ride her often any more because I get the feeling something is hurting her.
She is fine bareback, and she doesn't object to mounting once she is tacked up. Seems to be no obvious soreness anywhere. Vet and Chiropractor checked her out. (Chiro found minor issues with her upper neck, but I don't see how that is related). She doesn't mind the placement of the saddle on her, but when I go to tighten the girth she is obvious in her objection. She once bit me HARD! Another time she reached around and pulled the saddle off, throwing it a good ten feet!
She had a custom made saddle, but after foaling in 2003, it didn't seem to fit as well, so I bought a new saddle that appears to fit her better. Doesn't matter which one I use, though, reaction is the same.
I have tried a fleece lined girth, very slowly tightening after rubbing the belly first (this helps), extended rest periods; consistent short workouts; various pads, etc.
She is rather flat backed, and long backed. Has a history of laminitis, but not for several years. She doesn't tolerate long vigorous rides as well as most other horses, which is why she doesn't hunt anymore. Carries her tail to the left side (always has). She shows no lameness, or reluctance to go forward. Jumps willingly. Only grouchy as @#$ when girthed.
She eats two pounds of Safe Choice feed, plus alfalfa-grass mix hay and pasture, 24 hour turnout. I give this info because of one of your articles discusses EPSSM as possible soreness source. She does occasionally walk stiffly at the end of a ride, but not very obviously or often. I usually just chalk it up to hard ground.
Sorry it's long, but I wanted to cover everything that might be relevant. She is such a lovely, soft and willing mare that I hate to just put her out to pasture, but I would hate more to cause her unnecessary pain. any ideas what to do next?
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Friday, Feb 24, 2006 - 11:42 pm:
Our mare was just as you describe once. She was sore in the muscles that run between the front legs into the ribs. A few days of massage and she was back to normal. You can check it out, apply pressure in and around where the cinch lies, she'll let you know when you found the right spot 
Good day,
Alden
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 12:03 am:
Yes, Alden,I have noticed that this is the sore area, not the back. What did you do about it? It seems like it is a problem after a long rest as much as when she is worked regularly.
Were you able to resolve the issue?
I have tried leaving the girth looser than I normally would, with a breastplate for stability. Any idea why this area would be sore?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 9:31 am:
Though soreness is possible there are many horses that behave this way yet no physical problems are found on exam. A test run with 2 weeks of bute did not change the behavior. Assuming no physical causes are found this sounds like a job for reconditioning, see Training Horses » Training Your Horse's Mind » Modifying a Horses Behavior: Conditioned Responses.
DrO
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Member:
Erika
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 25, 2006 - 11:34 am:
Great, thanks, Dr. O. I will check it out.
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